Tafseer of The Dawn · Al-Falaq · 113:4
And from the evil of the blowers in knots
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
As for His word: وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ — He says: and from the evil of the sorceresses who blow upon knots of a cord (al-naffāthāt fī al-ʿuqad) while they utter incantations over them.
In keeping with what we have said about this, the exegetes spoke.
*Mention of who said that:*
Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās: وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ — he said: that which has mixed the incantations (al-ruqā) with sorcery (al-siḥr).
Ibn Bashshār related to us, saying: Ibn Abī ʿAdī related to us, on the authority of ʿAwf, on the authority of al-Ḥasan: وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ — he said: the sorceresses and the sorcerers.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, who said: Qatāda recited وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ and said: "Beware of that which the incantations of sorcery have permeated."
He said: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Ibn Ṭāwūs, on the authority of his father, who said: "There is nothing closer to ascribing partners to Allah (shirk) than the incantation for the mentally afflicted."
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, who said: al-Ḥasan used to say, whenever he passed by وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ : "Beware of that which sorcery has permeated."
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Mahrān related to us, on the authority of Sufyān, on the authority of Jābir, on the authority of Mujāhid and ʿIkrima: النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ — Mujāhid said: incantations upon knots of a cord; and ʿIkrima said: the performing of something upon knots of a cord.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word: وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ — he said: the naffāthāt are the sorceresses upon the knots.
