Foreword
The Prophet ﷺ mentioned in a Hadith that Allah s.w.t. commanded Yahya ibn Zakariya a.s. with five Commandments to abide by, one of which was: “And He commands you to remember Allah. For indeed the parable of that, is a man whose enemy quickly tracks him until he reaches an impenetrable fortress in which he protects himself from them. This is how the worshipper is; he does not protect himself from Ash-Shaitan except by the remembrance of Allah.” [Jami’ At-Tirmidzi: 2863]
The above Hadith highlights for us the importance of remembering Allah through Du’aa (Supplications) and Adzkaar (Words of remembrance), as a form of protection from the harm which we cannot see or anticipate, especially those that come from the Shaitan (Devil). Thus, we are writing this short article in the hopes of providing our readers with various Du’a and Adzkaar that have been taught by the Prophet ﷺ for us to seek refuge in Allah from various harm. May it benefit in shaa Allah.
Du’a and Dhikr to Prevent Nightmares
1. Ayatul Kursi
Abu Hurairah r.a. said, ‘Allah’s Messenger ﷺ put me in charge of guarding the Zakāt charity collected during Ramaḍān. One night, a man snuck in and began stealing from the food provisions. I caught him and said, “By Allah, I will take you to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ!”’
He then recounted the rest of the story, explaining that the man pleaded, “Do not take me to him! Instead, I will teach you words that Allah will benefit you with: When you go to bed, recite Āyat al-Kursī. If you do, a guardian from Allah will remain with you throughout the night, and no devil will come near you until dawn.”
When the Prophet ﷺ was told of this, he said, “That man spoke the truth—even though he is a liar. He was indeed a devil.” [Hadith narrated by Imam al-Bukhari]
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ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwa ‘l-Ḥayyul-Qayyūm, lā ta’khudhuhu sinatuwwa lā nawm, lahu mā fis-samāwāti wa māfil-ardh, man dhal-ladhī yashfa`u `indahu illā bi’idhnih, ya`lamu mā bayna aydīhim wa mā khalfahum, wa lā yuḥītūna bishay’im-min `ilmihi illā bimā shā’, wasi`a kursiyyuhus-samāwāti wal-ardh, wa lā ya’ūduhu hifẓuhumā, wa huwal-`Aliyyu‘l-`Aẓīm.
“Allāh – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is (presently) before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursī extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” [Surah Al-Baqarah:255]
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2. The Prophet ﷺ also said, referring to the doa quoted below, “Say this in the morning and in the evening, and when you go to bed.”
اللَّهُمَّ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ رَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَمَلِيكَهُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ وَشِرْكِهِ
Allāhumma `ālimal-ghaibi wash-shahādah, fāṭiras-samāwāti wal-arḍ, rabba kulli shai’in wa malīkah, ash-hadu allā ilāha illā anta, a`ūdhu bika min sharri nafsī, wa min sharrish-shaiṭāni washirkih.
“O Allah Knower of the Unseen and the Seen, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Lord of everything and its Possessor, I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except You, I seek refuge from You from the evil of my soul and from the evil of Shaitan and his Shirk.” [Tirmidzi: 3392]
Dhikr when you have Nightmares
The Prophet ﷺ said, “If anyone sees a dream which he does not like, he should spit on his left side three times, and seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan three times, and let him turn over from the side on which he was sleeping.” [Muslim: 2262]
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
A`ūdhu billāhi minash-Shayṭānir-rajīm.
“I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the Accursed.”
Du’a for Protection During the Day
اللَّهُمَّ بِكَ أَصْبَحْنَا وَبِكَ أَمْسَيْنَا وَبِكَ نَحْيَى وَبِكَ نَمُوتُ وَإِلَيْكَ اَلنُّشُورُ
Allāhumma bika aṣbaḥnā, wa bika amsaynā, wa bika naḥyā, wa bika namūt, wa ilaykan-nushūr.
“O Allah, by Your will we rise in the morning and by Your will we reach the evening, by Your will we live and by Your will we die, and to You is our ultimate return.” [Jami` at-Tirmidzi 3391]
أَصْبَحْنَا وَأَصْبَحَ الْمُلْكُ لِلَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، لاَ إِلَهَ إلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، رَبِّ أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ مَا فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَخَيرَ مَا بَعْدَهُ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَشَرِّ مَا بَعْدَهُ، رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكَسَلِ وَسُوءِ الْكِبَرِ، رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ فِي النَّارِ وَعَذَابٍ فِي القَـبْر.
Aṣbaḥnā wa aṣbaḥal-mulku lillāh, walḥamdu lillāh, lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulk, wa lahul-ḥamd, wa huwa `alā kulli shay’in Qadīr. Rabbi as’aluka khayra mā fī hādha ‘l-yawm, wa khayra mā ba`dah, wa a`ūdhu bika min sharri mā fī hātha ‘l-yawm, wa sharri mā ba`dah. Rabbi a`ūdhu bika minal-kasal, wa sū’il-kibar. Rabbi a`ūdhu bika min `adhābin fin-nār wa `adhābin fil-qabr.
