The last three surahs

The last three surahs: the cards as text

Qur'an and Tafsir. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

  1. Card 1

    Makkah asked for God's family tree. The Qur'an ends with the answer.

  2. Card 2

    Tell us your Lord's family tree

    People in Makkah asked Muhammad ﷺ for his Lord's lineage, as if a god must have parents. The reply is surah 112, al-Ikhlas: Allah is One, the One all depend on, with no child, no parent and no equal.

  3. Card 3

    Qur'an 112:1

    قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ۝١

    1 Say, "He is Allāh, [who is] One,

  4. Card 4

    Whatever is born dies, and whatever dies leaves an inheritance

    People asked for Allah's family tree. One early report explains the reply: whatever is born will die, and whatever dies leaves an inheritance. Allah was never born, does not die and leaves no inheritance. There is no tree to draw.

  5. Card 5

    Lesson: Asked for Allah's ancestry, the Qur'an answers that He has none. He is One.

  6. Card 6

    Shelter from what is out there

    If Allah is the One everything depends on, He is the one to run to. Surah 113, al-Falaq, asks the Lord of daybreak for shelter from harm outside a person: the dark, sorcery, and envy that turns into action.

  7. Card 7

    Qur'an 113:1

    قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلۡفَلَقِ ۝١

    1 Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak

  8. Card 8

    A comb, a well, and a man he chose not to expose

    Tradition ties this surah to a spell cast on the Prophet ﷺ with hair from his comb, hidden in a well. When it was found, his wife asked if he would expose the man. He said: Allah has cured me, and I hate to spread harm.

  9. Card 9

    Lesson: The Lord who ends every night is the one asked for shelter from the dark.

  10. Card 10

    Shelter from the voice inside

    The last surah, an-Nas, turns inward. It names Allah three ways, Lord, King and God of people, and asks for shelter from one thing: a whisperer in the chest who slips away when Allah is remembered.

  11. Card 11

    Qur'an 114:1

    قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ ۝١

    1 Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,

  12. Card 12

    The whisperer who backs away

    The Arabic name is al-khannas: the one who backs away. Ibn 'Abbas, the Prophet's cousin, pictured him crouched on the heart. He whispers when a person forgets Allah, and slips off the moment Allah is remembered. Then he comes back.

  13. Card 13

    Lesson: The Qur'an's last request is for shelter from a whisper.

  14. Card 14

    Three surahs before sleep

    The Prophet ﷺ joined the three. Every night he cupped his hands, blew into them, recited the three and wiped over his body. In his last illness his wife 'A'ishah recited for him.

  15. Card 15

    When he was too ill, 'A'ishah recited for him

    When the Prophet ﷺ fell ill he recited the last two surahs over himself. When the pain grew too strong, his wife 'A'ishah recited them for him, then took his own hand and wiped it over him.

  16. Card 16

    Lesson: The Prophet ﷺ recited all three every night before sleep, and many Muslims still do.

  17. Card 17

    Reflect: What did the Prophet do with these three surahs each night?

    Answer: Recited them, blew into his hands and wiped his body. He recited them, blew into his cupped hands and wiped over his body before sleeping.

  18. Card 18

    The end of The last three surahs.

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