The Four Quls are among the most powerful and frequently recited surahs in Islam. Each begins with the divine command Qul (قُل — "Say"), directing the Prophet ☮ — and all Muslims — to openly declare core Islamic beliefs. Together they cover the foundations of tawhid (Allah's oneness), freedom from polytheism, and protection from both physical and spiritual harm.
The Prophet ☮ regularly recited three of them (Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas) morning and evening, before sleep, and after each obligatory prayer. They are described as the "Mu'awwidhatayn" (the two protectors) for Al-Falaq and An-Nas, and Al-Ikhlas is called "equivalent to a third of the Quran."
1. Surah Al-Kafirun (Chapter 109) — Declaration of Freedom
SURAH 109 • 6 VERSES • MAKKI
Surah Al-Kafirun — The Disbelievers
Al-Kafiroon • The ultimate declaration of tawhid and religious freedom
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ ● لَآ أَعۡبُدُ مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ ● وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ عَـٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعۡبُدُ ● وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٌۭ مَّا عَبَدتُّمۡ ● وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ عَـٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعۡبُدُ ● لَكُمۡ دِينُكُمۡ وَلِىَ دِينِ
قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ ● لَآ أَعۡبُدُ مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ ● وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ عَـٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعۡبُدُ ● وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٌۭ مَّا عَبَدتُّمۡ ● وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ عَـٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعۡبُدُ ● لَكُمۡ دِينُكُمۡ وَلِىَ دِينِ
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
Qul ya ayyuhal-kafirun. La a'budu ma ta'budun. Wa la antum 'abiduna ma a'bud. Wa la ana 'abidun ma 'abadtum. Wa la antum 'abiduna ma a'bud. Lakum dinukum wa liya din.
Qul ya ayyuhal-kafirun. La a'budu ma ta'budun. Wa la antum 'abiduna ma a'bud. Wa la ana 'abidun ma 'abadtum. Wa la antum 'abiduna ma a'bud. Lakum dinukum wa liya din.
Translation: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Say: O disbelievers! I do not worship what you worship. Nor do you worship what I worship. Nor will I ever worship what you worship. Nor will you ever worship what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is mine.
Say: O disbelievers! I do not worship what you worship. Nor do you worship what I worship. Nor will I ever worship what you worship. Nor will you ever worship what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is mine.
★ Benefit: The Prophet ☮ said: "Surah Al-Kafirun is equal to a quarter of the Quran." It is Sunnah to recite it in the first rak'ah of Fajr Sunnah prayer, in the witr prayer, and before sleeping. It is called "Al-Bara'ah" — the declaration of complete dissociation from shirk (associating partners with Allah).
2. Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112) — Pure Tawhid
SURAH 112 • 4 VERSES • MAKKI
Surah Al-Ikhlas — Sincerity (Pure Monotheism)
Al-Samad • "Equivalent to a third of the Quran" — Sahih al-Bukhari
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ● ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ● لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ ● وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ● ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ● لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ ● وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.
Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.
Translation: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begot anyone, nor was He begotten. And there is nothing comparable to Him.
Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begot anyone, nor was He begotten. And there is nothing comparable to Him.
★ Benefit: The Prophet ☮ said: "Qul huwa Allahu Ahad equals a third of the Quran." (Bukhari 5013). Reciting it 3 times equals reciting the whole Quran in reward. It comprehensively describes Allah's nature — His absolute oneness, His eternal nature, and His incomparability. Recite morning and evening, after every prayer, and before sleep.
3. Surah Al-Falaq (Chapter 113) — Protection from Evil
SURAH 113 • 5 VERSES • MADANI
Surah Al-Falaq — The Daybreak
Al-Mu'awwidhatan • One of the two surahs of protection (with An-Nas)
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلۡفَلَقِ ● مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ● وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ● وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّـٰثَـٰتِ فِى ٱلۡعُقَدِ ● وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلۡفَلَقِ ● مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ● وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ● وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّـٰثَـٰتِ فِى ٱلۡعُقَدِ ● وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
Qul a'udhu bi-rabbil-falaq. Min sharri ma khalaq. Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffathati fil-'uqad. Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad.
Qul a'udhu bi-rabbil-falaq. Min sharri ma khalaq. Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffathati fil-'uqad. Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad.
Translation: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the daybreak — from the evil of what He has created, from the evil of darkness when it settles, from the evil of those who blow on knots (practising magic), and from the evil of an envier when he envies.
Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the daybreak — from the evil of what He has created, from the evil of darkness when it settles, from the evil of those who blow on knots (practising magic), and from the evil of an envier when he envies.
