(Revealed after Hijrah)
This and the next Surah are so closely linked together that though they are complete in themselves and independent of each other, yet the following Surah (An-Nas) may be regarded as complementary to the present Surah. The present Surah deals with one aspect of the same subject while the next Surah deals with the other. Both the Surahs together are called Mu‘awwidhatan meaning, 'the two that afford protection,' because both of them open with the expression, 'I seek refuge in the Lord.' There is a wide divergence of opinion among scholars regarding the time when these Surahs were revealed. Some scholars, including Ibn ‘Abbas and Qatadah, assign them to Medina, while according to Hasan, ‘Ikrimah, ‘Ata’ and Jabir, they were revealed at Mecca. Taking all relevant facts and historical data into consideration, the majority of Muslim scholars and Commentators are inclined to place them among the Meccan Surahs.
The connection of these two Surahs with Surah Al-Ikhlas consists in the fact that in Al-Ikhlas believers were enjoined to proclaim to the world that God is One and Unique, that He is far above anything or any person being a partner in His Divinity. In these two Surahs believers are told that they should not be afraid of any tyrant, dictator or ruler in the discharge of this sacred duty and should hold the firm belief that God is the Sole Director and Controller of the whole universe and that He has the power to protect His votaries from any harm or injury that the forces of darkness might seek to do them. Though constituting an integral part of the Qur’an these two Surahs may be regarded as forming a sort of epilogue to it. The main body of the Qur’an seems to end with Surah Al-Ikhlas, which recapitulates, as it were, in a nutshell, the basic Qur’anic principles; and in these two Surahs believers are enjoined to seek Divine protection against deviating from the right path and against the mischiefs and evils which might adversely affect their material well-being and spiritual development. The Holy Prophet used to recite them regularly before going to bed.