4 Preface وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفّاثاتِ فِي العُقَدِYusuf AliFrom the mischief of those who practise Secret Arts;1Those who practise Secret Arts: literally, ‘those (feminine) who blow on knots’, this having been a favourite form of witchcraft practiced by perverted women. Such secret arts cause psychological terror. They may be what is called magic, or secret plottings, or the display of false and seductive charms (3:14), or the spreading of false and secret rumours or slanders to frighten men or deter them from right action. There is fraud in such things, but men are swayed by it. They should cast off fear and do their duty.