The 4 Quls (Char Quls): Arabic, English Translation & Hadith Benefits

The 4 Quls (also spelt Char Quls in Urdu and Charo Qul across the South Asian diaspora) are the four short surahs of the Quran that all begin with the imperative word Qul (قل — “Say”): Surah Al-Kafirun, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas. Together they are the most frequently recited surahs in daily Muslim life — taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a complete shield for the morning, evening, and night.

This guide gives you the full Arabic, transliteration, and English of each of the 4 Quls — not as images, but as readable text — along with the authentic hadith on when, how, and why the Prophet ﷺ commanded their recitation. Every hadith here is cited with its book and number from Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawud, or Jami at-Tirmidhi.

What Are the 4 Quls in the Quran?

The “4 Quls” (الْأَرْبَعَة قُل) is the popular name for four short surahs near the end of the Quran that share one distinctive feature: all four begin with the Arabic word Qul (قل), which means “Say”. The command is addressed by Allah directly to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — and through him, to every Muslim who recites them.

The four surahs are, in the order they appear in the Quran:

1. Surah Al-Kafirun (سُورَة الْكَافِرُون) — Chapter 109, 6 verses, Makkan
2. Surah Al-Ikhlas (سُورَة الْإِخْلَاص) — Chapter 112, 4 verses, Makkan
3. Surah Al-Falaq (سُورَة الْفَلَق) — Chapter 113, 5 verses, Madinan (some scholars: Makkan)
4. Surah An-Nas (سُورَة النَّاس) — Chapter 114, 6 verses, Madinan (some scholars: Makkan)

Despite being among the shortest surahs of the Quran — between 4 and 6 verses each — they are theologically among the densest. Surah Al-Kafirun draws the line between true monotheism and idolatry. Surah Al-Ikhlas defines the absolute oneness of Allah. Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas, known together as the Mu’awwidhatayn (“the two of refuge”), are the only place in the Quran where Allah explicitly teaches us the words to seek protection from every form of evil — external and internal, seen and unseen.

In South Asian Islamic tradition the same set is called the Char Quls (“four Quls” in Urdu/Persian) or Charo Qul. Both terms refer to the identical four surahs.

The 4 Quls in Arabic, Transliteration & English

Below is the full text of each of the 4 Quls in Arabic script, Latin-letter transliteration, and Sahih International English translation. Read them slowly, repeat each verse aloud once, and the entire set takes less than two minutes.

1. Surah Al-Kafirun (109) — “The Disbelievers”

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ
لَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ
وَلَا أَنتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ
وَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ
وَلَا أَنتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ
لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ

Transliteration:
Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
Qul yā ayyuhā l-kāfirūn
Lā aʿbudu mā taʿbudūn
Wa lā antum ʿābidūna mā aʿbud
Wa lā anā ʿābidun mā ʿabadtum
Wa lā antum ʿābidūna mā aʿbud
Lakum dīnukum wa liya dīn.

English translation (Sahih International):
“In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Say: ‘O disbelievers,
I do not worship what you worship,
Nor are you worshippers of what I worship,
Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship,
Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship.
For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.'”

Context: Surah Al-Kafirun was revealed in Makkah when the Quraysh leaders offered a compromise — they would worship Allah for a year if the Prophet ﷺ would worship their idols for a year. Allah revealed this surah as a categorical rejection of any blending of true monotheism with idol worship. It is, in Ibn Kathir’s words, “a complete disavowal of shirk.”

2. Surah Al-Ikhlas (112) — “The Sincerity”

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Transliteration:
Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
Qul huwa llāhu aḥad
Allāhu ṣ-ṣamad
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥad.

English translation (Sahih International):
“In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Say: ‘He is Allah, [who is] One,
Allah, the Eternal Refuge.
He neither begets nor is born,
Nor is there to Him any equivalent.'”

Context: Surah Al-Ikhlas is the shortest surah of the Quran — only four verses — yet the Prophet ﷺ said it equals one-third of the Quran in reward (Sahih al-Bukhari 5015). It was revealed when the polytheists of Makkah asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Describe to us the lineage of your Lord.” The reply: Allah is Ahad (uniquely One), As-Samad (the eternal absolute), without parent, child, or peer.

3. Surah Al-Falaq (113) — “The Daybreak”

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ

Transliteration:
Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
Qul aʿūdhu bi-rabbi l-falaq
Min sharri mā khalaq
Wa min sharri ghāsiqin idhā waqab
Wa min sharri n-naffāthāti fī l-ʿuqad
Wa min sharri ḥāsidin idhā ḥasad.