“We rise to a new day, and all dominion belongs to Allah. Praise be to Allah. There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things. O Lord, I ask You for the good of this day and the days to come, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this day and the days to come. O Lord, I seek refuge in You from laziness and the frailty of old age. O Lord, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the Fire and the torment of the grave.” [Muslim: 2723]
Du’a for Protection During the Evening
اَللَّهُمَّ بِكَ أَمْسَيْنَا وَبِكَ أَصْبَحْنَا وَبِكَ نَحْيَا وَبِكَ نَمُوت وَإِلَيْكَ المَصِير
Allāhumma bika amsaynā wa bika aṣbaḥnā, wa bika naḥyā, wa bika namūt, wa ilaykal-maṣīr.
“O Allah, by Your will we enter the evening and by Your will we enter the morning, by Your will we live and by Your will we die,, and to You is our fate.” [narrated by Imam at-Tirmidzi]
Du’a for Protection from One’s Sins and Forgiveness for Them
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي، وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
Allāhumma anta Rabbī lā ilāha illā ant, khalaqtanī wa anā `abduk, wa anā `alā `ahdika wa wa`dika mastaṭa`t, a`ūdhu bika min sharri mā ṣana`t, abū’u laka bi ni`matika `alay, wa abū’u bidhanbī faghfir lī, fa’innahu lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā ant.
“Oh Allah! You are my Lord; there is no god but You, You have created me, and I am Your servant and hold to 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 Favour to me, and I acknowledge my sin; pardon me, for none pardons sins but You.” [Sahih al-Bukhari: 6306]
Du’a for Preventing Fear, Unrest and Apprehension
أَعـوذُ بِكَلِمـاتِ اللّهِ التّـامّـاتِ مِن غَضَـبِهِ وَعِـقابِهِ وَشَـرِّ عِبـادِهِ وَمِنْ هَمَـزاتِ الشَّـياطينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضـرون
A`ūdhu bikalimāti ‘llāhit-tāmmāti min ghaḍabihi wa `iqābihi wa sharri `ibādih, wa min hamazātish-shayāṭīni wa an yaḥḍurūn.
I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from His anger and His punishment, from the evil of His servants, and from the taunts of devils and from their presence. [narrated by Imam Abu Daud]
Du’a for the Preservation of One’s Well-being
اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في بَدَنـي، اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في سَمْـعي، اللّهُـمَّ عافِـني في بَصَـري، لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّه أَنْـتَ. اللّهُـمَّ إِنّـي أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنَ الْكُـفر، وَالفَـقْر، وَأَعـوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر، لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْـتَ. 3x
Allāhumma `āfinī fī badanī, Allāhumma `āfinī fī sam`ī, Allāhumma `āfinī fī baṣarī, lā ilāha illā ant. Allāhumma innī a`ūdhu bika mina ‘l-kufri, wa ‘l-faqr, wa a`ūdhu bika min `adhābi ‘l-qabr, lā ilāha illā ant. (3x)
“Oh Allah, make me healthy in my body. Oh Allah, preserve for me my hearing. Oh Allah, preserve for me my sight. There is none worthy of worship but You. Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty, and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave. There is none worthy of worship but You.” (3x) [Abu Daud]
Du’a for Protection from Anxiety and Sorrow
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Allāhumma innī a`ūdhu bika mina ‘l-ḥammi wa ‘l-ḥazan, wa ‘l-`ajzi wa ‘l-kasal, wa ‘l-bukhli wa ‘l-jubn, wa ḍala`id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijāl.
“O Allah, I seek Your protection from anxiety and sorrow, from weakness and laziness, from stinginess and cowardice, from being crushed by debt and dominated by others.” [Bukhari]
Du’a for Protection From Calamities
بِسـمِ اللهِ الذي لا يَضُـرُّ مَعَ اسمِـهِ شَيءٌ في الأرْضِ وَلا في السّمـاءِ وَهـوَ السّمـيعُ العَلـيم .
Bismillāhi ‘l-ladhī lā yaḍurru ma`a-smihi shay’un fil-‘a rḍi wa lā fis-samā’ wa huwas-Samī `ul-`Alīm. (3x)
“In the Name of Allah, Who with His Name nothing can cause harm in the earth nor in the heavens, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” (Recite three times in Arabic).
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever recites it three times in the morning will not be afflicted by any calamity before evening, and whoever recites it three times in the evening will not be overtaken by any calamity before morning.” [Abu Daud & Tirmidzi]
Dzikr to be Shielded from the Shaytan
لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وحْـدَهُ لا شَـريكَ لهُ، لهُ المُـلْكُ ولهُ الحَمْـد، وهُوَ على كُلّ شَيءٍ قَدير . 100x
Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu ‘l-mulku walahu ‘l-ḥamd, wa huwa `alā kulli shay’in qadīr. (100x)
“None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise and He is Able to do all things.” (Recite 100 times in Arabic upon rising in the morning).
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever recites this one hundred times a day will have the reward of freeing ten slaves. One hundred Hasanat (rewards) will be written for him and one hundred misdeeds will be washed away. He will be shielded from Satan until the evening.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
