Beware of Al Khannās الْخَنَّاس - The one who hides after whispering

Al Qur'an is a Divine Book of guidance and is repository of Divine commands and instructions how to remain on the enlightened path and how to avoid allurements to deviate from it. Al Qur'an begins with a comprehensive prayer / dus to seek mercy of Allah (Surah 1.A Fateha) which is immediately followed by the most comprehensive Surah of Al Qur'an, the Surah 2. Al Baqarah (The Cow) which begins with the phrase: This Book is guidance for those who are pious and reflect. The Qur'an then continues to guide man through the remaining 112 Surahs / Chapters. The last two Surahs, namely Surah 113. Al Falak and Surah 114. An Naas, tell man to be on the look out of the forces of Evil that try to lure the man into the abyss of evil both through external pressures and from within

Please rad this post in conjunction with following publications already posted:

• Sürah 114. Al Naas (Mankind) - | Summary | Exegesis / Tafseer | 
• Striking resemblance between Surahs Falaq and Naas

While the Surah 113. Al Falak mentions external evil impacting life of a believer, the 114th SUrah An Naas mentions the evil within. And for this, an Arabic word الْخَنَّاس (al-Khannās) is used. While we have already shared a general meaning of the fourth verse in which this form of evil appears, that is:

مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ 

( 4 )   From the evil of the retreating whisperer 

We in this post will concentrate exclusively on the clear, accurate explanation of الْخَنَّاس (al-Khannās) from Sūrat an-Nās (114:4) — its root meaning, context, and why it is used:

Meaning of “al-Khannās” (الخناس)

The word al-Khannās comes from the Arabic root: خ ن س — khanasa, which means: (1) to withdraw, (2) to shrink back, (3) to retreat after appearing, and or (4) to hide after manifesting.

So الخنّاس (al-Khannās) means: (1) “the one who repeatedly retreats”, (2) “the stealthy withdrawer” and (3) “the one who hides after whispering”

It implies a being that approaches, whispers, then quickly disappears when remembered of Allah.

Who is al-Khannās in Surah an-Nās?

In context of this Surah, this refers specifically to Shayṭān (Satan) — the devil who: (1) whispers evil, (2) plants doubts, (3) suggests sins, (4) plays with thoughts, and then retreats immediately when Allah is remembered (e.g., saying Astaghfirullah, Bismillah, or any dhikr).

Al-Khannās as mentioned in an authentic hadith, in which the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Shayṭān sits on the heart of the son of Adam; when he remembers Allah, Shayṭān withdraws.” — Musnad Aḥmad, Sahīh

This behavior perfectly fits the meaning of Khannās.

Context of Sūrat an-Nās

Sūrat an-Nās was revealed as part of the Mu‘awwidhatayn (the two protective surahs) for seeking Allah’s protection from "internal attacks (thoughts, whispers, doubts)" as opposed to Sūrat al-Falaq, which deals with external harms.

Thus:

In Sūrat Falaq believers are asked to seek Divine help from protection from external evils

While in Sūrat Nās believers are prompted to seek Divine help from protection from internal evils (whispers of Shayṭān)

Why is the devil called “al-Khannās”? (Wisdom)

Because this describes how the devil works: (1) He does not attack openly, (2) He works subtly through whispers (waswasa). and (3) He withdraws when resisted by remembrance of Allah which instantly defeat him.

However, he returns repeatedly, coming, whispering, retreating, then returning again. This captures the psychological nature of Satan’s influence. And this persistency on the part of the Satan more often than not makes believers with weak Eeman (faith) to fall into the Satanic trap and commit sin. Remember, it was the Satan which enticed Prophet Adam and Eve to eat fruit of the forbidden tree and made them defy the exclusive Divine commandment. 

Here is a overall game plan of Satan to put concept of Al Khannās into reality:

The order of the evil of the whisperers seems to be this: first they incite one to open unbelief, polytheism, or rebellion against Allah and His Messenger, and enmity of the righteous (godly) people. If they fail in this and a person does enter Allah’s religion, they misguide him to some innovation. If they fail in this too, they tempt him to sin. If they do not succeed even in this, they inspire the man with the suggestion that there is no haram in indulging in minor sins, so that if he starts committing these freely, he is over burdened with sin. If one escapes from this too, in the last resort they try that one should keep the true religion confined to oneself, and should do nothing to make it prevail, but if a person defeats all these plans, the whole party of the devils from among men and jinn makes a common front against him and incites and stirs up the people and makes them shower him with invective and accusation and slander, and defames him as widely as it can. Then, Satan comes to the believer and excites him to anger, saying: It is cowardly of you to have borne all this insult: arise and clash with your opponents.

