Those who blow on knots. The Quran directly addresses sorcery — and its remedy.
4Words — the hidden harm
ن-ف-ثRoot — blowing, breath
الْعُقَدKnots — sihr magic
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Stage 2 of 5 · Break It
وَمِن شَرِّالنَّفَّاثَاتِفِيالْعُقَدِ
Wa-min sharri n-naffāthāti fī l-ʿuqad
Word 1وَمِن شَرِّwa-min sharriAnd from the evil ofContinuing the list
Word 2النَّفَّاثَاتِan-naffāthātThose who blow / breathe spellsIntensive plural — female form
Word 3فِيfīIn / uponPreposition
Word 4الْعُقَدِal-ʿuqadThe knotsDefinite plural
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Stage 3 of 5 · Discover It
🌱 The Root of This Verse
ن
—
ف
—
ث
Blowing · Exhaling · Breathing out
Root ن-ف-ث appears 3 times in the Quran
نَفَثَ
nafatha — to blow / spit lightlyVerb — blowing in incantation
نَفَّاثَة
naffātha — one who blows spellsThis verse — intensive
نَفَث
nafath — a breath / slight spitUsed in ruqya healing
نَفَخَ
nafakha — to blow stronglyRelated root — blowing into trumpets
النَّفَّاثَات are those who practice سِحْر (magic) by blowing onto knots while reciting incantations. Al-Sa'di: the Quran confirms that sihr is real and can harm — but it can only harm by Allah's permission, and this surah is the shield against it.
Source: تفسير السعدي · تفسير ابن كثير · صحيح البخاري
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Stage 4 of 5 · Connect It
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Sihr — The Quran Confirms It
Ibn Kathir: Allah would not command seeking refuge from sihr if it didn't exist. The Quran is clear — magic is real, it can affect people, and the remedy is these verses.
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The Labid Story
Ibn Kathir: a Jewish man named Labid ibn al-Aʿsam performed sihr on the Prophet. Gabriel came and told him where the knots were hidden. The Prophet recited these two surahs — and with each verse a knot untied.
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الرُّقْيَة — The Cure
Al-Sa'di: the Prophet would blow lightly (نَفَث) into his hands and recite the Mu'awwidhatain over himself every night. The same act — blowing — used for harm is used for healing.The difference is what you recite.
النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ The Quran acknowledges the harm of sihr — and gives you the refuge from it.