Excellence of Supplication, its Etiquette and Preferred Times
Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon His Messenger.
Supplication is one of the greatest deeds that draw the
servant closer to his Creator. It is a sign of submission and a
confession of one’s weakness, neediness and humbleness
before his Lord. It is an expression of his helplessness without
guidance and support from Allah. That is why Allah Almighty
described those who do not supplicate as arrogant in the
verse that reads:
{And your Lord says, “Call upon Me and I will respond to you.
Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell
contemptible.”}
[Ghāfir: 60]
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
told us that supplication is the essence of worship, and that it
is the weapon the believer uses at times of adversity and
hardship. It is a means for the wellbeing of the servant of
Allah and his kin in this life and the Hereafter.
The following are a set of supplications from the Qur’an and
the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and
blessings be upon him). It includes some supplications of
seeking refuge in Allah in addition to blessed prophetic Thikr
(mention of Allah), carefully selected in this booklet for the
dire need of Muslims to these supplications at all times. We
ask Allah to benefit therewith its compiler and its reader.
May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet
Muhammad and all of his family and Companions.
First: Excellence of Supplication:
Allah Almighty says:
{And your Lord said, “Call upon Me and I will respond to
you...}
[Ghāfir: 60]
Allah Almighty also says:
{Is not He Who responds to the desperate one, when he calls
upon Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you
inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do
you remember.}
[Al-Naml: 62]
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
said:
“Supplication is (the essence of) worship.”
Then he recited:
{And your Lord said, “Call upon Me and I will answer your
prayer...}
[Ghāfir: 60]
[Sahīh]
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
also said:
“Nothing is more honorable in the sight of Allah than
supplication.”
[Hasan]
He (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) also said:
“Verily, your Lord is Bashful and Most Generous; He is too
Bashful to let His servant go empty-handed after raising his
hands to Him (in supplication).”
[Sahīh]
Second: Etiquette of supplication and causes of response:
1- Showing sincerity to Allah Almighty alone.
2- Starting the supplication with praising Allah and glorifying
Him, then invoking Allah’s peace and blessings on the
Prophet, and concluding the supplication with that as well.
3- Supplicating with decisiveness and presence of heart,
along with certitude that Allah will answer.
4- Persistence in supplicating without rushing the answer, in
compliance with the Hadīth wherein Allah Almighty says:
“I am as My servant expects me to be, so let him expect of Me
what he wills.”
[Sahīh]
5- Ensuring that his food, drink, and clothes are from lawful
earnings.
6- Avoiding invoking harm against one’s family, property,
children or oneself.
7- Supplicating in a low voice that is neither inaudible nor too
loud.
8- Admitting guilt and asking for forgiveness, and
acknowledging the favors of Allah and thanking Him for them.
9- Observing the times, places, and situations wherein
supplication is most likely to be answered (as mentioned in
the Hadīths).
10- Supplicating while facing the Qiblah (direction of prayer
towards Makkah), and with the hands raised and palms facing
upwards.
11- Not supplicating for a sinful thing or for breaking ties of
kinship.
12- Returning things taken from others unjustly, and repenting
from doing injustice to others.
13- Imploring Allah in supplication by His Beautiful Names
and Attributes.
14- Asking Allah for everything one needs, be it minor or
major.
15- Keenness on using the wordings that the Prophet (may
Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used in
supplication, for they are most concise.
Third: Times and Places in which supplication is answered:
1- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported
that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon
him) said:
“Our Lord, Glorified and Exalted be He, descends every night
to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night and says:
‘Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me
so that I may give him? Who asks Me for forgiveness so that I
may forgive him?"
[Sahīh]
2- At the time of Adhān (call to prayer), and between the
Adhān and Iqāmah (second call to prayer).
3- After performing ablution, if he utters the narrated
supplication for this particular time.
4- During prostration in prayer, based on the following Hadīth:
“The nearest a servant is to his Lord is when he is prostrating,
so increase your supplication (while in this state).”
[Sahīh]
5- Before and after Taslīm (concluding the prayer) in the five
daily prayers.
6- An hour of Friday, most probably the last hour before
sunset.