 

This is the last and final device with Satan by which he tries to thwart the struggle of the caller to truth and entangle him in difficulties and obstructions. If he succeeds in escaping from this too, Satan becomes powerless before him. About this same thing it has been said in the Quran: If Satan ever excites you to anger, seek refuge with Allah. (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayat 200); (Surah HaMim As-Sajdah, Ayat 36). Say: Lord, I seek refuge with You from the promptings of satans. (Surah Al-Mominun, Ayat 97). The fact is that if ever an evil suggestion from Satan so much as touches those who are God-fearing people, they immediately get alerted and clearly see the right course they should adopt. (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayat 201).

Relevance Today

The concept of Khannās has since never faded and continues to attack the believers, specially the weaker ones. The social media is largely responsible for aiding the Satan in misleading men, whispering evil thoughts in as many ways as can be thought of. Men and women, get easily attracted to the evil and once in it, they find it hard to get out. And even if they try, the persistent Satanic pricking have them fall deeper and deeper in the well of evil.

Thus, today, as ever before, the concept of Khannās fits perfectly with: (1) intrusive thoughts, (2) doubts in faith, (3) temptations, (4) anxiety-causing whispers, (5) negative inner dialogue, (6) overthinking and (6) sudden sinful urges.

How to repel the influence of Khannās?

Although, the effect created by Khannās is enormous, its antidote is very simple: Whenever one remembers Allah — through dhikr, prayer, Qur’an recitation — these thoughts “withdraw.”

Let us in the first place keep our mind clear of evil thoughts, focus our idle time on remembrance of Allah rather than engaging in activities or thoughts that aid the work of the Satan and his devil squad to lure us in his game plan of keeping us away from remembrance of Allah and at the same time thinking ill of others and making plans to hurt others. And if and when we feel that we are falling under the spell of evil, we must immediately shun any negative thoughts trying to mislead us and start remembering Allah.

Foregoing in view,  one should understand that an evil suggestion is the starting point of evil act. When it affects a careless or heedless person, it creates in him a desire for evil. Then, further whisperings change the evil desire into an evil intention and evil purpose. When the evil suggestion grows in intensity, the intention becomes a resolution, which then culminates in the evil act. Therefore, the meaning of seeking God’s refuge from the evil of the whisperer is that Allah should nip the evil in the bud.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Fore more selected verses from Al-Qurʾān Please refer to our Selected verses from Sūrahs of Qur'an to highlight important topics with detailed explanation and Reference Page on Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 

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Striking Resemblance between Surah 113 Al Falaq and Surah 114 An Naas

The two concluding Sürahs, that is Sürah 113. Al Falaq and Sürah 114 An Naas have a striking resemblance between the two. Sürah Al Falaq and Sürah An Naas, though are two Sürahs of the Qur'an are separate entities and are written in the Mushaf also under separate names, yet they are so deeply related mutually and their contents so closely resemble each other's that they have been designated by a common name Mu'awwidhatayn (the two Sürahs in which refuge with Allah has been sought, or literally 'the two protectingones'). That is in both Sürahs refuge has been sought from evil: 

• In Sürah Al Falaq from the outer evils,
• While in Sürah An Naas protection from inner evil is prayed for. 

Imam Baihaqi in Dala'il an-Nubuwwat has written that these Surahs were revealed together, that is why the combined name of both is Mu'awwidhatayn.

These two consecutive surahs are recited in order to dispel any form of evil that may be the work of the devil, evil spirits like jinn, effect of black magic or the evil eye. It is generally believed that these two surahs were revealed on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as an antidote for a spell laid on him.

Now as per the evasion of outer evil, as is sought in the Surah 113. Al Falaq, man has no control over them. That is to say from the evil of the darkness, the black magic or the evil eye by others targeting a person as is mentioned in the verse 4-6 of the surah:

(113:3) from the evil of night's darkness when it spreads around;

(113:4) from the evil of the women who blow on knots;

(113:5) and from the evil of the envier when he envies.

The details of these verses is given in the tafsir/exegesis of the Surah Al Falaq already published. It can be seen that the person being targeted may not even know that evil is being cast on him unless he starts to feel the ill effects of the evil. One should be careful if one buys a new car better than his relatives or colleagues, or gets a good job or buys new clothes, because he is likely to fall prey tom the evil eyes. Even women blow knots into handmade dolls or pierce pins into these to cast an evil spell on their adversaries due to jealousy or enmity. 

