These words are in the last two surahs

This is where the first of the last two surahs opens, and it is worth noting where these words live: not in a village practice, but in what is recited in every household.

قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلۡفَلَقِ

Say [Prophet], ‘I seek refuge with the Lord of daybreak

Qur’an 113:1

The blowers on knots, one of the three things that are named inside these two surahs.

وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّٰثَٰتِ فِي ٱلۡعُقَدِ

the harm in witches when they blow on knots

Qur’an 113:4

The third of the things named inside these surahs. This is not something people made up in a village. It is recited in every household.

وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ

the harm in the envier when he envies.’

Qur’an 113:5

The second of the two surahs, and the same point applies to both. These are refuge texts. They tell you what to say and who to turn to.

قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ

Say, ‘I seek refuge with the Lord of people

Qur’an 114:1

The whisperer, named here. Note also what this passage is not. It does not hand you a way of telling what is wrong with a particular person.

مِن شَرِّ ٱلۡوَسۡوَاسِ ٱلۡخَنَّاسِ

against the harm of the slinking whisperer––

Qur’an 114:4

The close of the second surah, shown so it is not cut off partway. Like its neighbour it is a refuge text: it tells you what to say and who to turn to, and it does not hand you a way of telling what is wrong with a particular person.

مِنَ ٱلۡجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ

whether they be jinn or people.’

Qur’an 114:6