Something Else: The Supplication: “O Allah, I Ask You Of Your Mercy” Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3419
“One night, when he (ﷺ) exited his Salat, I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: ‘O Allah, I ask You of Your mercy, that You guide by it my heart, and gather by it my affair, and bring together that which has been scattered of my affairs, and correct with it that which is hidden from me, and raise by it that which is apparent from me, and purify by it my actions, and inspire me by it with that which contains my guidance, and protect me by it from that which I seek protection, and protect me by it from every evil. O Allah give me faith and certainty after which there is no disbelief, and mercy, by which I may attain the high level of Your generosity in the world and the Hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for success [in that which You grant, and relief] in the Judgment, and the positions of the martyrs, and the provision of the successful, and aid against the enemies. O Allah, I leave to You my need, and my actions are weak, I am in need of Your mercy, so I ask You, O Decider of the affairs, and O Healer of the chests, as You separate me from the punishment of the blazing flame, and from seeking destruction, and from the trial of the graves. O Allah, whatever my opinion has fallen short of, and my intention has not reached it, and my request has not encompassed it, of good that You have promised to anyone from Your creation, or any good You are going to give to any of Your slaves, then indeed, I seek it from You and I ask You for it, by Your mercy, O Lord of the Worlds. O Allah, Possessor of the strong rope, and the guided affair, I ask You for security on the Day of the Threat, and Paradise on the Day of Immortality along with the witnesses, brought-close, who bow and prostrate, who fulfill the covenants, You are Merciful, Loving, and indeed, You do what You wish. O Allah, make us guided guiders and not misguided misguiders, an ally to Your friends, an enemy to Your enemies. We love due to Your love, those who love You, and hate, due to Your enmity those who oppose You. O Allah, this is the supplication (that we are capable of), and it is upon You to respond, and this is the effort (that we are capable of), and upon You is the reliance. O Allah, appoint a light in my heart for me, and a light in my grave, and light in front of me, and light behind me, and light on my right, and light on my left, and light above me, and light below me, and light in my hearing, and light in my vision, and light in my hair, and light in my skin, and light in my flesh, and light in my blood, and light in my bones. O Allah, magnify for me light, and appoint for me a light. Glory is to the One who wears Glory and grants by it. Glory is to the One for Whom glorification is not fitting except for Him, the Possessor of Honor and Bounties, Glory is to the Possessor of Glory and Generosity, Glory is to the Possessor of Majesty and Honor’ (Allāhumma innī as'aluka raḥmatan min `indika tahdī bihā qalbī, wa tajma`u bihā amrī, wa talummu bihā sha`athī, wa tuṣliḥu bihā ghā'ibī, wa tarfa`u bihā shāhidī, wa tuzakkī bihā `amalī, wa tulhimunī bihā rushdī, wa taruddu bihā ulfatī, wa ta`ṣimunī bihā min kulli sū'in. Allāhumma a`ṭinī īmānan wa yaqīnan laisa ba`adahu kufr, wa raḥmatan anālu bihā sharafa karāmatika fid-dunyā wal-ākhira. Allāhumma innī as'alukal-fawza [fil-`atā'i wa yurwa] fil-qaḍā'i, wa nuzulash-shuhadā'i wa `aishas-su`adā'i, wan-naṣra `alal-a`dā'. Allāhumma innī unzilu bika ḥājatī, wa in qaṣura ra'yī wa ḍa`ufa `amalī iftaqartu ilā raḥmatik, fa as'aluka yā qāḍiyal-umūr, wa yā shāfiyas-ṣudūr, kamā tujīru bainal-buḥūr, an tujīranī min `adhābis-sa`īr, wa min da`watith-thubūr, wa min fitnatil-qubūr. Allāhumma mā qaṣṣara `anhu ra'yī wa lam tablughhu niyyatī wa lam tablughhu mas'alatī min khairin wa`adtahu aḥadan min khalqika aw khairin anta mu`ṭīhi aḥadan min `ibādika fa innī arghabu ilaika fīhi, wa as'alukahu bi-raḥmatika rabbal-`ālamīn. Allāhumma dhal-ḥablish-shadīd, wal-amrir-rashīd, as'aluka al-amna yawm al-wa`īd, wal-jannata yawmal-khulūd ma`al-muqarrabīnash-shuhūd, ar-rukka`is-sujūd, al-mūfīna bil-`uhūd, anta rahīmun wadūd, wa innaka taf`alu ma turīd. Allāhummaj`alnā hādīna muhtadīna, ghaira ḍallīna wa la muḍillīna, silman