Chapters on Supplication

“Indeed, having good thoughts concerning Allah is from the perfection of the worship of Allah.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Let one of you look at what it is that he wishes for. For verily, he does not know what of his wish shall be recorded.’”

“O Allah, give me pleasure in my hearing and my sight, and make it the inheritor from me, and aid me against whoever oppresses me, and take vengeance from him for me (Allāhumma matti`nī bisam`ī wa baṣarī waj`alhumal-wāritha minnī, wanṣurnī `alā man yaẓlimunī, wa khudh minhu bitha’rī)”

‘Let one of you ask his Lord for his every need, even until he asks Him for the strap of his sandal when it breaks.’”

“Let one of you ask his Lord for his every need, until he asks Him for salt, and asks Him for the strap of his sandal when it breaks.”

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Indeed, he who does not ask Allah, he gets angry with him.”

The Messenger of Allah was asked: “Which of the worshippers is superior in rank with Allah on the Day of Judgment?” He said: “Those men who remember Allah much [and women].” He said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! What about the fighter in the cause of Allah?’ He said: ‘If he were to strike with his sword among the disbelievers and the idolater, until it breaks, and he (or it) is dyed with blood, those who remember Allah much would still be superior in rank.”

the Prophet said: “Should I not inform you of the best of your deed, and the purest of them with your Master, and the highest of them in your ranks, and what is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks, and they strike your necks?” They said: “Of course.” He said, “The remembrance of Allah [Most High].” [Then] Mu’adh bin Jabal [may Allah be pleased with him] said: “There is nothing that brings more salvation from the punishment of Allah than the remembrance of Allah.”

the Prophet said: “One of you will be responded to, so long as he is not hasty, saying: ‘I supplicated, and I was not responded to.’”

“When he reached the evening, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say, ‘We have reached the evening, and the Dominion has reached the evening, while belonging to Allah. And all praise belongs to Allah. None has the right to be worshiped but Allah, alone, without partner. (Amsaina wa amsal-mulku lillāh, wal-ḥamdullilāh, wa lā ilāha illallāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu)’ – I think he said [in it]: - ‘To Him belongs the Dominion, and to Him is the praise, and He is capable of all things. I ask You for the good that is in this night, and the good of what is after it, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this night, and the evil of what is after it, and I seek refuge in You from laziness and helpless old age. And I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the Fire and the punishment of the grave (Lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, wa huwa `alā kulli shai'in qadīr. Asa'luka khaira mā fī hādhihil-lailah, wa khaira mā ba`dahā, wa a`ūdhu bika min sharri hādhihil-lailati wa sharri mā ba`dahā, wa a`ūdhu bika minal-kasali wa sū'il-kibar, wa a`ūdhu bika min `adhābin-nāri wa `adhābil-qabr).’ And when he reached the morning, he (ﷺ) used to say, ‘We have reached the morning, and the Dominion has reached the morning, while belonging to Allah. And all praise belongs to Allah (Aṣbaḥnā wa aṣbaḥal-mulku lillāh, wal-ḥamdulillāh).’”

The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: “Should I not teach you some words to say when you go to your bed, so if you died, you will die upon the Fitrah, and if you reach the morning, you will reach it in good? You say: ‘O Allah, verily, I submit myself to You, and I turn my face to You, and I entrust my affair to You, hoping in You and fearing in You. And I lay myself down depending upon You, there is no refuge [nor escape] from You except to You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed, and in Your Prophet whom You have sent (Allāhumma innī aslamtu nafsī ilaika wa wajjahtu wajhī ilaika, wa fawwaḍtu amrī ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika wa alja'tu ẓahrī ilaika, lā malja'a [wa lā manjā] minka illā ilaik. Āmantu bikitābikal-ladhī anzalta wa binabiyyikal-ladhī arsalt).’” Al-Bara' said: “So I said: ‘And in Your Messenger whom you have sent.’” He said: “So he (ﷺ) struck his hand upon my chest, then said: “And in Your Prophet whom You have sent. (Wa binabiyyikal-ladhī arsalt).”

