Anas said that the Prophet's most frequent supplication was, "O God, bring us blessing in this world, blessing in the next, and guard us from the punishment of hell." (Bukhari and Muslim.)
Commentary on the Comprehensive Supplication
This noble supplication, transmitted through the trustworthy narrator Anas ibn Malik (may God be pleased with him) and recorded in the authentic collections of Bukhari and Muslim, represents the most frequent invocation of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Its comprehensive nature encompasses all temporal and eternal needs of the believer.
The Threefold Wisdom
Scholars note this supplication contains three essential requests: worldly blessings (hasanah), otherworldly blessings (hasanah), and protection from Hell's punishment. The repetition of "hasanah" indicates two distinct categories of goodness - the permissible benefits of this life and the spiritual rewards of the hereafter.
Worldly blessings include sound faith, good health, lawful provision, beneficial knowledge, and righteous deeds. Otherworldly blessings encompass divine forgiveness, elevated ranks in Paradise, and the Beatific Vision of God Almighty.
Spiritual Priorities
The sequence demonstrates proper spiritual priorities: we seek worldly goodness only as means to support worship and secure hereafter goodness. The final plea for protection from Hell completes the supplication by addressing both attainment of good and avoidance of evil.
This comprehensive approach reflects the balanced Islamic worldview where material and spiritual realms are integrated in the believer's consciousness, with the ultimate focus remaining on eternal salvation.
Jurisprudential Notes
This supplication is recommended for frequent recitation, particularly during prostration where supplications are most readily accepted. Scholars emphasize its appropriateness for all times and circumstances, as it addresses universal human needs across both dimensions of existence.