★ Benefit: Protection from four specific harms: created evils, darkness, black magic, and envy (evil eye). The Prophet ☮ would recite Al-Falaq and An-Nas into his hands and wipe his body before sleep. 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir reported that the Prophet said: "No (spiritual) protection has been sought with anything equal to these two surahs." (Abu Dawud, Nasai — sahih)
4. Surah An-Nas (Chapter 114) — Protection from Whispering
SURAH 114 • 6 VERSES • MADANI
Surah An-Nas — Mankind
Al-Mu'awwidhatan • Seeking refuge from the whisperer (Shaitan)
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ ● مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ ● إِلَـٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ ● مِن شَرِّ ٱلۡوَسۡوَاسِ ٱلۡخَنَّاسِ ● ٱلَّذِى يُوَسۡوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ ● مِنَ ٱلۡجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ
قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ ● مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ ● إِلَـٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ ● مِن شَرِّ ٱلۡوَسۡوَاسِ ٱلۡخَنَّاسِ ● ٱلَّذِى يُوَسۡوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ ● مِنَ ٱلۡجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
Qul a'udhu bi-rabbin-nas. Malikin-nas. Ilahin-nas. Min sharril-waswasil-khannas. Alladhi yuwaswisu fi sudurin-nas. Minal-jinnati wan-nas.
Qul a'udhu bi-rabbin-nas. Malikin-nas. Ilahin-nas. Min sharril-waswasil-khannas. Alladhi yuwaswisu fi sudurin-nas. Minal-jinnati wan-nas.
Translation: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind — from the evil of the retreating whisperer, who whispers into the hearts of mankind — from among the jinn and mankind.
Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind — from the evil of the retreating whisperer, who whispers into the hearts of mankind — from among the jinn and mankind.
★ Benefit: Surah An-Nas provides protection from the whispering of Shaitan (the devil) and from evil suggestions instilled by both jinn and other humans. Recite it with Al-Falaq in the morning and evening adhkar (3 times each), after every prayer, before sleep, and as ruqyah for protection and healing.
★ Prophetic Practice with the Four Quls:
• Morning & Evening: Recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times each — "They will suffice you for everything" (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi — sahih)
• Before Sleep: Blow into cupped hands after reciting all three, wipe hands over the body — a practice kept by the Prophet throughout his life (Bukhari)
• After every prayer: Once each. Three times after Fajr and Maghrib for extra barakah
• Al-Kafirun: Read in Fajr Sunnah (first rak'ah) and witr prayer
• As ruqyah: Recite all four when ill, blow on water and drink, or blow on body
• Morning & Evening: Recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times each — "They will suffice you for everything" (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi — sahih)
• Before Sleep: Blow into cupped hands after reciting all three, wipe hands over the body — a practice kept by the Prophet throughout his life (Bukhari)
• After every prayer: Once each. Three times after Fajr and Maghrib for extra barakah
• Al-Kafirun: Read in Fajr Sunnah (first rak'ah) and witr prayer
• As ruqyah: Recite all four when ill, blow on water and drink, or blow on body
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Four Quls?
The Four Quls are Surah Al-Kafirun (109), Al-Ikhlas (112), Al-Falaq (113) and An-Nas (114) — four short surahs that each begin with the word "Qul" (Say). They are among the most powerful and recited surahs for daily protection and spiritual strength.
What are the benefits of the Four Quls?
Al-Ikhlas equals one-third of the Quran in reward (Bukhari). Al-Falaq and An-Nas together protect from all evils — magic, evil eye, darkness, and whispering of Shaitan. Al-Kafirun is the declaration of freedom from shirk. Reciting the three protective surahs (Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas) morning and evening "suffices you in everything" (Abu Dawud).
When should I recite the Four Quls?
Morning and evening adhkar: Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times each. Before sleep: blow into hands and wipe body. After every prayer (once each, three times after Fajr and Maghrib). Al-Kafirun in the Fajr Sunnah prayer and witr. As ruqyah when ill or in need of protection.
Is Surah Al-Ikhlas really equal to one-third of the Quran?
Yes — the Prophet confirmed this (Bukhari 5013). Scholars explain the Quran covers three themes: Allah's names and attributes, stories of previous nations, and Islamic rulings. Surah Al-Ikhlas covers the first theme completely — the pure knowledge of Allah's nature — hence equalling one-third.
What is the difference between Al-Falaq and An-Nas?
Al-Falaq (The Daybreak) seeks protection from external evils: harm in creation, darkness, magic, and envy. An-Nas (Mankind) seeks protection from internal/spiritual evil: the whispering of Shaitan into the hearts of people. Together they protect from all spiritual and physical harms — which is why the Prophet recited both together.