li-awliyā'ika wa `aduwwan li a`dā'ika, nuḥibbu biḥubbika man aḥabbaka wa nu`ādī bi`adāwatika man khālafak. Allāhumma hādhad-du`ā'u wa `alaikal-ijābatu, wa hādhal-juhdu wa `alaikat-tuklān. Allāhummaj`allī nūran fi qalbī wa nūran fi qabrī, wa nūran min baini yadayya, wa nūran min khalfī, wa nūran `an yamīnī, wa nūran `an shimālī, wa nūran min fawqī, wa nūran min taḥtī, wa nūran fi sam`ī, wa nūran fi baṣarī, wa nūran fi sha`rī, wa nūran fi basharī, wa nūran fi laḥmī, wa nūran fi damī, wa nūran fi `iẓamī. Allāhumma a`ẓim lī nūran, wa a`ṭinī nūran, waj`allī nūran. Subḥānal-ladhī ta`aṭṭafal-`izza wa qāla bihi, subḥānal-ladhī labisal-majda wa takarrama bihi, subḥānal-ladhī lā yanbaghit-tasbīḥu illā lahu, subḥāna dhil-faḍli wan-ni`am, subḥāna dhil-majdi wal-karam, subḥāna dhil-jalāli wal-ikrām.).”
Overview & Central Theme
This profound supplication, transmitted by Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), encapsulates the comprehensive nature of Islamic worship—uniting reliance on Allah's mercy, seeking divine guidance for both inward and outward states, and aspiring for the highest ranks of faith and certainty. It reflects the Prophet's ﷺ holistic approach to supplication, where every dimension of human existence—heart, actions, senses, and even the grave—is submitted to Allah's transformative light and mercy. The hadith serves as a masterclass in the etiquette of du'a, demonstrating how the believer should combine humility (expressing the weakness of one's efforts) with profound hope in Allah's generosity, ultimately teaching that true success lies in aligning one's will with Allah's decree while earnestly seeking His favor through comprehensive, sincere invocation.
Context & Linguistic Insights
The hadith was narrated by Ibn Mas'ud, who heard the Prophet ﷺ recite this supplication after exiting the night prayer (Salat al-Layl), indicating that such comprehensive du'as were part of the Prophet's regular worship, not merely occasional. Linguistically, the du'a employs several key terms: "rahmah" (mercy) is repeated as the foundation of all requests, while "sha'athi" (scattered affairs) metaphorically describes the fragmentation of one's worldly and spiritual concerns that only divine mercy can reunite. The phrase "tulhimuni biha rushdi" (inspire me with my guidance) uses "ilham" (divine inspiration), signifying a direct, internal guidance from Allah. The term "al-habl al-shadid" (the strong rope) alludes to Allah's covenant and protection, echoing Quranic imagery of clinging to Allah's rope. The final glorifications ("Subhan") employ the verb "ta'attaful" (to wrap oneself), depicting Allah's majesty as an intrinsic attribute, not acquired. The repetition of "nur" (light) in various forms—physical, spiritual, sensory, and spatial—underscores the comprehensive illumination sought for every aspect of existence, from the heart to the grave, reflecting the Quranic verse "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth" (24:35).
Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits
Daily Life & Spiritual Application
In daily life, this hadith teaches the believer to approach Allah with a comprehensive, not fragmented, vision of worship. One should begin supplication by acknowledging Allah's mercy as the foundation, then systematically seek guidance for the heart, rectification of affairs, purification of actions, and protection from evil—mirroring the Prophet's ﷺ order. Practically, one can incorporate this du'a into daily prayers, especially after obligatory prayers or during the night, using it as a template for personal supplication by adding specific needs while maintaining its comprehensive structure. The emphasis on "light" encourages the believer to seek spiritual illumination in every action—seeing, hearing, speaking, and moving with divine consciousness—transforming mundane activities into acts of worship. Furthermore, the du'a's humility ("I leave to You my need") teaches reliance on Allah in times of weakness, while its hope ("You do what You wish") instills trust in divine wisdom. By regularly reciting and reflecting on this supplication, the believer cultivates a holistic Islamic worldview where no aspect of life is outside Allah's mercy, and every moment becomes an opportunity for drawing closer to Him through sincere, comprehensive invocation.