The 4 Quls: Arabic, meaning and when to recite them
The 4 Quls are the four short surahs that begin with “Qul” (Say): Al-Kafirun, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas. Here is each one in Arabic with its meaning, when the Sunnah teaches us to recite them, and how to learn them with a child.
Last updated: 8 October 2026
Surah Al-Kafirun (Surah 109)
قُلْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ ﴿١﴾ لَآ أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٌۭ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ ﴿٤﴾ وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ ﴿٥﴾ لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ ﴿٦﴾
A clear statement of faith. The Prophet ﷺ recited it with Al-Ikhlas in the two sunnah rak‘ahs before Fajr (Sahih Muslim 726).
Surah Al-Ikhlas (Surah 112)
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ ﴿٤﴾
Equal to a third of the Quran (Sahih al-Bukhari 5013), because it describes Allah’s oneness in four short verses.
Surah Al-Falaq (Surah 113)
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿٢﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿٣﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّٰثَٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ﴿٥﴾
With An-Nas, one of the two surahs of seeking refuge (al-mu‘awwidhatayn).
Surah An-Nas (Surah 114)
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿١﴾ مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٣﴾ مِن شَرِّ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ ﴿٤﴾ ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٥﴾ مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٦﴾
The last surah of the Quran, seeking protection from inner whispering.
When to recite the Quls
- Morning and evening: Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times each; see morning and evening adhkar.
- After every prayer: once each; see dua after salah.
- Before sleeping: blow into cupped hands, recite the three, and wipe over the body, three times; see dua before sleeping.
- When unwell: the Prophet ﷺ recited them over himself; see dua for headache and pain.
Learning the Quls with children
Start with Al-Ikhlas (four verses), then An-Nas, Al-Falaq and Al-Kafirun. A verse a day, repeated at bedtime, is enough. Because these surahs are recited in salah for life, it is worth getting the pronunciation right from the start: the heavy qaf in “Qul”, the ha in “ahad” and the ghunnah in An-Nas. See the last 10 surahs and surahs to recite in salah.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 4 Quls?
The four short surahs that begin with “Qul” (Say): Al-Kafirun (109), Al-Ikhlas (112), Al-Falaq (113) and An-Nas (114). Children in UK madrasas usually learn them early, together.
When should the Quls be recited?
Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times in the morning and evening (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 3575), once after each prayer (Sunan Abi Dawud 1523), and before sleeping, blowing into the hands and wiping over the body (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
Is Al-Kafirun one of the protective surahs?
The surahs of protection are Al-Falaq and An-Nas, often joined by Al-Ikhlas. Al-Kafirun is grouped with them as the “4 Quls” because it also starts with “Qul”, and it has its own virtues.
Learn the Quls with correct tajweed
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