"Say I Seek Refuge in the Lord of Mankind" — Revealed with Al-Falaq as a Ruqya for the Prophet
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قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ إِلَٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ
— الناس 1
Verse: "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind." (114:1)
Occasion (Sahih — Agreed Upon): Al-Bukhari (5763) and Muslim (2189) narrated from Aisha: The Prophet ﷺ was bewitched by Labid ibn Al-Asam the Jew — he would imagine doing something he had not done. Jibreel and Mika'eel descended and informed him of the location of the magic. The two protective surahs — Al-Falaq and An-Nas — were revealed, and with each verse he recited a knot of the spell was undone until it was completely broken.
Reliability: Sahih (Agreed Upon)
Fiqh benefit: Seeking refuge in Allah from magic, the evil eye, and the devil is a legislated and transmitted practice. The two protective surahs are among the greatest remedies for Quranic healing by the Prophet's own testimony.
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari (5763); Sahih Muslim (2189) — Aisha — Agreed Upon; Lubab Al-Nuqul
Question: What event caused the two protective surahs to be revealed and what was their Quranic effect?
Answer: They were revealed when the Prophet was bewitched by Labid ibn Al-Asam. With each verse recited a knot of the spell was undone until healing was complete.