7- When drinking Zamzam water, along with sincere intention.
8- When it is raining.
9- When supplicating Allah with His Most Grand Name, which
if He is called upon with, He answers; and if He is asked
thereby He gives.
10- While performing Hajj (pilgrimage) or ‘Umrah (minor
pilgrimage).
11- After stoning the small and medium Jamrāt in Hajj.
12- During Tawāf, on Safa and Marwah, and while walking
between them (in Hajj and ‘Umrah).
13- Supplication of the Day of Arafah at Arafah mount and
plain.
14- While traveling.
15- While fasting until the time of breaking the fast, and while
breaking the fast.
16- While in distress.
17- Supplication of the dutiful child for his parents.
Fourth: Qur’anic Supplications:
*-
{Rabbanā taqabbal minnā innaka anta as-samī‘u al-‘alīm.
rabbanā waj‘alnā muslimayni laka wa min dhuriyyatina
ummatan muslimatan laka wa arina manāsikana wa tub
‘alayinā innaka anta at-tawwabu ar-rahīm.} Translation: {Our
Lord, accept from us. Indeed You are The Hearing, The
Knowing. Our Lord, and make us Muslims in submission to
You and from our descendants a Muslim nation in submission
to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance.
Indeed, You are The Accepting of Repentance, The Merciful}
[Al-Baqarah: 127-128]
*-
{Rabbana ātina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-ākhirati hasanatan
wa qinā ‘adhāb an-nār.} {Our Lord, give us in this world what
is good and in the Hereafter what is good, and protect us from
the punishment of the Fire.}
[Al-Baqarah: 201]
*-
{Rabbana lā tuzigh qulūbana ba‘da idh hadaytana wa hab
lana min ladunka rahmah, innaka anta al-Wahhāb.} {Our Lord,
let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant
us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.}
[Āl-‘Imrān: 8]
*-
{Rabbana innana āmanna faghfir lana dhunūbana wa qina
‘adhāb an-nār} {Our Lord, indeed we have believed, so forgive
us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.}
[Āl-‘Imrān: 16]
*-
{...Rabbana faghfir lana dhunūbana wa kaffir ‘anna sayyi’ātina
wa tawaffana ma‘ al-abrār. Rabbana wa ātina mā wa‘dtana
‘ala rusulik wa lā tukhzina yawm al-qiyāmah innaka la tukhlifu
al-mī‘ād.} {Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from
us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous. Our
Lord, and grant us what You promised us through Your
messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of
Resurrection. Indeed, You do not fail in Your promise.}
[Āl-‘Imrān: 193-194]
*-
{Rabbana zhalamna anfusana wa in lam taghfir lana wa
tarhamna lanakūnanna min al-khāsirīn.} {Our Lord, we have
wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have
mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.}
[Al-A‘rāf: 23]
*-
{Rabbana hab lana min azwājina wa dhurriyātina qurrata
a‘yunin waj‘alna lil-muttaqīna imāma.} {Our Lord, bless us with
spouses and offspring who will be the joy of our eyes, and
make us an example for the righteous.}
[Al-Furqān: 74]
*-
{Rabbi hab li min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibatan innaka
samī‘u ad-du‘ā’.} {My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good
offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.}
[Āl-‘Imrān: 38]
*-
{Rabbi ighfir warham wa anta khayru ar-rāhimīn.} {My Lord,
forgive and have mercy, for You are the best of those who
show mercy.}
[Al-Mu’minūn: 118]
*-
{Rabbi ij‘alni muqīm as-salāti wa min dhurriyyatī rabbana wa
taqabbal du‘ā’. Rabbana ighfir lī wa liwālidayya wa
lil-mu’minīn yawma yaqūm al-hisāb.} {My Lord, make me an
establisher of prayer, and many from my descendants. Our
Lord, and accept my supplication. Our Lord, forgive me and
my parents and the believers on the Day when the reckoning
is established.}
[Ibrāhīm: 40-41]
*-
{Rabbi a‘ūdhu bika min hamazāt ash-shayātīn wa a‘ūdhu bika
