Signs & Science: Moon, Magic, and Envy

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قُلۡ اَعُوۡذُ بِرَبِّ الۡفَلَقِۙ‏ ١

مِنۡ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَۙ‏ ٢

وَمِنۡ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ اِذَا وَقَبَۙ‏ ٣

وَمِنۡ شَرِّ النَّفّٰثٰتِ فِى الۡعُقَدِۙ‏ ٤

وَمِنۡ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ اِذَا حَسَدَ‏ ٥

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ is the cleaver of daybreak, separating the night from the day, every morning, at Fajr. Just like He cleaves the seed in the darkness under the soil, so he cleaves the mornings from the darkness of the nights:

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

Surah al-Falaq is the second last surah of The Quran. It is a prayer seeking the protection of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ from the شَرِّ of all creatures. The word شَرِّ is generally translated as 'evil', as can be seen from this portion of the search result for شَرِّ:

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

Q72:10 uses أَشَرٌّ as the opposite of رَشَدًا (legally correct).

Q76:7 and Q76:10 mention the evil of that day (The Day of Recompense)

Q98:6 states that the rejectors from the People of the Book, and the polytheists, are the worst of creatures (شَرُّ الْبَرِيَّةِ). That is because they are not sincere to the Standing Law of Recompense (98:5 ... (لِيَعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مُخۡلِصِيۡنَ لَـهُ الدِّيۡنَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيۡمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَيُؤۡتُوا الزَّكٰوةَ وَذٰلِكَ دِيۡنُ الۡقَيِّمَةِ ؕ‏ ٥)).

Q99:8 states that every tiny bit of evil committed by anyone will be seen (وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ). Q99 is about the earthquake when the earth will throw up and chronicle everything ever done, whether good (خَيۡرًا) or bad (شَرًّا), every act will be seen, and nothing will remain hidden.

Q113 seeks the protection of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ from the شَرِّ of all creatures, in general, and specifically from the شَرِّ of the three mentioned in the subsequent three ayaat: Q113:3, Q113:4, and Q113:5

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وَمِنۡ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ اِذَا وَقَبَۙ‏ (Moon)

According to a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , Q113:3 seeks protection from the Moon when it hides. Surah Al-Qiyamah mentions the unique eclipse when the Moon will be eclipsed (وَخَسَفَ الۡقَمَرُۙ‏ ٨), before being joined with the Sun.

As noted above, Q76:7 and Q76:10 mention the evil of that day (The Day of Recompense), and Q99:8 states that every tiny bit of evil committed by anyone will be seen (وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ). So, we need to invoke Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 's protection from the evil consequences of our actions on the Day when only the Mercy of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ will be the only protection.

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وَمِنۡ شَرِّ النَّفّٰثٰتِ فِى الۡعُقَدِۙ (Magic)

The word النَّفّٰثٰتِ is used only once in The Quran, and no other word from this root is used. So, exploring its meaning in Lane's Lexicon, the apparent meaning is basically to blow from the mouth, with or without the spit. So, this ayat is a prayer for protection from those who spit on الۡعُقَدِۙ .

The meanings of الۡعُقَدِۙ are pledge, knot, contracts:

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

Q2:235 and Q2:237 use it for marriage contracts (عُقْدَةَ النِّكَاحِ).

Q4:33, Q5:1, and Q5:89 use it generally for all contracted oaths, though Q4:33 is probably about family contracts, as it is about inheritance. Notice that Q4:33 and Q5:89 link rights with oaths (الْأَيْمَانَ) contracted, using the same root for right and oaths (ي م ن), while Q5:1 links faith / belief (root أ م ن) with fulfilling contracted oaths.

Q20:27 is about the knot in the tongue or speech, as the word لِسَان is used for both tongue and speech. There are people whose ability is speak is normal, but they cannot express themselves clearly, and then there are people who stutter, so either of the meaning could apply.

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From the story of Harut and Marut of Babylon (Q2:102), we know that the people used to learn the magic of how to create separation between man and his wife (Q2:101, 102, 103).

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وَمِنۡ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ اِذَا حَسَدَ‏ (Envy)

The Quran uses the root ح س د five times only:

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

Q2:109 is about the envy of the People of the Book

Q4:54 is also about the envy of some of the People of the Book, specifically about those mentioned in [(Q4:51 (يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِالۡجِبۡتِ وَالطَّاغُوۡتِ)), ... they believe in sorcery and evil... ; Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali].

Q48:15 is about those who didn't participate in the war being envious/jealous of those who participated and therefore receive the spoils of war as part of the compensation promised to them for their participation.

Q113:5 is about the envy of the envier when he envies.

The People of the Book are envious of the Muslims. We see that playing out on the world stage, overtly and covertly, across the centuries, and the current war in the Middle East is a glaring example.

