The Book of Seeking Refuge with Allah

It was narrated from Muadh ibn Abdullah that his father said: We were caught by a drizzle and darkness, and waited for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to lead us in prayer. [The narrator then mentioned words to this effect.] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out to lead us in prayer and said, ‘Say.’ I asked, ‘What should I say?’ He replied, ‘Say: “He is Allah, the One” (Surah al-Ikhlas), and the two protective surahs (al-Muawwidhatayn) in the evening and in the morning, three times; they will suffice you against everything.’

It was narrated from Muadh ibn Abdullah ibn Khubayb that his father said: I was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the road to Makkah when I found a moment alone with him and drew near. He said, ‘Say.’ I asked, ‘What should I say?’ He said, ‘Say.’ I asked again, ‘What should I say?’ He said, ‘Say: “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak”’ (Surah al-Falaq), and recited it to its end. Then he said, ‘Say: “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind”’ (Surah an-Nas), and recited it to its end. Then he said, ‘People have not sought refuge in anything better than these two.’

It was narrated that Uqbah ibn Amir al-Juhani said: During a military expedition, while I was leading the Messenger of Allah’s ﷺ mount, he said, ‘O Uqbah, recite.’ I listened. He said again, ‘O Uqbah, recite.’ I listened. He said it a third time, and I asked, ‘What should I recite?’ He replied, ‘Say: “He is Allah, the One”’ (Surah al-Ikhlas), and recited the surah to its end. Then he recited, ‘Say: “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak”’ (Surah al-Falaq), and I recited it with him to its end. Then he recited, ‘Say: “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind”’ (Surah an-Nas), and I recited it with him to its end. Then he said, ‘No one has ever sought refuge with anything like these.’

It was narrated that Uqbah ibn Amir al-Juhani said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, ‘Recite.’ I asked, ‘What should I recite?’ He said, ‘“Say: He is Allah, the One” (Surah al-Ikhlas); “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak” (Surah al-Falaq); and “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind” (Surah an-Nas).’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited them, then said, ‘People have never recited anything like them’—or, ‘People have never sought refuge in anything like them.’

It was narrated that Ibn Abis al-Juhani was told that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him, ‘O Ibn Abis, shall I not direct you—or tell you— to the best means by which those who seek refuge may do so?’ He replied, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘“Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak” and “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind”—these two surahs.’

It was narrated that Uqbah ibn Amir said: A gray mule was presented to the Prophet ﷺ, and he rode it while Uqbah led it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Uqbah, ‘Recite.’ He asked, ‘What should I recite, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘Recite: “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of what He created”’ (the beginning of Surah al-Falaq). He repeated it to me until I recited it. He realized that I had not been very pleased with it, and said, ‘Perhaps you took it lightly.’ After that, I never stood [in prayer] with anything like it.

It was narrated from Uqbah ibn Amir that he asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the two protective surahs (al-Muawwidhatayn). Uqbah said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in the dawn prayer, reciting them.

It was narrated from Uqbah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the two surahs in the dawn prayer.

It was narrated that Uqbah ibn Amir said: I was leading the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on his mount during a journey when he said, ‘O Uqbah, shall I teach you the two best surahs ever recited?’ He taught me, ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak’ (Surah al-Falaq) and ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind’ (Surah an-Nas). He saw that I was not very pleased with them. When he stopped for the dawn prayer, he led the people in prayer reciting them. After the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished the prayer, he turned to me and said, ‘O Uqbah, what did you think?’

It was narrated that Uqbah ibn Amir said: While I was leading the Messenger of Allah ﷺ along one of the mountain passes, he said, ‘Why don’t you ride, Uqbah?’ I held him in such respect that I did not want to ride his mount. He asked again, ‘Why don’t you ride, Uqbah?’ I feared that disobeying him might be sinful, so he dismounted and I rode for a little while. Then I dismounted and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ rode. He said, ‘Shall I teach you two of the best surahs people recite?’ He taught me, ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak’ (Surah al-Falaq) and ‘Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind’ (Surah an-Nas). The call to establish the prayer was given, and he went forward and recited them. Then he came by me and said, ‘What do you think, Uqbah ibn Amir? Recite them whenever you go to sleep and when you get up.’

It was narrated that Uqbah ibn Amir said: I was walking with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when he said, ‘O Uqbah, recite.’ I asked, ‘What should I recite, O Messenger of Allah?’ He was silent. Then he said again, ‘O Uqbah, recite.’ I asked again, and he remained silent. I said, ‘O Allah, make him repeat it to me.’ He said, ‘O Uqbah, recite.’ I asked what to recite, and he said, ‘Say: “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak”’ (Surah al-Falaq). I recited it to its end. Then he said, ‘Recite.’ I asked what to recite, and he said, ‘Say: “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind”’ (Surah an-Nas). I recited it to its end. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘No one has ever asked with anything like these, and no one has ever sought refuge with anything like these.’

It was narrated that Uqbah ibn Amir said: I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was riding, placed my hand on his foot, and said, ‘Recite Surah Hud and Surah Yusuf to me.’ He replied, ‘You will never recite anything more eloquent before Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, than “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak”’ (Surah al-Falaq).

It was narrated that Uqbah ibn Amir reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Verses have been revealed to me the like of which has never been seen: “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak” to the end of the surah, and “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind” to the end of the surah.’

It was narrated that Jabir ibn Abdullah said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, ‘Recite, Jabir.’ I said, ‘What should I recite, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘Recite: “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak” and “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind.”’ I recited them, and he said, ‘Recite them, for you will never recite anything like them.’

It was narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr that the Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge with Allah from four things: knowledge that brings no benefit, a heart that is not humble, a supplication that is not answered, and a soul that is never content.

It was narrated from Umar that the Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge with Allah from cowardice, miserliness, the trials of the heart, and the punishment of the grave.

It was narrated that Shakal ibn Humayd said: I came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, ‘O Prophet of Allah, teach me a supplication with which I may seek refuge.’ He took my hand and said, ‘Say: “I seek refuge in You from the evil of my hearing, the evil of my sight, the evil of my tongue, the evil of my heart, and the evil of my semen.”’ I memorized it. Sad said: ‘Al-mani means his seminal fluid.’

It was narrated that Musab ibn Sad said, reporting from his father: He used to teach us five things and say that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to supplicate with them: ‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from miserliness; I seek refuge in You from cowardice; I seek refuge in You from being returned to the most decrepit age; I seek refuge in You from the trials of this world; and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave.’

It was narrated that Ibn Masud said: The Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge with Allah from five things: miserliness, cowardice, the infirmities of old age, the trials of the heart, and the punishment of the grave.

It was narrated that Amr ibn Maymun al-Awdi said: Sad used to teach his sons these words as a teacher teaches children, saying that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to seek refuge by means of them after the prayer: ‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from miserliness; I seek refuge in You from cowardice; I seek refuge in You from being returned to the most decrepit age; I seek refuge in You from the trials of this world; and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave.’ I related this to Musab, and he confirmed it.