Those (feminine) who blow on knots', this having been a favourite form of witchcraft practiced by perverted women. Such secret arts cause psychological terror. They may be what is called magic, or secret plotting, or the display of false and seductive charms (iii. 14), or the spreading of false and secret rumours or slanders to frighten men or deter them from right action. There is fraud in such things, but men are swayed by it. They should cast off fear and do their duty. Such people existed a lot among the Jews and also among the soothsayers of the Arabs. But the irony is that such practices are still in vogue even in the Muslim communities even today.

These are cases of outer evil on which one has no control and can easily fall prey to these evil machinations.

On the contrary, Surah 114. An Naas warn against the satanic whispers within one's heart that mislead a person and compel him to do evil things and commit a sin. By  reciting this surah we seek refuge with Allah from the slinking whisperers, as forewarned in the following three verses of the surah:

(114:4) from the mischief of the whispering, elusive prompter who returns again and again,

(114:5) who whispers in the hearts of people; 

(114:6) whether he be from the jinn or humans.”

Here a believer has control to suppress or ignore the evil whispers and save him from wrong doings. Such whispers are often cast on a believer's heart specially when he stands up to offer Salat (prayer) and disturbs his thoughts and rather than offering prayer in humility and full concentration, his thoughts are disturbed. In so doing one usually forgets how many rakat one has offered and has to reread to undo his mistakes. This whispers also compel a believer against his fellow brother and sometimes these whispers so over power one's thinking abilities that one commits sins beyond any proportion.

Evil insinuates itself in all sorts of insidious ways from within so as to sap man's will, which was given to man by Allah. This power of evil may be Satan, or evil men or the evil inclinations within man's own will: for there are "evil ones among men and Jinns, inspiring each other with flowery discourses by way of deception" (vi. 112). They secretly whisper evil and then withdraw, to make their net the more subtle and alluring.

This last verse of Surah An Naas amplifies the description of the sources from which the whisper of evil may emanate: they may be men whom you may see or invisible spirits of evil working within. See last note. So long as we put ourselves in Allah's protection, and trust in Allah, evil cannot really touch us in our essential and inner life. 

It may be noted that whether it is the jinn or men who induce these latent suggestions in people, their general psyche is that once a person is caught in their web of deception, they totally absolve themselves of the consequences and leave people to themselves. Such devils can always be seen among human beings. It is evident from the Qur’ān that the devils from among the jinn too are no different. The word خَنَّاس depicts this very character so that people always keep the insincerity and treachery of Satan in mind. Thus, at another instances, the Qur’ān states that he is an eternal deceiver (khadhūl), all his promises are mere deception and in the Hereafter too he will absolve himself of all consequences and abandon his followers.

You may also like to know who is a Qareen and what is his association with man and how he is part of the Satan to whisper evil in your heart. Read our post on Qareen. 

Thus these two surahs which closely resemble in substance, warn the believers to be watchful of outer and inner evil so as not to fall into their trap and get astray. Whenever one feels any sort of spell over him or whisper in his heart that are misleading, one should recite these two surahs regularly and seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, Allah the Almighty, the oft forgiving and protector.

If a person is superstitious and credulous and instead of relying on sense and reason relies on speculation and conjecture and if instead of deeply trusting God clings to doubts and skepticism, then such a person is often lured by devils among the jinn and men, who then escort him to all sorts of evil. The only way to protect oneself from this evil, according to this sūrah, is to remain in the asylum of the Almighty. Whenever a person feels that his heart is getting inclined to evil, he should immediately seek refuge with Him. The best way to do this is to recite these two last sūrahs of the Qur’ān. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 9, 663)

Please refer to our Reference Page "114 Chapters (Sūrahs) of the Holy Qur'an" for translation, explanation and exegesis of all other chapters of the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Reading the Holy Quran should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Holy Qur'an from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that:

• The plain translation and explanation has been taken from the Holy Quran officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 
• The exegesis of the chapters of the Holy Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. 

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided by [2], additional input has been interjected from following sources (links to Reference Pages given below):  

• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
• Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Qur'an Wiki
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
• Tafsir Nouman Ali Khan
• Towards Understanding the Quran

In addition the references of  other sources which have been explored have also been given below. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites:

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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