rabbi an yahdurūn.} {My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the
temptations of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord,
from them when they approach me.}
[Al-Mu’minūn: 97-98]
*-
{Rabbi hab li min as-sālihīn.} {My Lord, grant me offspring
from the righteous.}
[As-Sāffāt: 100]
*-
{Anni massaniya ad-durru wa anta arhamu ar-rāhimīn.}
{Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most
Merciful of the merciful.}
[Al-Anbiā’: 83]
*-
{Rabbi awzi‘ni an ashkura ni‘mataka allati an‘amta ‘alayya wa
‘ala wālidayya wa an a‘mala sālihan tardāhu wa aslih li fi
dhurriyati inni tubtu ilayka wa inni min al-muslimīn.} {My Lord,
inspire me to be thankful for Your favors which You have
blessed me and my parents with, and to do good deeds that
please you, and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I
have repented to You, and, indeed, I am of the Muslims.}
[Al-Ahqāf: 15]
Fifth: Supplications from Hadīth:
*-
“Allāhumma aslih li dīnī alladhi huwa ‘ismatu amrī, wa aslih lī
dunyāya allatī fīhā ma‘āshi, wa aslih lī ākhirati allati fīhā
ma‘ādī, waj‘al al-hayāta ziyādatan lī fī kulli khayrin, waj‘al
al-mawta rāhatan lī min kulli sharr.” “O Allah, rectify for me my
religion which is the safeguard of my affairs, and rectify for me
the affairs of this world wherein is my sustenance, and rectify
for me my Hereafter to which is my return, and make life an
increase for me in every good, and make death a relief for me
from every evil.”
[Sahīh]
*-
“Allāhumma innī zhalamtu nafsī zhulman kathīran wa lā
yaghfiru adh-dhunūba illa anta faghfir lī maghfiratan min ‘indik
war-hamnī innka anta Al-Ghafūr Ar-Rahīm.” “O Allah, I have
wronged myself too much, and none forgives sins but You.
So, forgive me with forgiveness from You, and have mercy on
me. Indeed You are The Oft-Forgiving, The Most Merciful.”
[Sahīh] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon him) taught Abu Bakr Al-Siddīq to recite this supplication
in his prayers.
*-
“Allāhumma ij‘al fī qalbi nūran, wa fī basari nūran, wa fī sam‘i
nūran, wa ‘an yamīni nūran, wa ‘an yasāri nūran, wa fawqi
nūran, wa tahti nūran, wa amāmi nūran, wa khalfi nūran,
waj‘al lī nūra.” “O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my
sight, light in my hearing, light on my right, light on my left,
light above me, light below me, light in front of me, light
behind me, and make light for me.”
[Al-Bukhāri and Muslim] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and
blessings be upon him) used to recite this supplication in his
prayer or while prostrating.
*-
“Allāhumma innī as’aluka min al-khayri kullihi, ‘ājilihi wa ājilihi,
mā ‘alimtu minhu wa mā lam a‘lam. Wa a‘ūdhu bika min
ash-sharri kullihi, ‘ājilihi wa ājilihi, mā ‘alimtu minhu wa mā lam
a‘lam. Allāhumma innī as’aluka min khayri mā sa’alaka
‘abduka wa nabiyyuka Muhammadun salla-Allāhu ‘alayhi wa
sallam, wa a‘ūdhu bika min sharri mā ‘ādha minhu ‘abduka wa
nabiyyuk. Allāhumma inni as’aluka al-jannata wa mā qarraba
ilayhā min qawlin aw ‘amalin, wa a‘ūdhu bika min an-nāri wa
mā qarraba ilayhā min qawlin aw ‘amalin, wa as’aluka an
taj‘ala kulla qadā’in qadaytahu li khayran.” “O Allah, I ask You
for all that is good, now or in the future, what I know and what
I do not know. O Allah, I seek refuge with You from all evil,
now or in the future, what I know and what I do not know. O
Allah, I ask You for the good that Your servant and Prophet,
Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
has asked You for, and I seek refuge in You from the evil from
which Your servant and Prophet sought refuge. O Allah, I ask
You for Paradise and for what brings one closer to it, in word
and deed, and I seek refuge in You from Hell and from what
brings one closer to it, in word and deed. And I ask You to
make every decree that You decreed concerning me good.”
