My child mixes up Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas. How do I help?

Question

Bloomtivo Academy · Accepted Answer

Teach the key differences: Al-Falaq has 5 verses, ends its first line with الْفَلَق (the daybreak) and repeats “مِنْ شَرِّ” (from the evil of) four times; An-Nas has 6 verses, repeats النَّاس at the end of almost every verse, and names Allah three ways: رَبِّ، مَلِكِ، إِلٰهِ. Practise each one separately for a week, then together. Both surahs start with قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ, so young children often jump from one into the other.The differencesAl-Falaq (113)An-Nas (114)Verses56Verse 1 endsالْفَلَقِ (daybreak)النَّاسِ (mankind)Patternمِنْ شَرِّ × 4النَّاسِ at the end of nearly every verseAllah described asLord of daybreakLord, King, God of mankindProtection fromOuter harms: darkness, magic, envyInner harm: the whispererMemory hooksFalaq = four “min sharri”. Count them on four fingers.Nas = three names: رَبِّ النَّاسِ، مَلِكِ النَّاسِ، إِلٰهِ النَّاسِ. Count on three fingers.A 2-week fixWeek 1: Al-Falaq only, 5 times a day, counting the four “min sharri”.Week 2: An-Nas only, counting the three names.Then both, in order, daily.Teacher’s tip: use them in the bedtime routine, blowing into the hands and wiping over the body. Daily use in the right order fixes mix-ups for good. See bedtime routine.Related: Mixing up similar verses.

	Al-Falaq (113)	An-Nas (114)
Verses	5	6
Verse 1 ends	الْفَلَقِ (daybreak)	النَّاسِ (mankind)
Pattern	مِنْ شَرِّ × 4	النَّاسِ at the end of nearly every verse
Allah described as	Lord of daybreak	Lord, King, God of mankind
Protection from	Outer harms: darkness, magic, envy	Inner harm: the whisperer

My child mixes up Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas. How do I help?

The differences

Memory hooks

A 2-week fix

Parents also ask

Ready to watch your child bloom?