We have been sharing such supplications as Prophet Muhammad ﷺ supplicated so that others could remember and follow. Herein under we share a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as mentioned in Sahi Muslim Book (Number 48) Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness ( كتاب الذكر والدعاء والتوبة والاستغفار ) in 18th Chapter: Supplications [of the Prophet (SAW)]
Zaid bin Alqam has been reported as saying (Hadith 2722):
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ نُمَيْرٍ - قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآَخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، وَعَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ النَّهْدِيِّ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْقَمَ، قَالَ لاَ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِلاَّ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ كَانَ يَقُولُ " اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْهَرَمِ وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلاَهَا اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ
وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لاَ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا "
Translation:
Zaid b. Alqam reported: I am not going to say anything but only that which Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to say. He used to supplicate:" O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from incapacity, from sloth, from cowardice, from miserliness, decrepitude and from torment of the grave. O Allah, grant to my soul the sense of righteousness and purify it, for Thou art the Best Purifier thereof. Thou art the Protecting Friend thereof, and Guardian thereof. O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the knowledge which does not benefit, from the heart that does not entertain the fear (of Allah), from the soul that does not feel contented and the supplication that is not responded."
The supplication in this hadith is quite comprehensive, covering various aspects of a person’s well-being, both spiritually and in terms of character. Let’s break it down to understand the meanings behind each of the phrases.
The Supplication:
Seeking Refuge from Negative Traits and Weaknesses: "O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from incapacity, from sloth, from cowardice, from miserliness, decrepitude and from the torment of the grave."
- Incapacity: Asking for protection from being unable to do good deeds, fulfill responsibilities, or achieve what is beneficial.
- Sloth: Seeking refuge from laziness or a lack of motivation, which could prevent a person from performing acts of worship and fulfilling their duties.
- Cowardice: Asking for protection from being afraid or lacking the courage to stand up for what is right or to protect one’s faith in times of trial.
- Miserliness: Seeking refuge from being stingy, hoarding wealth, or being unwilling to help others when needed.
- Decrepitude: Asking for protection from old age that weakens a person’s physical and mental capacities, preventing them from being able to serve Allah and others effectively.
- Torment of the Grave: Seeking refuge from the punishment that one might face in the grave due to bad deeds or neglect of one’s duties in life.
Seeking Allah’s Help for the Purification of the Soul:
"O Allah, grant to my soul the sense of righteousness and purify it, for Thou art the Best Purifier thereof. Thou art the Protecting Friend thereof, and Guardian thereof."
The supplicant is asking Allah to grant their soul the ability to do what is right (righteousness) and to purify it from corruption, sin, and negative traits.
Purification of the soul is a central theme in Islamic spirituality. It refers to cleansing the heart and soul from pride, greed, envy, and other spiritual illnesses. Allah is acknowledged as the best and most capable purifier.
The terms "Protecting Friend" and "Guardian" highlight Allah’s protective and caring nature. The believer is asking for Allah’s continuous protection over their soul, which is vulnerable to external and internal negative influences.
Seeking Refuge from Unproductive or Harmful Knowledge and Practices:
"O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the knowledge which does not benefit, from the heart that does not entertain the fear (of Allah), from the soul that does not feel contented and the supplication that is not responded."
- Knowledge which does not benefit: This refers to knowledge that does not lead to practical benefit or spiritual growth. It's knowledge that may be academically interesting but does not lead to righteousness or increased closeness to Allah.
- Heart that does not entertain the fear of Allah: The heart that is not moved or humbled by the awareness of Allah's greatness and power. Taqwa, or the fear of Allah, is a central concept in Islam, guiding one to avoid sins and live a righteous life.
- Soul that does not feel contented: This refers to a soul that is restless, unsatisfied, or always seeking worldly desires without finding peace. True contentment comes from trust in Allah and being content with His decrees.
- Supplication that is not responded: The supplicant seeks protection from making prayers (du’a) that go unanswered, which may result from a lack of sincerity, the presence of impurities in the heart, or being distant from Allah.
The Wisdom Behind This Du'a:
- This supplication reflects the holistic approach Islam takes towards the individual’s well-being — both material and spiritual. The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasizes asking for protection from personal weaknesses, harmful traits, and spiritual ailments, while simultaneously seeking the purification of the heart and soul.
- The du'a also covers areas where human beings often struggle — for example, seeking refuge from ignorance (knowledge that does not benefit), seeking protection from emotional and spiritual malaise (lack of fear of Allah, contentment, and sincere supplication), and asking for Allah's guidance and protection in both the afterlife and in worldly matters.
Lessons to Learn:
- Comprehensive Self-Care: The Prophet’s (ﷺ) supplication teaches a Muslim to seek well-rounded protection, addressing both their inner spiritual state and their outer, worldly conditions. A Muslim should work not only on external actions but also on purifying their heart and soul.
- Humility and Dependence on Allah: The prayer highlights the need for humility, recognizing that only Allah can purify the soul, protect from weaknesses, and grant success in this life and the Hereafter.
- Seeking Protection from Spiritual and Physical Harm: The supplication addresses a variety of fears — from the torment of the grave to the weaknesses in one’s character or actions. It serves as a reminder that we should actively seek Allah's protection in all aspects of life.
- Value of Beneficial Knowledge and Proper Spiritual State: The prayer places great importance on seeking beneficial knowledge and having a heart full of fear and love for Allah, as well as being content with what Allah has decreed.
This du'a thus encapsulates a holistic approach to spiritual well-being, emphasizing the need for protection from harmful traits, growth through beneficial knowledge, and maintaining a close and sincere connection with Allah in all aspects of life.
What a beautifully worded supplication which is all encompassing from seeking refuge from every possible ills and invoking Allah's mercy for forgiveness. May we recite this supplication everyday so that we are protected from Satanic machinations and remain protected under the cover of our Creator, the one and only God, who has no assistants and no helpers to run this fathomless universe.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible to make you accept it forcibly, And if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, You will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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