English translation (Sahih International):
“In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Say: ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak,
From the evil of that which He created,
And from the evil of darkness when it settles,
And from the evil of the blowers in knots,
And from the evil of an envier when he envies.'”

Context: Surah Al-Falaq is the first half of the Mu’awwidhatayn. It teaches the believer to seek refuge from four specific evils: the dangers in all of creation, the evil that comes with the dark of night, the practice of sorcery (“the blowers in knots”), and the destructive force of envy. The traditional account in Ibn Kathir’s Tafsir reports that this surah and Surah An-Nas were revealed in response to sorcery worked against the Prophet ﷺ by Labid ibn al-A’sam — and the recitation of both surahs untied the eleven knots of the spell, verse by verse.

4. Surah An-Nas (114) — “Mankind”

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
مَلِكِ النَّاسِ
إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ
مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ
مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ

Transliteration:
Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
Qul aʿūdhu bi-rabbi n-nās
Maliki n-nās
Ilāhi n-nās
Min sharri l-waswāsi l-khannās
Alladhī yuwaswisu fī ṣudūri n-nās
Mina l-jinnati wa n-nās.

English translation (Sahih International):
“In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Say: ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
The Sovereign of mankind,
The God of mankind,
From the evil of the retreating whisperer,
Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind,
From among the jinn and mankind.'”

Context: Surah An-Nas is the final chapter of the Quran and the second half of the Mu’awwidhatayn. Where Falaq seeks refuge from external evils, An-Nas seeks refuge from the most dangerous internal evil — the whispering of Shaytan. The triple invocation of Allah as Rabb (Lord), Malik (King), and Ilāh (God) of mankind establishes that protection comes only from the One who has total sovereignty over both worlds, jinn and human.

Why Are They Called the “4 Qul”?

“Qul” (قل) is the second-person singular imperative form of the Arabic verb qāla (قال) — “to say”. It is a direct command from Allah to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: Say.

Many surahs of the Quran contain the word Qul, but only these four open with it — and the command in each case is to declare something the listener cannot evade:

• Surah Al-Kafirun: “Say: O disbelievers…” — a public declaration of rejection of false worship.
• Surah Al-Ikhlas: “Say: He is Allah, One…” — a declaration of Allah’s absolute oneness in answer to those who ask about His nature.
• Surah Al-Falaq: “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak…” — a verbal act of seeking shelter from outer evils.
• Surah An-Nas: “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind…” — a verbal act of seeking shelter from inner evils and whispers.

The word Shareef (شريف) in 4 Qul Shareef means “noble” or “honoured” — a term of respect added in South Asian usage to mark the elevated status of these four surahs, similar to how Muslims refer to Quran Shareef or Hadith Shareef.

Benefits of Reciting the 4 Quls (Authentic Hadith)

The benefits of the 4 Quls are not folk tradition — they are explicitly named by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in authentic hadith preserved in Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawud, and Jami at-Tirmidhi. Each of the benefits below is grounded in a specific narration with a verifiable reference number.

1. Surah Al-Ikhlas Equals One-Third of the Quran

The Prophet ﷺ asked his companions: “Is any one of you incapable of reciting one-third of the Quran in one night?” They found that difficult and asked how. He replied: “Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad (Surah Al-Ikhlas) is equal to one-third of the Quran.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 5015, Book 66, Hadith 37; also Sahih Muslim 811]

Scholars including Imam an-Nawawi explain that this equivalence is in reward — reciting Al-Ikhlas once yields the reward of reciting one-third of the Quran. Reciting it three times therefore equals the reward of reciting the entire Quran, in terms of this specific virtue.

2. Protection from Black Magic and Evil Eye

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to seek protection from the jinn and from the evil eye until the Mu’awwidhatayn were revealed. When they were revealed, he used them and abandoned everything else.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi 2058, graded hasan sahih; also reported in Sunan Ibn Majah 3511]

This is why the Mu’awwidhatayn (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas) — together with Surah Al-Ikhlas — are the standard ruqyah for protection from the evil eye, sihr (sorcery), and any harm caused by jinn or human envy.

3. Protection from Shirk When Recited Before Sleep

Farwah ibn Nawfal al-Ashja’i reported that he came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, “O Messenger of Allah, teach me something I may say when I go to bed.” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Recite ‘Qul yā ayyuhā al-kāfirūn’ (Surah Al-Kafirun), for it is a disavowal of shirk.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi 3403, graded hasan gharib; also Sunan Abi Dawud 5055]

This makes Surah Al-Kafirun the recommended final recitation before sleep — a verbal renewal of pure monotheism so that the heart’s last words of the day are a rejection of every false god.

