The Supplication That A Man Should Recite When He Leaves His House Sunan Ibn Majah 3886

Sunan Ibn Majah 3886
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، حَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِذَا خَرَجَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ بَابِ بَيْتِهِ - أَوْ مِنْ بَابِ دَارِهِ - كَانَ مَعَهُ مَلَكَانِ مُوَكَّلاَنِ بِهِ فَإِذَا قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالاَ هُدِيتَ ‏.‏ وَإِذَا قَالَ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالاَ وُقِيتَ ‏.‏ وَإِذَا قَالَ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ قَالاَ كُفِيتَ قَالَ فَيَلْقَاهُ قَرِينَاهُ فَيَقُولاَنِ مَاذَا تُرِيدَانِ مِنْ رَجُلٍ قَدْ هُدِيَ وَكُفِيَ وَوُقِيَ ‏"
Translation
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said

“When a man goes out of the door of his house, there are two angels with him who are appointed over him. If he says Bismillah (in the Name of Allah) they say: ‘You have been guided.’ If he says La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (there is no power and no strength except with Allah), they say: ‘You are protected.’ If he says, Tawwakaltu ‘ala Allah (I have my trust in Allah), they say: ‘You have been taken care of.’ Then his two Qarins (satans) come to him and they (the two angels) say: ‘What do you want with a man who has been guided, protected and taken care of?’”

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This profound hadith, recorded by Imam Ibn Majah, unveils the spiritual dynamics that accompany a believer's departure from home—a mundane act transformed into a moment of divine protection and angelic witness. The central theme is the power of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) to activate heavenly guardianship, guiding the believer, shielding them from harm, and ensuring their affairs are managed by Allah's providence. It emphasizes that the simple utterance of sacred phrases—Bismillah, La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, and Tawwakaltu 'ala Allah—creates a fortress of divine care, causing the appointed angels to affirm the believer's state and repel the accompanying devils. This teaching elevates daily routines into acts of worship, instilling tawakkul (reliance on Allah) as a lived reality that manifests in tangible protection and peace.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The hadith reflects the Prophet's ﷺ pedagogical method of pairing action with invocation, teaching that every transition—even stepping out of one's home—is a spiritual threshold. Linguistically, "Qarin" (قرين) refers to an inseparable companion, here denoting the satanic associate assigned to every human, as mentioned in Qur'an 43:36. The angels' responses are precise: upon "Bismillah," they declare guidance (huda); upon "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah," they affirm protection (wiqayah); and upon "Tawwakaltu 'ala Allah," they confirm sufficiency (kifayah). The phrase "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" is a declaration of human incapacity and total reliance on divine power, while "Tawwakaltu" derives from tawakkul, signifying sincere delegation of one's affairs to Allah. The sabab al-wurud (context) is general, as the Prophet ﷺ taught these supplications to instill mindfulness of Allah in everyday movements, countering heedlessness and invoking divine aid against unseen adversaries.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • Theological Benefit: Affirms the existence and function of guardian angels (mu'aqqibat) who record and respond to human utterances, reinforcing belief in the unseen realm and Allah's direct involvement in human affairs.
  • Jurisprudential Ruling: Scholars (including Imam al-Nawawi and Ibn Hajar) classify these supplications as mustahabb (recommended) upon leaving the home, with some (like Ibn al-Qayyim) noting their efficacy in repelling harm, though not obligatory—highlighting the balance between divine decree and prescribed means.
  • Ethical Principle: The hadith teaches that verbal dhikr is not mere ritual but a transformative act that aligns the believer with divine protection, encouraging consistency in remembrance and fostering a state of constant awareness (taqwa).
"Whoever says these words when leaving his house, the angels say: 'You have been guided, protected, and sufficed,' and the devil withdraws from him. This is a means of safety from all evil, as confirmed by the Prophet's ﷺ teaching." — Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, in his commentary on the virtues of daily adhkar.

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

In contemporary life, this hadith offers a transformative practice: before crossing any threshold—home, workplace, or virtual spaces—a Muslim should pause and recite these phrases with presence of heart. This cultivates a mindset of reliance on Allah rather than on personal ability, reducing anxiety and arrogance. Practically, one can make this a family habit, teaching children to say "Bismillah, tawakkaltu 'ala Allah" as they leave for school, thereby embedding trust in Allah from a young age. Moreover, the hadith inspires reflection on unseen realities—angels and devils—deepening faith in the ghayb and motivating consistent dhikr as a shield against spiritual and material harm. By internalizing that Allah's care is activated through sincere utterance, the believer moves through the world with serenity, knowing that guidance, protection, and sufficiency accompany them wherever they go, fulfilling the essence of Ihsan—worshipping Allah as if seeing Him, for He indeed sees us.