The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 576
CHAPTER 113 AL-FALAQ (Revealed before Hijrah) Date of Revelation, and Context This and the next Surah are so closely linked as regards their subject matter that though they are complete in themselves and independent of each other, the Surah that follows, viz. An-Nās, may be regarded as complementary to the present Sūrah. This Sūrah deals with one aspect of the same subject while the next Surah deals with the other. Both the Surahs together are called Mu'awwidhatan meaning, "the two Surahs that afford protection," because both of them open with the expression "I seek refuge in the Lord. " There is a wide divergence of opinion among scholars regarding the place where these Surahs were revealed. In view of this divergence it is rather difficult to determine the exact date of their revelation. Some scholars, including Ibn 'Abbās and Qatādah, assign them to Medina while according to Hasan, 'Ikrimah, ‘Aṭā' and Jābir, they were revealed at Mecca. Among western scholars Nöldeke and Muir hold no definite opinion, but Weil thinks that they belong to Mecca. Taking all relevant facts and historical data into consideration, the majority of Muslim scholars and commentators of the Quran are inclined to place them among the Meccan Surahs. The present Surah is entitled Al-Falaq (the Dawn). Subject Matter The connection of these two Surahs with Surah Al-Ikhlāṣ consists in the fact that in that Surah believers were enjoined to proclaim to the whole world that God is One and Unique, that He is far above anything or any person being a partner in His Divinity. In these two Surahs the believers are told that they should not be afraid of any tyrant, dictator or ruler in the discharge of this sacred duty and should hold the firm belief that God is the sole Director and Controller of the whole universe and that He has the power to protect His votaries from any harm or injury which the forces of darkness might seek to do them. Though constituting an integral part of the Quran, these two Sūrahs may be regarded as forming a sort of epilogue to it. The main body of the Quran seems to end with Surah Al-Ikhlās, which recapitulates, as it were, in a nutshell, the basic Quranic principles, and in these two Surahs believers are enjoined to seek Divine protection against deviating from the right path and against the mischief and evils which might adversely affect their material well-being and spiritual development. The Holy Prophet used to recite these two Surahs regularly before going to bed. 3472