The 4 Quls are four short surahs near the end of the Quran that each begin with the word Qul, meaning "Say": Surah al-Kafirun (109), Surah al-Ikhlas (112), Surah al-Falaq (113) and Surah an-Nas (114). Together they summarize belief in one God and teach believers to seek His protection, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recited the last three every night before sleep.
The name "4 Quls" is especially popular in South Asia. Classical scholars more often call al-Falaq and an-Nas al-Mu'awwidhatayn, "the two surahs of seeking refuge", and sometimes include al-Ikhlas with them as al-Mu'awwidhat.
Key takeaways
- The 4 Quls in order are Surah al-Kafirun (109), al-Ikhlas (112), al-Falaq (113) and an-Nas (114).
- Each of the four surahs opens with Qul ("Say"), a command to declare its message aloud.
- Sahih al-Bukhari reports that Surah al-Ikhlas is equal to one third of the Quran.
- Sahih al-Bukhari reports that every night the Prophet recited al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas into his cupped hands and wiped them over his body, three times.
- Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet described al-Falaq and an-Nas as verses whose like had never been seen.
What are the 4 Quls in Islam?
In Islam, the 4 Quls are a group of short Meccan surahs that Muslims memorize early in life, often as children. They are recited in the daily prayers, before sleep, in the morning and evening, and when someone is sick.
The word Qul is addressed first to the Prophet and then to every believer. It turns each surah into a declaration to repeat: about who God is, about the uniqueness of worship, and about where to turn for safety. Surah al-Jinn (72) also opens with Qul, but it is not part of this popular group.
"Allah", which appears in these surahs, is the Arabic word for God and is used by Arab Christians as well as Muslims.
The 4 Quls in order
- Surah al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers), surah 109, 6 verses
- Surah al-Ikhlas (Sincerity), surah 112, 4 verses
- Surah al-Falaq (The Daybreak), surah 113, 5 verses
- Surah an-Nas (Mankind), surah 114, 6 verses
This is the order in which they appear in the Quran. Surahs 110 (an-Nasr) and 111 (al-Masad) sit between al-Kafirun and al-Ikhlas.
The 4 Quls in English with translation and meaning
Here is each surah in the Sahih International translation, followed by a transliteration and a short explanation.
1. Surah al-Kafirun (109)
Say, "O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion."
Transliteration: Qul ya ayyuha alkafiroona / La a'budu ma ta'budoona / Wala antum 'abidoona ma a'budu / Wala ana 'abidun ma 'abadtum / Wala antum 'abidoona ma a'budu / Lakum deenukum waliya deeni
Meaning. Early historians such as Ibn Ishaq report that leaders of Quraysh offered the Prophet a compromise: they would worship his God for a time if he worshipped their idols for a time. This surah answers clearly that worship of the one God cannot be mixed or traded. Its last line is also widely quoted as a principle of coexistence: people of different faiths each hold their own religion, without compulsion.
Benefits. Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet recited al-Kafirun and al-Ikhlas in the two short prayer units before the dawn prayer. In a narration in Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, he advised reciting al-Kafirun before sleep because it is a declaration of freedom from associating partners with God.
2. Surah al-Ikhlas (112)
Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Transliteration: Qul huwa Allahu ahadun / Allahu alssamadu / Lam yalid walam yooladu / Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahadun
Meaning. Ikhlas means sincerity or purity, because the surah purifies belief about God. Ahad means uniquely One. As-Samad, "the Eternal Refuge", is the One every creature turns to in need while He needs no one. A narration in Jami at-Tirmidhi says the surah was revealed when people asked the Prophet to describe the lineage of his Lord.
For Christian readers, verse 3 expresses the Islamic belief that God has no son and no parent. Muslims nonetheless honour Jesus as one of the greatest prophets, as explained in our article on Jesus in the Quran.
Benefits. Sahih al-Bukhari reports that the Prophet said this surah is equal to a third of the Quran. Scholars explain that the Quran's message covers beliefs about God, stories and guidance for living, and al-Ikhlas captures the first of these completely. Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim also tell of a companion who recited it in every prayer because it describes the Most Merciful. The Prophet said, "Tell him that Allah loves him."
3. Surah al-Falaq (113)
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak From the evil of that which He created And from the evil of darkness when it settles And from the evil of the blowers in knots And from the evil of an envier when he envies."