[Sahīh] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon him) taught this supplication to ‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the
Believers (may Allah be pleased with her). It is one of the
succinct supplications.
*-
“Allāhumma innī a‘ūdhu bika min zawāli ni‘matika wa
tahawwuli ‘āfiyatika wa fujā’ati niqmatika wa jamī‘i sakhatik.”
“O Allah, I seek refuge with You from withholding of Your
favors, the decline of my well-being, the suddenness of Your
punishment, and from all that displeases You.”
[Sahīh]
*-
“Allāhumma innī as’aluka fi‘l al-khayrāt wa tark al-munkarāt
wa hubb al-masākīn, wa idhā aradta bi‘ibādika fitnatan
faqbidnī ilayka ghayra maftūn, wa as’aluka hubbaka wa
hubba man yuhibbuka wa hubba ‘amalin yuqarribunī ila
hubbik.” “O Allah, I ask You to help me do good deeds,
abstain from evil ones, and love the poor and needy. And if it
is Your Will that you put your slaves to trial (regarding their
faith), then make me die without being put to that trial. I ask
You to grant me Your Love, the love of those who love You,
and the love of deeds that bring me closer to Your Love.”
[Hasan Sahīh] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings
be upon him) ordered us to study and learn this supplication.
*-
“Allāhumma rabb as-samāwāti wa rabb al-ardi wa rabb
al-‘arsh al-‘azhīm, rabbana wa rabba kulli shay’, fāliq al-habbi
wan-nawa wa munzil at-tawrāh wal-injīl wal-furqān. A‘ūdhu
bika min sharri kulli shay’in anta ākhidhun bināsiyatih.
Allāhumma anta Al-Awwalu fa laysa qablaka shay’, wa anta
Al-Ākhiru fa laysa ba‘daka shay’, wa anta Azh-Zhāhiru fa
laysa fawqaka shay’, wa anta Al-Bātinu fa laysa dūnaka shay’.
Iqdi ‘anna ad-dayn w-aghnina min al-faqr.” “O Allah, Lord of
the heavens and the earth, and Lord of the Mighty Throne,
our Lord and Lord of all things, Splitter of the seed and the
date stone, Revealer of the Torah, the Gospel, and the
Qur’an, I seek refuge in You from the evil of all things that You
seize by the forelock [i.e. have full control over them]. O Allah,
You are the First and there is nothing before You; You are the
Last and there is nothing after You. You are the Manifest and
there is nothing above You; You are the Hidden and there is
nothing beyond You. Clear our debt and spare us against
poverty.”
[Sahīh] This is a supplication to ask for settling debts and
increase in provision.
*-
“Allāhumma iqsim lana min khashyatika ma tahūlu bihi
baynanā wa bayna ma‘āseek, wa min tā‘atika ma tuballighuna
bihi jannatak, wa min al-yaqīni ma tuhawwinu bihi ‘alaynā
masā’ib ad-dunya. Allāhumma matti‘na bi asmāi‘na wa
absārina wa quwwātina mā ahyaytana, waj‘alhu al-wāritha
minna, waj‘al tha’rana ‘ala man zhalamana, wansurna ‘ala
man ‘ādāna, wa la taj‘al musībatana fī dīnina, wa la taj‘al
ad-dunya akbara hammina, wa la mablagha ‘ilmina, wa la
tusallit ‘alaynā man lā yarhamuna.” “O Allah, apportion to us
fear of You that should serve as a barrier between us and
disobedience to You; and such obedience to You that should
take us to Your Paradise; and such certitude that should
alleviate for us the calamities of this worldly life. O Allah, let us
enjoy our hearing, our sight, and our strengths as long as You
keep us alive, and allow this to remain until our death, and
make our retaliation restricted to those who oppress us, and
give us victory over those who show hostility towards us. Let
no misfortune afflict our religion; let not worldly affairs be our
main concern or the ultimate limit of our knowledge, and give
not authority over us to those who do not show mercy to us.”
