Tafsir Surat an-Nas (The Mankind)

By: Ayatullah al-Uzma Nasir Makarim Shirazi in Tafsir Namuneh
Translated from Farsi into English by: Fatima Zabeth Beenesh

This sura descended at Mecca and consists of 6 ayaat
The contents and virtues of Sura e Nas
The human being is always exposed to the dangers of the satanic temptations. The devils in the guise of genies and human beings try to penetrate in the heart and soul of man. As much the prestige of man ascends by his knowledge and his status increases in the society the devilish temptations also upsurges to divert him from the right path, besides by the decay of a scholar a world faces failures.
The sura e Falaq descended upon the prophet peace be upon him as a pattern for leadership and guidance and instructs him to take refuge from the evils of the devilish temptation.
The contents of this sura in a way resembles the sura e falaq, both of them perceive the man to take refuge in the great God to get protected by the evils and the calamities, by the difference that the sura e Falaq defined many kinds of evils.But the sura e Nas only relied upon the evils of the devilish and unseen temptation:
الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
Still they is difference of opinion among the interpreters whether this sura was descended at Mecca or Medina. A group believe, it is makki (descended at Mecca) another group believe it is madani (descended at medina) but the tone of the ayat is approving that it is a Meccan chapters.
Keeping in the view that the sura e Nas and sura e Falaq according to the narrations were descended at one time and the sura e Falaq according to the belief of the majority of people is Meccan and according to this, sura e Nas can also be Meccan.
They are many descriptions acceptable about the virtues of reading this sura. Such as in a hadis we read, once the prophet peace be upon him caught ailment. Jibril and Mikaeel alaihumus salam (two archangels) came to him. Jibril alaihis salam (Gabriel) seated beside the head of the prophet and Mikaeel alaihis salam (Michael) sat close to his feet. Jibril alaihis salam recited the sura e falaq and with that sura brought the prophet peace be upon him in the protection of Merciful God and the archangel Mikaeel alaihis salam recited sura e nas for the prophet peace be upon him.
In a narration from imam Muhammad Baqir alaihis salam as it is mentioned and pointed out before, we read: anybody who recites the sura maoozatain (sura e Nas and Falaq) and qul huvallahu ahad. A glad tiding will be given to that person that the Majestic God had accepted your namaz.

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

An-Nas (The Mankind)

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ

(114:1)
SAY: "I seek refuge with the God the Provider of men,

مَلِكِ النَّاسِ

(114:2)
the Supreme of men,

إِلَهِ النَّاسِ

(114:3)
"the God of men,

مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ

(114:4)
"from the evil of the whispering of mysterious tempter,

الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ

(114:5)
"who whispers in the hearts of men

مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاسِ

(114:6)
from all [temptation of the evil by] invisible forces as well as men,"

Definition:
I take refuge to the lord of people!
In this sura which is the last sura of the honourable Quran addressed the person of the prophet as an model of a leader and head of the people and said: Say I take refuge in God, the Provider.

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ

To the master and the ruler of the people,

مَلِكِ النَّاسِ

To the god, the divine being of people,

إِلَهِ النَّاس

Interestingly three qualities are emphasised here the divinity, Lordship and holiness among the other high qualities of God and addressed the person of prophet. All of them have direct connection to the teaching of man and his salvation from the claws of dark temptations.
However to take refuge to the Majestic God does not mean that the man should pronounce it only with his tongue but he should think, believe and practice under the protection of God and cast himself away from the devilish paths, satanic programmes, evil propagations and thoughts, immoral parties and gatherings and be establish himself in the divine thoughts, propagations and paths. And in the case if the man placed himself practically in between the floods of evil enticements and just by reciting this sura and jabbering these words he will not reach to any destination.
By reciting

رَبِّ النَّاسِ

We admit the lordship of Merciful God and establish ourselves under his teaching.
By reciting

مَلِكِ النَّاسِ

Believes himself his possession and make himself his slave to obey each of his command.
By reciting

إِلَهِ النَّاسِ

Step himself in the way of his servitude and avoid himself to worship other than him. Certainly the one who believes in these three qualities and harmonize himself these potentials he will be protected from the evils of temptations and provocations.
In fact these three qualities are important lessons of teaching and three stages of preventions. And three means of salvation from the evils of tempters who entice to commit evil. And it assures the man to confront them.
Therefore in the next ayat it adds: from the harms of khannas;
الْخَنَّاسِ
The above term means the evils of the whispering of mysterious tempter

مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ

The one who creates temptations in the hearts of people

الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ

The tempters who are among the genies and the human beings
The term vasvas is basically the soft and slow sound that arises from the friction of the attires of adornment.
Then every type of the soft sounds are named after that and next the undesirable ill thoughts and the occurring which comes into existence in the minds. It is applied similar to the soft sounds that whispered in ears. Vasvas is mentioned in infinitive order. Sometimes it gives the meaning of doer one who tempts and the in the ayat under discussion it gives the similar meaning.
الْخَنَّاسِ
The above term is expressed in exaggerated mode. It means to get assembled and to reverse. It is for the reason that the devils retreat and withdraw, when the name of Allah is delivered, where this task is linked up to the meaning of getting concealed.
Therefore the meaning of ayaat is in such manner: Say I seek refuge to the Almighty God by the evils of the satanic temptations and seductions that escape away by the name of Allah and gets concealed.
Basically the devils blend their tasks in secret mode. Sometimes they breathe in the heart of man in such a manner that the man believes that this thought belongs to him only that gushed out from his heart and the same causes perversion and seduction.
The job of satan is to decorate and conceal the falsehood in the thin glaze of morality, the untruth in the nutshell of truth and the sin in the guise of worship and the misdirection in the cover of guidance.
Briefly they as well as their plans are concealed and it is a warning to all the leaders in the pathway of the truth and does not expect to see the devils in their true faces and observe their plans in their true forms and do not supposed to see their true plans in their misleading forms. It is never like that and they are the creators of satanic temptations and their main job is to lie, deceive, to show off falsely and support the untruth and to conceal the truth.
If they appear in their true faces and they did not blend the falsehood with the fact and they speak explicitly and clearly, by the sayings of hazrat Ali alaihis salam “the fact will not conceal from the pursuers of the divine path.
They take a portion of this and a portion of that and mix them together so that to dominate over the people. Hence ameerul muminin Ali alaihis salam in the continuation of this subject said: here the satan dominates upon his friends.

الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ

And the selection of the above terms that is
يُوَسْوِسُ
Creating temptations
صُدُورِ
Hearts
It emphasis on its meaning
Apart from all these the terms below:

مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاسِ

Warns that the satanic tempters who not only exist among a single group, party, a class or same attire. They are dispersed among the genies and the human beings in numerous attires and found in every class we must be extremely careful and be aware of all of them and take refuge to the Benevolent God.
The exclusive friends, the strayed companions, off track cruel leaders, harsh agents, arrogant and corrupt writers and speakers, atheist and wide-ranging schools with their deceiving appearance, the means of communication that tempts and seduces the crowds. They as well as others in the broader meaning are entirely:
الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
And the human beings must take refuge from them.

The points:

1- Why we take refuge in the Mighty God?
Every moment there is a possibility of misguidance for the human being. And basically when the Majestic God commands the man to take refuge in the Holy and compassionate God from the evils of the satanic temptations and it proves that there is probability of getting trapped in deception of tempters and seducers.
Though the great prophet peace be upon him was protected by the divine kindness and assistance of unseen by entrusting his own self to the Almighty God still he was reciting these ayat and taking refuge from the evils of the devilish tempters. Taking into consideration this manner the condition of others is quite apparent.
Still one must not get disappointed because to fight the devilish temptations the angels of heaven descend to assist the virtues believers and those who are stepping in the path of truth. Yeah the believers are not alone. The angels descend upon them and help them.
Fussilat (Explained in Detail)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ

(41:30)
Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah” and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.
But any way one must not get proud and must not think himself unneeded of exhortation, advice, reminding and divine assistances. One must always seek refuge of Exalted God and he must be constantly be awake and enlightened. All the time he should ask for the divine protection, always must be vigilant.

2- Why the term nas is repeated in three ayaat of sura?
Some said: it is because it each case it gives the same meaning.
But it is evident that to illustrate the generality of these three divine qualities and in every case it has only one meaning.
In a narration from the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him we read: every momin his heart have two ears, One ear in which an angel blows and other ear in which the devil temptations breathe in. The Compassionate God assists every believer with help of an angel and this is the impact of the

وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُ

In a meaningful and shocking narration by imam Sadiq alaihis salam it is descended, we read: those who commit evil and tyrannize upon their own selves and remember the Merciful God and plead forgiveness for their sins. They will be forgiven. The devil ascends upon a mountain in Mecca and screamed in a loud voice and gathers the chief of his army.
They say: O our master! What happened that you summoned us?
He replied: This ayat is descended (that shivers my back which causes the salvation of man.) Anybody is there to fight with and check it?
One of the chief devils said: I know that and I had planned in such and such manner against it.
Iblis did not favoured his plan. Another one got up and stated his own plans once again he did not approved it.
Here vasvas khannas got up and said: I am able to perform it.
Iblis asked: By what means?
He (vasvas khannas) replied: I will engage them by giving the promises and subjugate them in the long desires till they get polluted in the sin. And when they happened to commit the sin I will make them forget to ask for the forgiveness.
Iblis stated: You have the capability to do this task. Your plan is best and intelligent among all and entrusted him this mission till the judgment day.
O Gracious and Exalted God! Save us from the evils of every devilish tempter and seducer.
O the Glorious and most strong God! The trap is tough and the enemy is alert and his plans are secret and hidden. Except your kind help, salvation is impossible.
O Praiseworthy and Eternal God! We are ignorant how to thank you for these blessings before your threshold that you favoured us this great task in this hour we had completed the interpretation of the noble Quran (Tafseer e Namneh) after 15 years.
O Unique and Exalted God! You are well aware that these happy moments are inexpressible. The waves of gladness and joyfulness blended with thankfulness filled our entire existence, the feelings that we are unable to express them in the words. We raise our hands before your threshold and request: May be we had committed slip-ups in the definition of the ayaat you forgive us all for them and we hope as well that your servants will forgive us too.
O the Merciful and Kind God!
By your kindness accept from us our meagre service and save it on our behalf for the judgement day, the day of rewards