Closing our reflection on Surah An-Nas - why the Qur'an that opens with a plea for guidance ends with a plea for protection.
At Darus Saulieghien Quraan Academy, we remind our Hifz students that sealing the Qur'an is not the finish line, staying firm upon it is the harder, longer task. Surah An-Nas, the very last surah of the Qur'an, closes the entire Book with exactly this lesson.
Two Bookends of the Qur'an
The Qur'an opens with a plea: "Guide us to the straight path." (Surah Al-Fatihah 1:6) It closes with another: قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ١ "Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind.'" (Surah An-Nas 114:1) Between these two supplications lies the entire journey of faith. Guidance is sought first, and protection for that guidance is sought last. Knowing the truth is not the same as remaining upon it; a person may recognise what is right and still face whispers, may learn the Qur'an and still need Allah's protection to hold firm on it.
A Night Unlike Any Other
Uqbah ibn Amir (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: "Do you not see verses that were revealed tonight, the like of which has never been seen? They are: Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak,' and Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind.'" (Sahih Muslim 814) These two closing surahs were given a singular status among all revelation.
We remind our Hifz students of this often: memorising the Qur'an is guidance received; living by it, protected from every whisper that would pull them from it, is the guidance preserved.
May Allah (SWT) guide our students to the straight path, and then protect them firmly upon it until they meet Him. Ameen.