[Hasan] Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his
father) said: “The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings
be upon him) rarely left a gathering before reciting these
supplications for his Companions.”
*-
“Allāhumma ihfazhni bil-islāmi qā’iman wa ihfazhni bil-islāmi
qā‘idan wa ihfazhni bil-islāmi rāqidan wa la tushmit bi
‘aduwwan hāsida. Allāhumma inni as’aluka min kulli khayrin
khazā’inuhu bi yadika wa a‘ūdhu bika min kulli sharrin
khazā’inuhu bi yadik.” “O Allah, protect me with Islam when
standing, and protect me with Islam when sitting down, and
protect me with Islam when reclining, and do not make an
envying enemy rejoice at my misfortune. O Allah, I ask You for
every good whose stores are in Your Hand, and I seek refuge
in You from every evil whose stores are in Your Hand.”
[Hasan]
*-
“Allāhumma musarrif al-qulūb, sarrif qulūbana ‘ala tā‘atik” “O
Allah, Controller of hearts, direct our hearts to Your
obedience.”
[Sahīh]
*-
“Yā muqallib al-qulūb, thabbit qalbī ‘ala dīnik.” “O Turner of
the hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.”
[Sahīh] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon him) often said this supplication.
*-
“Allāhumma inni as’aluka bi’anna laka al-hamd, lā ilāha illa
anta al-mannān, badī‘u as-samāwāti wal-ard, ya dhal-jalāli
wal-ikrām, ya hayyu ya qayyūm.” “O Allah, I ask You by the
fact that all praise is due to You. There is no god worthy of
worship but You, the Bestower of blessings, the Inventor of
the heavens and the earth, O Owner of Majesty and Honor, O
Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all existence.”
[Sahīh] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon him) heard a man saying this supplication in his prayer,
he then commented: “He asked Allah by His Greatest Name,
which if He is asked thereby He gives, and if He is called
upon thereby He answers.”
*-
“Allāhumma inni as’aluka yā Allāh al-Ahad as-Samad alladhi
lam yalid wa lam yūlad wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad an
taghfira li dhunūbi innaka anta al-Ghafūr ar-Raheem.” “O
Allah, I ask You, O Allah, The One, The Eternal Refuge, Who
neither begets nor is He begotten, nor is there any equivalent
to Him, to forgive my sins. Indeed You are The Oft-Forgiving,
The Most Merciful.”
[Sahīh] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon him) heard a man saying this supplication in Tashahhud
(last sitting in prayer) and he said: “He is forgiven, he is
forgiven, he is forgiven.”
*-
“Allāhumma inni as’aluka al-huda wat-tuqa wal-‘afāfa
wal-ghina.” “O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, abstinence,
and sufficiency.”
[Sahīh] ‘Afāf means abstaining from what is not allowed.
Ghina means not needing people and dispensing with what
they have.
*-
“Allāhumma ighfir li khatī’ati wa jahli wa isrāfi fi amri wa mā
anta a‘lamu bihi minni. Allāhumma ighfir li hazli wa jiddi wa
khata’i wa ‘amdi wa kullu dhālika ‘indi. Allāhumma ighfir li ma
qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu wa ma asrartu wa ma a‘lantu wa
ma anta a‘lamu bihi minni. Anta al-muqaddimu wa anta
al-mu’akhkhiru, wa anta ‘ala kulli shay’in qadīr.” “O Allah,
forgive my sins, my ignorance, my excess in my affairs, and
whatever You are better aware of than I. O Allah, forgive my
sins which I committed humorously, seriously, mistakenly or
deliberately, and all of them I have committed. O Allah, forgive
my sins of the past and the future, those which I committed
secretly or openly, and those which You are better aware of
than I. You alone can make someone progress or lag behind,
and You alone have the absolute power over everything.”
[Sahīh]
*-
“Allāhumma Rabbana ātina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-ākhirati
hasanah wa qinā ‘adhāb an-nār.” “O Allah, Our Lord, give us
in this world what is good and in the Hereafter what is good,
and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
[Sahīh] “What is good in this world” is a collective name for
every good that a man encounters in this life, while “what is
good in the Hereafter” means Paradise. This is one of the
supplications that Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace
and blessings be upon him) said the most, as reported by
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him). Anas used to
say this supplication whenever he wished to supplicate.