4. The Aisha Bedtime Sunnah (the “3 Quls” Practice)

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: “When the Prophet ﷺ went to his bed every night, he would cup his hands together and blow into them, then recite into them Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Nas. Then he would wipe his hands over as much of his body as he could reach, beginning with his head and face and the front of his body. He used to do that three times.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 5017, Book 66, Hadith 39]

This bedtime practice uses three of the four Quls (Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas) — recited three times each — and is one of the most precisely preserved sunnahs of the Prophet ﷺ.

5. Morning & Evening — “Will Suffice You Against All Things”

Abdullah ibn Khubayb narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said to him: “Recite Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad and the Mu’awwidhatayn (Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas) three times in the morning and three times in the evening; they will suffice you against everything.” [Sunan Abi Dawud 5082; Jami at-Tirmidhi 3575, graded hasan sahih gharib]

The phrase “takfīka min kulli shay'” (“will suffice you against everything”) is the strongest possible promise of comprehensive spiritual protection — and the most-cited reason scholars insist that no Muslim should leave these three surahs out of the morning and evening adhkar.

6. Healing During Illness

Aisha reported: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became ill, he would recite the Mu’awwidhat (Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas) over himself and blow [a light dry-spitting]. When his illness became severe, I used to recite them over him and wipe his own hands over his body, hoping for its blessing.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 5016; also Sahih Muslim 2192]

This narration is the foundation of the prophetic practice of ruqyah — reciting the 4 Quls over oneself or a sick person as a form of spiritual healing alongside any medical treatment.

When and How to Recite the 4 Quls

From the hadith above, the Prophet ﷺ established four distinct times for reciting the 4 Quls. Each time has its own niyyah (intention) and its own reward.

After Every Fard Salah

Uqbah ibn Amir reported: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded me to recite the Mu’awwidhāt (Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas) after every prayer.” [Sunan Abi Dawud 1523; also Jami at-Tirmidhi 2903 and Sunan an-Nasa’i 1336]

After each of the five daily fard prayers, recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas once each. This is the standard scholarly practice taught in most Islamic traditions — and after Fajr and Maghrib, recite each one three times to combine this with the morning/evening adhkar.

Morning & Evening Adhkar (3x Each)

Based on the Abdullah ibn Khubayb hadith (Abu Dawud 5082, Tirmidhi 3575): recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Nas three times each, once after Fajr (morning) and once after Maghrib (evening). The total takes about 90 seconds and is one of the most rewarded sunnah practices of the day.

Before Sleeping

Follow the Aisha sunnah (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017): cup your hands, blow lightly into them, and recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas — three times each. Then wipe your hands over your face, head, and as much of your body as you can reach. Many scholars also add Surah Al-Kafirun before this sequence based on the Farwah ibn Nawfal hadith (Tirmidhi 3403, Abu Dawud 5055).

For Healing or Ruqyah

When sick, suffering from evil eye, or seeking spiritual protection, recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas over yourself or the affected person and blow gently. Repeat as needed. This is the prophetic ruqyah documented in Bukhari 5016 and Muslim 2192.

3 Quls vs 4 Quls — What’s the Difference?

This is one of the most common sources of confusion. Both terms appear in Muslim usage, and both are correct — but they refer to different practices.

• The 3 Quls = Surah Al-Ikhlas + Surah Al-Falaq + Surah An-Nas. This is the set the Prophet ﷺ recited before sleep and in the morning & evening adhkar — three times each. Surah Al-Kafirun is not included in this practice because the bedtime / adhkar narrations specifically name these three.
• The 4 Quls = the 3 Quls + Surah Al-Kafirun. This is the term used to describe all four surahs that begin with Qul as a topic of study — and it includes the additional bedtime recitation of Al-Kafirun based on the Farwah ibn Nawfal hadith.

So if someone says “recite the 3 Quls three times” — they mean Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas (the Aisha or Abdullah ibn Khubayb practice). If someone says “memorise the 4 Quls” or “the 4 Qul Shareef” — they mean all four including Al-Kafirun. The two terms are complementary, not contradictory.