Transliteration: Qul a'oothu birabbi alfalaqi / Min sharri ma khalaqa / Wamin sharri ghasiqin itha waqaba / Wamin sharri alnnaffathati fee al'uqadi / Wamin sharri hasidin itha hasada
Meaning. Falaq is the breaking of dawn. The reader turns to the Lord who splits the darkness with light and asks protection from outward harms: evil in creation, dangers that spread at night, sorcery (commentators explain "the blowers in knots" as those who practise magic by blowing on knots) and the harm of envy.
4. Surah an-Nas (114)
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, The Sovereign of mankind. The God of mankind, From the evil of the retreating whisperer - Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind - From among the jinn and mankind."
Transliteration: Qul a'oothu birabbi alnnasi / Maliki alnnasi / Ilahi alnnasi / Min sharri alwaswasi alkhannasi / Allathee yuwaswisu fee sudoori alnnasi / Mina aljinnati wa alnnasi
Meaning. Where al-Falaq seeks protection from outside harms, an-Nas focuses on an inner one: the whisperer who plants evil suggestions in the heart. Ibn Kathir explains that the whisperer "retreats" when God is remembered. God is called by three names, Lord, Sovereign and God of mankind, and the surah notes that bad influence can come from people as well as from unseen beings (jinn). It is the last surah of the Quran.
Benefits of al-Falaq and an-Nas. Sahih Muslim reports from Uqbah ibn Amir that the Prophet said verses had been revealed that night whose like had never been seen, and named these two surahs. Many commentators link them to an incident of sorcery against the Prophet recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, though scholars differ on whether they were revealed in Mecca or Madinah.
4 Quls benefits and the 3 Quls before sleeping
The best-known practice is reciting the "3 Quls" before sleeping. Aishah reported in Sahih al-Bukhari that every night when the Prophet went to bed, he did the following.
- He joined his palms together.
- He recited Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas, and blew lightly into his palms.
- He wiped his hands over as much of his body as he could, beginning with his head, face and the front of his body.
- He repeated this three times.
Other authentic practices include the following.
- Morning and evening: Jami at-Tirmidhi and Sunan Abi Dawud report that reciting al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas three times in the morning and evening will suffice a person against everything.
- After each prayer: Sunan Abi Dawud and an-Nasa'i report that the Prophet told Uqbah ibn Amir to recite the surahs of seeking refuge after every prayer.
- When ill: Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that when the Prophet was sick, he recited these surahs and blew over himself.
The 4 Quls and Ayatul Kursi
Many Muslims combine the 4 Quls and Ayatul Kursi into one nightly routine. This follows separate authentic reports: Ayatul Kursi before sleep brings a guardian from God (Sahih al-Bukhari), the three Quls were the Prophet's own bedtime practice (Sahih al-Bukhari), and al-Kafirun was recommended before sleep (Abi Dawud and at-Tirmidhi).
Our guide to Ayatul Kursi explains that verse phrase by phrase. Many people also add the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah, which the Prophet said suffice whoever recites them at night.
Read the 4 Quls on Quran Universe
You can read each of the 4 Quls on Quran Universe with the Arabic text, word-by-word meaning, transliteration and a short card per verse, plus Tafsir Ibn Kathir: al-Kafirun, al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 4 Quls in Islam?
The 4 Quls are four short surahs of the Quran that begin with the word Qul ("Say"): Surah al-Kafirun, Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas. They teach the oneness of God, the purity of worship, and how to seek God's protection from harm.
What is the correct order of the 4 Quls?
In the Quran, the order is Surah al-Kafirun (109), Surah al-Ikhlas (112), Surah al-Falaq (113) and Surah an-Nas (114). When recited together, they are normally read in this same order.
What are the benefits of the 4 Quls?
Sahih al-Bukhari reports that Surah al-Ikhlas equals a third of the Quran, and that the Prophet recited al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas every night before sleep. Jami at-Tirmidhi reports that reciting these three surahs three times morning and evening suffices against everything. Al-Kafirun was recommended before sleep as a declaration of pure faith.
Which 3 Quls are read before sleeping?
The 3 Quls read before sleeping are Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas. According to Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet recited them into his cupped palms, blew lightly, and wiped his hands over his body, repeating this three times.
Why do the 4 Quls start with "Qul"?
Qul means "Say" in Arabic. It is a command from God to the Prophet, and through him to every believer, to declare the words that follow. Reciting these surahs is therefore an act of affirming belief and seeking refuge in one's own voice.