These few words are so concise and inclusive of all that is
good in this life and in the Hereafter, along with asking for
salvation from Hellfire, which is the worst of all evils.
*-
“Allāhumma anta rabbi lā ilāha illa ant, khalaqtani wa anā
‘abduk, wa anā ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa‘dika mastata‘t, a‘ūdhu bika
min sharri ma sana‘t, abū’u laka bini‘matika ‘alayya wa abū’u
bidhanbi faghfir li fa-innahu la yaghfiru adh-dhunūba illa ant.”
“O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god worthy of worship
but You. You created me and I am Your slave. I will keep Your
covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You
from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favor
upon me, and I admit my sin. So, forgive me. Indeed, none
can forgive sins but You.” The Prophet (may Allah’s peace
and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever says these words
during the day while certain of their meaning then he dies
before the evening, he will be granted Paradise, and whoever
says them at night while certain of their meaning then he dies
before morning, he will be granted Paradise.”
[Sahīh]
*-
“Allāhumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbu al-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anni.” “O
Allah, You are Pardoning, Generous, and You like to pardon,
so pardon me.”
[Sahīh]
*-
“Allāhumma a‘inna ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni
‘ibādatik.” “O Allah, aid us to remember You, thank You, and
worship You as due.”
[Sahīh]
Sixth: Supplications at times of worry, grief, distress and
affliction:
*-
“Allāhumma inni ‘abduka wa ibn ‘abdika wa ibn amatik,
nāsiyati biyadik, mādin fiyya hukmuk, ‘adlun fiyya qadā’uk,
as’aluka bikulli ismin huwa lak sammayta bihi nafsak aw
anzaltahu fi kitābik aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqik aw
ista’tharta bihi fi ‘ilm al-ghaybi ‘indak an taj‘al al-Qur’āna rabī‘a
qalbi wa nūra sadri wa jalā’a huzni wa dhahāba hammi.” “O
Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your
female servant, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command
over me is forever executed, and Your decree over me is just.
I ask You by every Name belonging to You which You named
Yourself with, or You revealed in Your Book, or You taught to
any of Your creation, or You preserved in the knowledge of the
unseen with You, that You make the Qur’an the life of my
heart, the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness, and
the reliever of my distress.”
[Sahīh] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon him) ordered that whoever hears this supplication
should learn it.
*-
“Allāhumma rahmataka arju falā takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘aynin,
wa aslih li sha’ni kullah. Lā ilāha illa ant.” “O Allah, Your mercy
is what I hope for, so do not place me in charge of myself
even for the blink of an eye, and set right all my affairs. There
is no god worthy of worship but You.”
[Sahīh] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon him) said that this is one of the supplications for
relieving distress.
*-
“Lā ilāha illa Allāh Al-‘Azhīm Al-Halīm. Lā ilāha illa Allāh
Rabbul-‘arshi al-‘azhīm. Lā ilāha illa Allāh Rabbus-samāwāti
wa Rabbul-ardi wa Rabbul-‘arshi al-karīm.” “There is no god
worthy of worship but Allah, The Most Great, The Forbearing.
There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, the Lord of the
Mighty Throne. There is no god worthy of worship but Allah,
the Lord of the heavens, the earth, and the Honorable
Throne.”
[Sahīh] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon him) used to say these words at the times of distress,
then he used to supplicate Allah right after it.
*-
“Lā ilāha illa anta subhānaka inni kuntu min azh-zhālimīn.”
“There is no god worthy of worship but You; Exalted are You.
Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
[Sahīh] This is the supplication that Prophet Yunus (Jonah)
said when he was inside the belly of the whale. The Prophet
(may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) told us that
any Muslim who uses these words when asking Allah for
anything will be given what he asked for.
