"I was walking with the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and he said: "O 'Uqbah, say!' I said: 'What should I say, O Messenger of Allah?' He did not answer me, then h esaid: 'O 'Uqbah, say!' I said: 'What should I say, O Messenger of Allah?' But he did not answer me. I said: 'O Allah, make him answer me.' He said: 'O 'Uqbah, say!' I said: 'What should I say, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak...' So I recited it until I came to the end. Then he said: 'Say,' and I said: 'What should I say, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind...,' so I recited it until I came to the end. Then the Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'No one who asks has ever asked by means of anything like them, and no one who seeks refuge has ever sought refuge with anything like them.'"
The Book of Seeking Refuge with Allah - Sunan an-Nasa'i 5438
This narration from Uqbah ibn Amir al-Juhani recounts the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) emphatic teaching of the Mu'awwidhatayn (Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas), demonstrating their unparalleled spiritual protection.
Scholarly Commentary on the Narration
The Prophet's repeated prompting without initial specification indicates the immense importance of these surahs, training the companion in eager anticipation of divine revelation.
The phrase "No one who asks has ever asked by means of anything like them" establishes these chapters as the most potent means of seeking Allah's protection against all evils - both visible and unseen.
Classical scholars note that the comprehensive nature of these surahs encompasses protection from human malice, jinn, envy, dark magic, and all created harms, making them superior to any other protective invocation.
Practical Implementation
Recite Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Nas each morning and evening, following the Prophet's sunnah, for comprehensive divine protection throughout day and night.
These surahs should be recited before sleep, during times of fear, and when feeling spiritually vulnerable, as they form a spiritual fortress around the believer.
The narration teaches that sincere reliance on Allah through these specific revelations provides protection that no other means can equal, affirming tawhid in seeking refuge.