How to Memorize the 4 Quls

The 4 Quls are among the easiest surahs in the Quran to memorise because every Muslim hears them recited multiple times a day. A simple, reliable order:

1. Start with Surah An-Nas (114). It is the last surah of the Quran and one of the most familiar — most Muslims have already heard it many times in fard prayers.
2. Then Surah Al-Falaq (113). Five verses, identical opening structure to An-Nas (Qul aʿūdhu bi-rabbi…) — the parallel makes the second one easier than the first.
3. Then Surah Al-Ikhlas (112). The shortest of all — only four verses — and the one you’ll recite most often after fard prayers.
4. Finally Surah Al-Kafirun (109). The longest of the four (six verses) and the most repetitive in structure (lā aʿbudu… wa lā antum… repeated with small shifts), which can either help or trip you up. Take it slowly verse by verse.

Recite each surah aloud at least ten times in a row before moving to the next, then recite the whole set in order once at the end of each session. Within two to three weeks, all four should be fixed in your memory — and you can spend the rest of your life reciting them three times each, morning and evening, just as the Prophet ﷺ taught.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 4 Quls in the Quran?

The 4 Quls are the four short surahs that begin with the Arabic word Qul (“Say”): Surah Al-Kafirun (109), Surah Al-Ikhlas (112), Surah Al-Falaq (113), and Surah An-Nas (114). They are also known as the Char Quls in South Asian Islamic usage.

Why are these four surahs called “Qul”?

“Qul” (قل) means “Say” — the imperative form of qāla in Arabic. All four surahs open with Allah directly commanding the Prophet ﷺ (and through him, every Muslim) to say a specific declaration: of rejection (Kafirun), of monotheism (Ikhlas), or of seeking refuge (Falaq and Nas).

What are the main benefits of reciting the 4 Quls daily?

The Prophet ﷺ specifically promised: reciting Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas three times in the morning and evening “will suffice you against all things” (Sunan Abi Dawud 5082, Jami at-Tirmidhi 3575). The 4 Quls give protection from sihr and evil eye, equal one-third of the Quran in reward (Al-Ikhlas, per Sahih al-Bukhari 5015), are the prophetic ruqyah for healing, and renew tawhid before sleep.

How many times should the 4 Quls be recited each day?

Three times each in the morning (after Fajr) and three times each in the evening (after Maghrib), based on the hadith of Abdullah ibn Khubayb (Abu Dawud 5082). Additionally, recite them once after every fard salah (the Uqbah ibn Amir hadith — Abu Dawud 1523), and three times each before sleeping per the Aisha sunnah (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).

What is the difference between the 3 Quls and the 4 Quls?

The 3 Quls are Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas — the set the Prophet ﷺ recited before sleep and in the morning and evening adhkar. The 4 Quls add Surah Al-Kafirun, which is recommended additionally before sleep per the Farwah ibn Nawfal hadith (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3403). Both terms are correct in their context.

What are the Mu’awwidhatayn?

The Mu’awwidhatayn (“the two of refuge”) are Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas — the only two surahs of the Quran in which Allah teaches the believer to “seek refuge” (aʿūdhu). When all three protection surahs are referenced together (Al-Ikhlas + Falaq + Nas), they are called the Mu’awwidhāt.

Can the 4 Quls protect from black magic and evil eye?

Yes. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge from jinn and the evil eye through various means until the Mu’awwidhatayn were revealed — after which “he used them and abandoned everything else” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2058). Surah Al-Falaq explicitly seeks refuge from “the blowers in knots” (sorcerers) and “the envier when he envies” (evil eye). Recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas three times over yourself or the affected person and blow gently on the chest or affected area.

Does Surah Al-Ikhlas really equal one-third of the Quran?

Yes — in reward, not in length. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad is equal to one-third of the Quran” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5015, also Sahih Muslim 811). Imam an-Nawawi explains that the surah summarises one of the three main themes of the Quran — pure monotheism (tawhid) — and so reciting it once gives the reward equivalent to reciting one-third of the Quran.

How should I memorise the 4 Quls — in what order?

Work backwards from the end of the Quran: start with Surah An-Nas (114), then Al-Falaq (113), then Al-Ikhlas (112) — these three share the same imperative structure and short verses. Finally memorise Surah Al-Kafirun (109), which is the longest and most repetitive of the four. Recite each surah aloud ten times before moving on, and revise the full set together at the end of each session.

Related: Taqabbal Allahu Minna Wa Minkum — the Eid day greeting Muslims exchange after the Eid prayer, asking Allah to accept the worship of Ramadan or Hajj.