Seventh: Prophetic refuge-seeking supplications:
*-
“Allāhumma inni a‘ūdhu bi-ridāka min sakhatik, wa
bi-mu‘āfātika min ‘uqūbatik, wa a‘ūdhu bika minka, la uhsi
thanā’an ‘alayka, anta kama athnayta ‘ala nafsik.” “O Allah, I
seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath and in Your
pardon from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in You from
You. I cannot count the praises You deserve. You are as You
have praised Yourself.”
[Sahīh] An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy upon him)
mentioned a subtle meaning in this supplication; namely, that
a sayer of this supplication seeks refuge in Allah with His
pleasure from His wrath and with His pardon from His
punishment, and pleasure and wrath are opposites just as
pardon and punishment are opposites. This means asking
forgiveness for any shortcoming in fulfilling what is required
regarding worshiping Allah and praising Him.
*-
“Allāhumma inni a‘ūdhu bika min jahd al-balā’, wa darak
ash-shaqā’, wa shamātat al-a‘dā’, wa sū’ al-qadā’.” “O Allah, I
seek refuge in You from the distress of trial, the lowest level of
misfortune, perversity of fate, and malicious joy of the
enemies.”
[Sahīh] Distress of trial: Any hardship that a man faces which
he cannot bear or escape. Lowest level of misfortune: To
suffer hardship to the point of being on the brink of collapse.
Perversity of fate: Any decree that upsets a person. Malicious
joy of the enemies: Joy of enemies when a calamity befalls a
person and they find joy in his grief.
*-
“Allāhumma inni a‘ūdhu bika min al-‘ajzi wal-kasal, wal-jubni
wal-bukhl, wal-haram wa ‘adhāb al-qabr. Allāhumma āti nafsi
taqwāha, wa zakkiha anta khayru man zakkāha, anta
waliyyuha wa mawlāha. Allāhumma inni a‘ūdhu bika min ‘ilmin
la yanfa‘, wa min qalbin la yakhsha‘, wa min nafsin la tashba‘,
wa min da‘watin la yustajābu laha.” “O Allah, I seek refuge
with You from inability (to do good), indolence, cowardice,
miserliness, decrepitude, and torment of the grave. O Allah,
grant me the sense of piety and purify my soul as You are the
Best to purify it. You are its Guardian and its Protecting Ally. O
Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that is not
beneficial, from a heart that does not fear (You), from a self
that never gets satisfied, and from a supplication that is not
answered.”
[Sahīh] Purify it: Cleanse it; no one can cleanse it other than
You, Glory be to You.
*-
“Allāhumma inna na‘ūdhu bika min ‘adhābi Jahannam, wa
a‘ūdhu bika min ‘adhāb al-qabr, wa a‘ūdhu bika min fitnat
al-masīh ad-dajjāl, wa a‘ūdhu bika min fitnat al-mahyā
wal-mamāt.” “O Allah, we seek refuge in You from the torment
of Hell, and I seek refuge in You from the torment of the
grave, and I seek refuge in You from the tribulation of the
Antichrist, and I seek refuge in You from the trials of life and
death.”
[Sahīh] Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his
father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and
blessings be upon him) used to teach them this supplication
as he used to teach them a Surah from the Qur’an.
Eighth: Prophetic Dhikr (remembrance of Allah):
*-
“Subhān Allāh wa bihamdih, Subhān Allāh Al-‘Athīm.” “Glory
and praise be to Allah, glory be to Allah The Most Great.”
[Sahīh] It was reported that this supplication was dearer to the
Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) than
everything over which the sun rises.
*-
“Subhān Allāh, wal-hamdulillāh, wa lā ilāha illa Allāh,
wa-Allāhu akbar.” “Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there
is none worthy of worship but Allah, and Allah is Most Great.”
[Sahīh] It was reported that this supplication is among the
most beloved speech to Allah.
Juwayriyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that:
“The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
left her house in the early morning when he performed Fajr
prayer, while she was in her place of prayer. Then he returned
in the forenoon and she was still sitting in the same place. He
asked her: “You are still in the state I left you in?” She said:
“Yes.” He then said: “I recited four phrases three times after I
had left you; if they were to be weighed against what you
have been reciting since morning, they would outweigh them.
