Prophet Muhammad ﷺ too cognizant of this fact, always made a special supplication, and encouraged his companions to do so, that reflects the perfect balance in Islam between dunya (worldly life) and akhirah (the hereafter)
This supplication is mentioned in Sahih Muslim (Book 48: The Book Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness / كتاب الذكر والدعاء والتوبة والاستغفار / Chapter 18: Supplications [Of The Prophet (SAW)] / باب التَّعَوُّذِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَمِلَ وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا لَمْ يَعْمَلْ / as Hadith 2720, given herein under:
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to supplicate (in these words):
" O Allah, set right for me my religion which is the safeguard of my affairs. And set right for me the affairs of my world wherein is my living. And set right for me my Hereafter on which depends my after-life. And make the life for me (a source) of abundance for every good and make my death a source of comfort for me protecting me against every evil."
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ دِينَارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو قَطَنٍ، عَمْرُو بْنُ الْهَيْثَمِ الْقُطَعِيُّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ الْمَاجِشُونِ عَنْ قُدَامَةَ بْنِ مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ السَّمَّانِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِيَ الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَاىَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ " .
This beautiful and profound du'a (supplication) of the Prophet ﷺ, reported by Abu Huraira, reflects the perfect balance in Islam between dunya (worldly life) and akhirah (the hereafter). Let’s break it down piece by piece and explore how it aligns with the Qur’an and other hadiths.
Let us breakdown the Hadith for easy understanding:
1. "Set right for me my religion which is the safeguard of my affairs."
Meaning that Religion (dīn) is the foundation of a believer’s life, whichgoverns not only worship but how we interact, speak, and live. The Prophet ﷺ asks Allah to preserve and correct his religion because if faith is upright, everything else will follow.
- Qur’an connection:
- “Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam...” (Surah Aal-Imran 3:19)
- “Whoever follows My guidance will not go astray or be miserable.” (Surah Taha 20:123)
- Related hadith:
- "Whoever Allah intends good for, He gives him understanding in the religion." (Bukhari & Muslim)
- This highlights that right guidance in faith is one of the greatest blessings.
2. "Set right for me the affairs of my world wherein is my living."
The Prophet ﷺ is asking Allah to bless his worldly life, because it’s where we earn, interact, and grow. A balanced and stable dunya helps us worship better and prepare for the akhirah.
- Qur’an connection:
- “Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter...” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:201)
- This mirrors the Prophet's du’a, emphasizing that a believer does not shun the world, but seeks goodness in it, while remaining focused on the eternal.
- Related hadith:
- "The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good..." (Muslim)
- This strength includes physical, financial, and mental capability in the worldly domain.
3. "Set right for me my Hereafter on which depends my after-life."
The ultimate goal is a blessed Hereafter: Jannah (Paradise), peace, and proximity to Allah. The Prophet ﷺ seeks stability and goodness in what comes after death, because everything in this world is temporary.
- Qur’an connection:
- “And the Hereafter is better and more lasting.” (Surah Al-A'la 87:17)
- “Whoever is removed from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has indeed triumphed...” (Surah Aal-Imran 3:185)
- The Prophet ﷺ emphasizes that true success lies in the Hereafter, not in worldly wealth or power.
4. "Make life for me (a source) of abundance for every good."
The Prophet ﷺ doesn’t just want to live — he wants to live meaningfully, engaging in acts of goodness, worship, kindness, and benefit to others. This is similar to what is being said in Qur'an:
- “Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent—Who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed.” (Surah Al-Mulk 67:1–2)
- Life is a test, and the Prophet ﷺ is asking that his time here be filled with beneficial deeds.
5. "Make my death a source of comfort for me, protecting me against every evil."
Meaning that death, for a believer, is not an end but a transition. The Prophet ﷺ seeks a death that is peaceful, a relief from harm, and a gateway to mercy. Let us quote two verses from Qur'an with the same theme:
- Quranic Connection:
- “Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure... (It will be said to them:) 'Peace! A word from a Merciful Lord.'” (Surah Ya-Sin 36:55-58)
- “Every soul will taste death. And you will only be given your full compensation on the Day of Resurrection.” (Surah Aal-Imran 3:185)
- Related hadith:
- “None of you should wish for death... but if he must, then let him say: 'O Allah, keep me alive as long as life is better for me, and cause me to die when death is better for me.'” (Bukhari & Muslim)
- This echoes the sentiment of this du'a: let death be a mercy, not a punishment.
Summary Reflection: This hadith is a comprehensive life blueprint from the Prophet ﷺ. It asks Allah to set our faith straight, the root of all things:
- To make our worldly life balanced and beneficial.
- To give us a blessed Hereafter, where real success lies.
- To let our life be productive, not wasted.
- And to let our death be a relief, not a fear.
It’s the ultimate du’a for a balanced, purposeful, and peaceful life, perfectly aligned with Qur’anic values and prophetic wisdom. Let us make this supplications an important part of our life and always be mindful of ensuring a perfect balance for both Dunya and Akhira.
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 for making 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.
You may refer to our reference: page: Supplications attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more prophetic supplications
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and 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 above. If anyone 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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