"The 4 Quls" is a term you will hear often in Muslim households, referring to four short surahs from the end of the Qur'an that are frequently recited together. This guide explains which surahs make up the 4 Quls, why they share this name, and the well-documented practices connected to reciting them.
Which Surahs Are the 4 Quls?
The 4 Quls are:
- Surah Al-Kafirun (Chapter 109, 6 verses) — a declaration of the separation between belief and disbelief, ending with the well-known principle: to you your religion, and to me mine.
- Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112, 4 verses) — a concise statement of Allah's absolute oneness (tawhid).
- Surah Al-Falaq (Chapter 113, 5 verses) — seeking refuge in Allah from the evil of what He has created, including darkness and envy.
- Surah An-Nas (Chapter 114, 6 verses) — seeking refuge in Allah from the whispers of Satan.
All four are named "Quls" because each one opens with the Arabic word qul, meaning "say," a direct instruction from Allah to the Prophet on exactly what to declare. Al-Falaq and An-Nas together are also known as Al-Mu'awwidhatayn, "the two surahs of seeking refuge," because of how closely they are paired in both meaning and practice.
Why Are They Grouped Together?
Beyond the shared opening word, these four surahs are grouped together because of their overlapping themes of protection and pure belief. Al-Kafirun and Al-Ikhlas both concern the clarity and purity of faith, disavowing false belief and affirming Allah's oneness, while Al-Falaq and An-Nas both concern seeking Allah's protection from harm, whether from the external world or from whispered temptation. Together, the four form a natural, complementary set that many Muslims memorise and recite as a group from a young age.
The Well-Known Bedtime Practice
One of the most widely known and authentically documented practices connected to these surahs comes from a hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by the Prophet's wife Aisha. She described that whenever the Prophet went to bed each night, he would cup his hands together, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas into them, then blow into his hands and wipe them over as much of his body as he could reach, starting with his head and face, repeating this three times. This specific practice technically involves three of the four Quls (sometimes called "the three Quls" in this context), with Al-Kafirun recited separately at other times, including in some of the optional prayers before Fajr and after Maghrib alongside Al-Ikhlas, a practice also recorded in the hadith literature.
Because this bedtime routine is so well documented and widely practised, it is often the first thing people learn about "the Quls," even before learning the names of the individual surahs.
A Note on Accuracy
You will find many claims online about additional specific benefits of reciting these surahs, some well sourced and others resting on weaker or unclear narrations. We have kept this guide to the practices that are well documented and widely agreed upon, and would encourage anyone wanting the fuller picture, including the various gradings of different narrations, to ask a knowledgeable local scholar or consult a site such as Sunnah.com that documents hadith alongside their sourcing.
The 4 Quls as Wall Art
Because they are recited together so often, from childhood memorisation through to the daily practices above, the 4 Quls are a popular subject for Islamic calligraphy, often chosen as a set of four pieces hung together on a single wall. Our 4 Quls Canvas Wall Art collection features these surahs rendered in a range of calligraphy styles, printed on artist-grade canvas and hand-stretched over a pine frame, ready to hang. Displayed together, they make a considered gift for a new home, a wedding, or a prayer room refresh.
Shop the full 4 Quls collection →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Qul" mean?
"Qul" is Arabic for "say," and each of the four surahs opens with this word as a direct instruction to declare what follows.
What are the names of the 4 Quls?
Surah Al-Kafirun, Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas.
What is the difference between "the 4 Quls" and "Al-Mu'awwidhatayn"?
Al-Mu'awwidhatayn ("the two surahs of seeking refuge") refers only to Al-Falaq and An-Nas. The 4 Quls is the wider group of all four surahs that begin with "Qul."
Are the 4 Quls recited together at bedtime?
A well-documented practice from Sahih al-Bukhari describes the Prophet reciting three of them, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, into cupped hands before sleep, then wiping his hands over his body. This is sometimes referred to as "the three Quls" in that specific context.
Is it suitable to display the 4 Quls as wall art?
Yes. Qur'anic calligraphy is widely displayed in Muslim homes, typically at or above eye level in living spaces, hallways, and prayer rooms, and a set of the 4 Quls is an especially popular choice for a feature wall.
Continue Exploring
Read our full guide to Surah Al-Ikhlas for more on the second of the four Quls, or our guide to Islamic wall art for the living room.
Last updated: 24 September 2026.