They are: Subhān Allāh wa bihamdih, ‘adada khalqih, wa ridā
nafsih, wa zinata ‘arshih, wa midāda kalimātih “Glory and
praise be to Allah by the amount of His creation and His
pleasure, and by the weight of His Throne, and the ink of His
words.”
[Muslim: Sahīh]
*-
“Lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.” “There is no might nor
power except by Allah.”
[Sahīh] It was reported that these words are a treasure of
Paradise.
*-
“Radītu billāhi rabban wa bil-islāmi dīnan wa bi muhammadin
nabiyyan.” “I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, Islam as my
religion, and Muhammad as my prophet.”
[Sahīh] It was reported that whoever says that is entitled to
Paradise.
*-
“Lā ilāha illa Allāh wahdahu lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulku wa
lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadīr.” “There is no
deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, Who has no
partner, to Him belongs Sovereignty, to Him belongs Praise,
and He is Omnipotent over all things.”
[Sahīh] Whoever says these words a hundred times in a day
will have a reward equivalent to that of emancipating ten
slaves, a hundred good deeds will be recorded to his credit, a
hundred of his sins will be blotted out, and he will be
safeguarded against the devil on that day till the evening; and
no one will exceed him in doing more excellent good deeds
except someone who has recited these words more than him.
*-
“Allāhumma rabbana lakal-hamd, anta qayyimu as-samāwāti
wal-ard, wa lakal-hamd, anta rabbu as-samāwāti wal-ard wa
man fīhinn, wa lakal-hamd, anta nūru as-samāwāti wal-ardi
wa man fihinn, anta Al-Haqq, wa qawluka al-haqq, wa
wa‘duka al-haqq, wa liqā’uka al-haqq, wal-jannatu haqq,
wan-nāru haqq, was-sā‘atu haqq. Allāhumma laka aslamt, wa
bika āmant, wa ‘alayka tawakkalt, wa ilayka khasamt, wa bika
hākamt, faghfir li mā qaddamtu wa mā akhkhart, wa mā
asrartu wa mā a‘lant. Anta al-muqaddimu wa anta
al-mu’akhkhiru, lā ilāha illa anta wa lā ilāha ghayruk.” “O
Allah, praise is due to You. You are the Sustainer of the
heavens and the earth. Praise is due to You, You are the Lord
of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. Praise is
due to You, You are the Light of the heavens and the earth
and all that is in them. Praise is due to You. You are the Truth,
Your speech is true, Your promise is true, and the day on
which we will encounter You is true. Paradise is true, Hellfire
is true, and the Hour is true. O Allah, I submit to You, believe
in You, rely upon You, with Your help I argue (with my
opponents), and refer judgment to You. So, forgive me my
previous and future sins, and what I have concealed and what
I have revealed. You alone can make someone progress or
lag behind. Indeed, there is no god worthy of worship but
You.”
[Sahīh] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon him) used to say this supplication when he woke up at
night for voluntary night prayer.
*-
“Allāhumma laka aslamt, wa bika āmant, wa ‘alayka
tawakkalt, wa ilayka anabt, wa bika khāsamt. Allāhumma inni
a‘ūdhu bi‘izzatika, lā ilāha illa ant, an tudillani. Anta al-hayyu
alladhi lā yamūt, wal-jinnu wal-insu yamūtūn.” “O Allah, I
surrender to You, I believe in You, I rely upon You, to You I
repent, and with Your help I dispute. I seek refuge in Your
Might, no deity is worthy of worship but You, that You do not
lead me astray. You are The Ever-Living Who never dies, yet
the Jinn and humans all will die.”
[Sahīh]
*-
“Bismillāhi alladhi lā yadurru ma‘a ismihi shay’un fil-ardi wa lā
fis-samā’ wa huwa as-samī‘u al-‘alīm.” “In the Name of Allah,
with Whose Name nothing can cause harm on the earth or in
the heaven, and He is The All-Hearing, The All-Knowing.”
[Sahīh] Whoever says this supplication three times in the
evening, nothing will harm him till morning, and whoever says
it three times in the morning, nothing will harm him till
evening.
