When nothing seems to be working out or the pain or distress is not subsiding, we should turn to a supplication made by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ seeking refuge in Allah from the harm he is experiencing.
This supplication is mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi (28 - Chapters Medicine / كتاب صفة القيامة والرقائق والورع عن رسول الله صلى الله / Chapter # 29 How To Ward Off Pain From Oneself / باب ) as Hadith number # 2080:
'Uthman bin Abi Al-'As narrated:
"The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) came to me while I had a pain that almost ruined me. So,the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said: 'Rub it with your right hand seven times and say A`udhu bi `Izzatillah Wa Qudratihi wa Sultanihi min sharri ma ajid." ("I seek refuge in Allah's might, power, an authority, from the evil of what I suffer.)" He said: "So I did it, and Allah removed what I had, and I never ceased telling my family and others to do it."
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قال حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ، قال حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ خُصَيْفَةَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ السُّلَمِيِّ، أَنَّ نَافِعَ بْنَ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَاصِي، أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَتَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَبِي وَجَعٌ قَدْ كَانَ يُهْلِكُنِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " امْسَحْ بِيَمِينِكَ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ وَقُلْ أَعُوذُ بِعِزَّةِ اللَّهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ " . قَالَ فَفَعَلْتُ فَأَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ مَا كَانَ بِي فَلَمْ أَزَلْ آمُرُ بِهِ أَهْلِي وَغَيْرَهُمْ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Explanation of the Supplication
"I seek refuge in Allah's might, power, and authority, from the evil of what I suffer."
- Seeking Refuge in Allah: This phrase demonstrates the believer's reliance on Allah in times of hardship. It acknowledges that ultimate protection and relief come from Allah alone.
- Allah's Might, Power, and Authority: The supplicant is invoking Allah's supreme attributes, recognizing that Allah has the strength, capability, and control over all things, including the alleviation of suffering and protection from harm.
- From the Evil of What I Suffer: This part of the supplication is a plea for relief from any form of suffering, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. It recognizes that suffering can have an evil aspect, causing distress and difficulty, and seeks Allah's intervention to remove it.
Reference to the Quran
The concept of seeking refuge in Allah from various forms of harm and evil is deeply rooted in the Quran. Here are some relevant verses:
Surah Al-Falaq (113:1-5):"Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreakFrom the evil of what He has createdAnd from the evil of darkness when it settlesAnd from the evil of the blowers in knotsAnd from the evil of an envier when he envies.'"
This surah explicitly teaches Muslims to seek refuge in Allah from various forms of evil and harm.
Surah An-Nas (114:1-6):"Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,The Sovereign of mankind,The God of mankind,From the evil of the whisperer who withdraws,Who whispers in the breasts of mankind,Among jinn and among men.'"
This surah emphasizes seeking refuge in Allah from the evil influences that can affect the heart and mind.
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286):"Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear... Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us..."
This verse reflects the plea for Allah's mercy and help in bearing and alleviating burdens and suffering.
Surah Al-Isra (17:82):"And We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers..."
The Quran itself is described as a source of healing and mercy, indicating that seeking Allah's help through His words is a means of relief from suffering.
Contextual Understanding
The supplication emphasizes the believer's dependence on Allah during times of suffering and distress. It serves as a reminder that:
- Allah is the Ultimate Protector: Believers should turn to Allah in times of need, recognizing His power and authority over all things.
- Spiritual Resilience: Through supplication and trust in Allah, believers can find strength and solace, knowing that Allah is aware of their suffering and has the power to alleviate it.
- Constant Remembrance: Such supplications are part of maintaining a close and continuous relationship with Allah, keeping Him at the center of one's life, especially during difficulties.
In light of the Quran, this supplication reinforces the principle of seeking refuge in Allah and relying on His might and mercy to overcome the challenges and evils faced in life.
So let us always turn to Allah in times of distress, pain and difficult times, for it is only Allah Who can relieve us of our difficult times and ailments.
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
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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