Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
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1
١
qul aʿūdhu birabbi l-nāsi
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
2
٢
maliki l-nāsi
The Sovereign of mankind,
3
٣
ilāhi l-nāsi
The God of mankind,
4
٤
min sharri l-waswāsi l-khanāsi
From the evil of the retreating whisperer -
5
٥
alladhī yuwaswisu fī ṣudūri l-nāsi
Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind -
6
٦
mina l-jinati wal-nāsi
From among the jinn and mankind".
Surah An-Nas (Mankind) — Full Text
Ayah 1
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
This surah opens with a powerful declaration: say I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind. Allah is introduced here as your Rabb — the One who created you, sustains you, and takes care of you through every stage of life. The reason this surah specifically says "Lord of mankind" (instead of Lord of the universe like in Al-Fatiha) is because what you're about to seek protection from — the whispers of Shaytan — is something that uniquely targets human hearts. It's setting up the whole surah: you're about to ask the ultimate Protector for help against your most persistent invisible enemy.
Ayah 2
مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ
The Sovereign of mankind,
Now Allah adds a second title: the King of mankind. Being a lord or caretaker is one thing, but being the King means He has absolute authority and sovereignty over you. Think of it this way — a caretaker nurtures you, but a king has the power to actually enforce protection and command your situation. By stacking these titles, the surah is building your confidence before you even ask for help: the One you're turning to isn't just kind and caring, He's also all-powerful.
Ayah 3
إِلَـٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ
The God of mankind,
The third title seals it: the God of mankind — the only One truly worthy of your worship and devotion. This is the deepest level of connection. A lord nurtures you, a king has authority over you, but your God is the One your heart should be fully attached to. These three verses together are basically saying: the One you're asking for help is the One who raised you, rules over you, and is the only One who deserves your love and loyalty. With credentials like that, who better to protect you?
Ayah 4
مِن شَرِّ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ
From the evil of the retreating whisperer1 -
Now we get to the actual threat: the sneaky, retreating whisperer. This is Shaytan, and what makes him so dangerous is his strategy — he whispers negative thoughts, doubts, and temptations directly into your heart, but the moment you remember Allah, he backs off and hides. Then when you get distracted or heedless again, he comes right back. He's not some monster that attacks you head-on; he's more like a voice in your head that you might not even realize isn't yours. Recognizing this pattern is half the battle.
Ayah 5
ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ
Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind -
Shaytan doesn't just hover around you externally — he gets deep into your chest, right where your emotions and decisions live. The Quran says he runs through you like blood runs through your veins, meaning his influence can feel so natural that you mistake his whispers for your own thoughts. That's exactly why this surah exists: you need an external source of protection because the threat is internal. You can't always tell the difference between your own thinking and a whisper designed to lead you astray, so you ask Allah to guard your heart from the inside out.
Ayah 6
مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ
From among the jinn and mankind".1
The surah closes with a crucial detail: these whisperers aren't just invisible jinn — they can also be real people around you. Some people play the same role as Shaytan by planting doubts, normalizing bad choices, or subtly steering you in the wrong direction through sweet talk and peer pressure. So this surah is a complete protection package: it covers the whispers from your own inner voice, from unseen spiritual forces, and from toxic influences in your social circle. The takeaway is clear — stay aware, stay connected to Allah, and never underestimate the power of simply asking Him for protection.