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References & Links

https://islamicstudies.info/quran/ishraq.php?sura=113

https://quranstruelight.com/the-translated-verses/chapter-113-al-falaq-the-daybreak

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Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about the Moon

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْقَمَرِ فَقَالَ: «يَا عَائِشَةُ اسْتَعِيذِي بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ هَذَا فَإِنَّ هَذَا هُوَ الْغَاسِقُ إِذا وَقب» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ
‘A’isha told of the Prophet looking at the moon and saying, “Seek refuge in God from the evil of this one, ‘A'isha, for this is the darkness when it overspreads.” 2

2. cf. Qur’an, cxiii, 3. The tradition is said to refer to the moon being eclipsed.
Tirmidhi transmitted it.
Mishkat al-Masabih 2475
https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2475

A study about The Unique Eclipse mentioned in Surah Al-Qiyamah

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Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Satan tying knots:

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي أُوَيْسٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَخِي، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بِلاَلٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ يَعْقِدُ الشَّيْطَانُ عَلَى قَافِيَةِ رَأْسِ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا هُوَ نَامَ ثَلاَثَ عُقَدٍ، يَضْرِبُ كُلَّ عُقْدَةٍ مَكَانَهَا عَلَيْكَ لَيْلٌ طَوِيلٌ فَارْقُدْ‏.‏ فَإِنِ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ، فَإِنْ تَوَضَّأَ انْحَلَّتْ عُقْدَةٌ، فَإِنْ صَلَّى انْحَلَّتْ عُقَدُهُ كُلُّهَا، فَأَصْبَحَ نَشِيطًا طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ، وَإِلاَّ أَصْبَحَ خَبِيثَ النَّفْسِ كَسْلاَنَ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "During your sleep, Satan knots three knots at the back of the head of each of you, and he breathes the following words at each knot, 'The night is, long, so keep on sleeping,' If that person wakes up and celebrates the praises of Allah, then one knot is undone, and when he performs ablution the second knot is undone, and when he prays, all the knots are undone, and he gets up in the morning lively and in good spirits, otherwise he gets up in low spirits and lethargic."
Sahih al-Bukhari 3269
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3269

Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Iblis and his troops causing separation between man and wife:

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ إِبْلِيسَ يَضَعُ عَرْشَهُ عَلَى المَاء ثمَّ يبْعَث سراياه فَأَدْنَاهُمْ مِنْهُ مَنْزِلَةً أَعْظَمُهُمْ فِتْنَةً يَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ فَعَلَتُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَيَقُولُ مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئًا قَالَ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ مَا تَرَكَتُهُ حَتَّى فَرَّقَتْ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ امْرَأَتِهِ قَالَ فَيُدْنِيهِ مِنْهُ وَيَقُولُ نَعَمْ أَنْتَ قَالَ الْأَعْمَشُ أرَاهُ قَالَ «فيلتزمه» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم
Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, "Iblis sets his throne on the water, then sends forth his detachments to tempt mankind, the one who is nearest him in station being the one who can cause the severest temptation. One of them comes and says, ‘I have done such and such,’ but he replies, ‘You have done nothing.’ Then one of them comes and says; ‘I did not leave him till I separated him from his wife.’ He then brings him near to himself saying, ‘What a fine fellow you are!' ” A'mash said he thought he said, "Then he embraces him.”
Muslim transmitted it.
Mishkat al-Masabih 71
https://sunnah.com/mishkat:71

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Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about seeking refuge from the Evil Eye:

أَخْبَرَنَا هِلاَلُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادٌ، عَنِ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَتَعَوَّذُ مِنْ عَيْنِ الْجَانِّ وَعَيْنِ الإِنْسِ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَتِ الْمُعَوِّذَتَانِ أَخَذَ بِهِمَا وَتَرَكَ مَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ ‏.‏
It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed said: "The Messenger of Allah [SAW] used to seek refuge from the evil eye of the Jinn and the evil eye of humans. When Al-Mu'awwadhatan were revealed, he started to recite them and stopped reciting anything else."
Sunan an-Nasa'i 5494
https://sunnah.com/nasai:5494

Note: The last two surahs of The Quran (Q113 & Q114) are referred to as Al-Mu'awwadhatan.

Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about envy of the Jews:

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُهَيْلُ بْنُ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا حَسَدَتْكُمُ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى شَىْءٍ مَا حَسَدَتْكُمْ عَلَى السَّلاَمِ وَالتَّأْمِينِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
It was narrated from ‘Aishah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The Jews do not envy you for anything more than they envy you for the Salam and (saying) ‘Amin’.”
Sunan Ibn Majah 856
https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:856

Wikipedia on Practical Kabbalah, Hasid, Hasideans, Hasidic Judaism, Magic and religion.

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