Surat An-Nas (Arabic: سورة الناس‎, “Mankind”) is the 114th and last sura, or chapter, of the Qur’an, the Muslim holy book. It is a short six-verse invocation, asking God (Allah) for protection from the Shaitan. There is a Sunnah tradition of reading this Surah for the sick or before sleeping.

Transliteration Surat Annas:

1. qul auzu bi rabbin nas
2. Malikin naas
3. Ilaahin naas
4. Min sharril was waasil khannaas
5. Al lazee yuwas wisu fee sudoorin naas
6. Minal jinnati wan naas

Translation – Sahih International:

1. Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
2. The Sovereign of mankind.
3. The God of mankind,
4. From the evil of the retreating whisperer –
5. Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind –
6. From among the jinn and mankind.”

Name of Surat Annas

The sura takes its name from the word “people” or “mankind” (an-nas) which recurs throughout the Surah. Together with Sura Al-Falaq it is also known as Al-Mu’awwidhatayn; dealing with roughly the same theme, they form a natural pair.

Related Ahadith for Surat Annas:

• The unique virtues of Surat Annas and Surah Al-Falaq

Uqbah ibn Amr Al-Juhani reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah has revealed verses the like of which you have never seen: Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the people (114:1) and: Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak.” (113:1)

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2902

• The Prophet would recite Al-Falaq and An-Nas before sleeping

Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would get ready for sleep, he would blow into his hands, recite the two chapters of refuge (surah al-falaq and Surat Annas), and he would wipe his hands over his body.

Source: Sahih Bukhari 5960

• The Prophet would seek refuge in Allah with Surah Al-Falaq and Surat Annas

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would seek refuge from the devils and the evil eye of mankind until the two chapters of refuge (surah al-falaq and Surat Annas) were revealed, so when they were revealed he took both of them and left everything else.

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2058

Simple Explanation of Surat Annas:

Surat Annas [114] (The Mankind)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1. “Say: ‘I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind”
2.  “The King of mankind”
3.  “The God of mankind”

(1-3) This Surah describes three Attributes of Allah the All-Mighty. He gives sustenance to mankind, He is Sovereign and He is Worthy of worship. All things are created by Him, possessed by Him, and subservient to Him. He commands anyone who wants refuge to seek in it the Lord who has these Attributes.

4. “From the evil of the whisperer”
(4) Satan entices people to commit sins as he makes evil attractive to men. Only Allah can grant protection from the evil of Satan. According to a Hadith, the Prophet said, “With everyone of you there is a devil.” The Companions asked, “Is there a devil even with you?” The Prophet said, “Yes, but Allah has granted me protection against him.”

Al-Bukhari and Muslim report that once when the Prophet was in seclusion (i’tikaf) in the mosque, his wife Safiyyah went to see him. When she left, the Prophet accompanied her to his house. On the way he met two Companions from Ansar who were passing by. They sped up their pace when they saw him. He called them and said, “This is my wife Safiyyah bint Huyay.” They said, “Subhanallah! O Messenger of Allah, why are you saying this?” The Prophet said, “Satan flows inside man like blood. I feared, may be he put bad thoughts about me in your minds.”

Al-Hafidh Abu Ya’la Musily quoted a Hadith which reported the Prophet as saying:

“Satan puts his hand on the heart of man. If he celebrates the remembrance of Allah he removes his hand and if he forgets Allah, Satan overcomes his heart fully. This is the ‘evil of the whisperer.’ ”
Ahmad ibn Hanbal reported a Hadith: The Prophet was once riding a mule and a Companion was riding behind him on it. The mule stumbled. The Companion spontaneously uttered, “May Satan perish.” The Prophet says, “Do not say that. It encourages Satan,” and he said, “I knocked him with my strength. But if you say, ‘In the name of Allah’ he is dwarfed and becomes like a fly.” This proves that the remembrance of Allah helps overcome Satan while leaving it augments his power.

Ibn ‘Abbas, says that the Satan is lying in wait for man. When he forgets Allah, he starts whispering, and when he begins the remembrance of Allah, he retreats.

Sulayman said: “I am told that in happiness and sorrow Satan bores into the heart of man, i.e., he deludes him. If man remembers Allah, he flees away.” Ibn ‘Abbas, also says that Satan preaches evil and when man obeys him, he leaves him.

5. “Who whispers in the breasts of mankind”

6. “Of jinn and men.”

(5,6) The expression “Who whispers in the breasts of mankind” may be interpreted in two ways. One interpretation is that Satan whispers in the chests of people belonging to the human race or the race of jinn. The other interpretation is that the devils from among the human race and the jinn whisper in the chests of other people. At another place Allah says:

“And so We appointed for every Prophet an enemy – devils among mankind and jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion … ”
Al-Qur’an 6:112
Abu Dharr reported that once he went to the mosque and sat with the Prophet. He asked me, “Did you pray?” When I said no, he said, “Offer two rak’ah.” When I again sat after finishing the prayer, he said, “Abu Dharr, seek refuge against the devils among men and jinn.” I asked, “Are there devils among men also?” He said, “Yes.” I asked him, “O Messenger of Allah, which is the greatest verse in the Qur’an?” He said, “The Verse of the Throne – (2:255).” [Imam Ahmad. This Hadith has also been reported by Nasa’i, Abu Hatim and others]