The Prophet said: “When one of you lies down on his right side, then says: ‘O Allah, I have submitted myself to You, and I have turned my face to You, and I lay myself down relying upon You, and I have entrusted my affair to You, there is no refuge [nor escape] from You except to You. I believe in Your Book and Your Messengers (Allāhumma innī aslamtu nafsī ilaika wa wajjahtu wajhī ilaika, wa alja’tu ẓahrī ilaika, wa fawwaḍtu amrī ilaika, lā malja'a [wa lā manjā] minka illā ilaik, ūminu bikitābika wa birusulika)’ – then if he dies that night, he shall enter Paradise.”

the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever says, when he goes to his bed: ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah, [the Magnificent] the One whom there is none worthy of worship except for Him, the Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him (Astaghfirullāha [al-`Aẓim] alladhi lā ilāha illā huw, al-Ḥayyul-Qayyūm, wa atūbu ilaihi)’ three times, Allah shall forgive him his sins if they were like the foam of the sea, even if they were the number of leaves of the trees, even if they were the number of sand particles of `Alij, even if they were the number of the days of the world.”

When the Prophet (ﷺ) would sleep, he would put his hand under his head then say: “O Allah, safeguard me from Your Punishment the Day You gather [Your slaves] (Allāhumma qinī `adhābaka yawma tajma`u [`ibādak])” or “you resurrect your slaves (tab`athu `ibādak).”

He came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, teach me something that I may say when I go to my bed.” So he said: “Recite: Say: ‘O you disbelievers’ for verily it is a disavowal of Shirk.” Shu`bah said: “Sometimes he would say: ‘One time’ and sometime he would not say it.”(Another chain) from Farwah bin Nawfal, from his father: "That he came to the Prophet (ﷺ)" then he mentioned similar in meaning. And this is more correct.[Abu `Eisa said:] And Zubair reported this hadith from Ishaq, from Farwah bin Nawfal, from his father from the Prophet (ﷺ), with similar wording. This is more appropriate and more correct than the narration of Shu`bah. The companions of Abu Ishaq were confused in the narration of this hadith. This hadith has been reported through routes other than this. `Abdur-Rahman is the brother of Farwah bin Nawfal.

“I accompanied Shaddad bin Aws [may Allah be pleased with him] on a journey, so he said: ‘Should I not teach you what the Messenger of Allah used to teach us? That you say: “O Allah, I ask You for steadfastness in the affair and I ask You for determination upon guidance, and I ask You to make me grateful for Your favor, and excellence in worshiping You, and I ask You for a truthful tongue and a sound heart, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of what You know, and I ask You for the good of what You know, and I seek Your forgiveness for that which You know. Verily, You are the Knower of all that is hidden (Allāhumma innī as’alukath-thabāta fil-amri, wa as’aluka `azīmatar-rushdi, wa as’aluka shukra ni`matika, wa ḥusna `ibādatika, wa as’aluka lisānan ṣādiqan wa qalban salīman, wa a`ūdhu bika min sharri mā ta`lamu, wa as’aluka min khairi mā ta`lamu, wa astaghfiruka mimmā ta`lamu innaka anta `allāmul-ghuyūb).’” He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There is no Muslim who lays down to sleep while reciting a Surat from Allah’s Book, except that Allah entrusts an angel, so that nothing approaches him to harm him until he awakens, whenever he awakens.”

“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘There are two characteristics over which a Muslim man does not guard, except that he enters Paradise. And indeed, they are easy, and those who act upon them are few: He glorifies Allah at the end of every prayer ten times (saying Subḥān Allāh) and praises Him ten times saying (Al-Ḥamdulillāh) and extols His greatness ten times (saying Allāhu Akbar).’”He said: “And I have seen the Messenger of Allah counting them with his hand. He said: ‘So this is one hundred and fifty with the tongue, and one thousand and five hundred on the Scale. When you go to bed, you glorify Him, extol His greatness, and praise Him a hundred times, so this is one hundred with the tongue and one thousand on the Scale. Which of you perform two thousand and five hundred evil deeds in a single day and night?’ They said: ‘How could we not guard over them?’ He said: ‘Shaitan comes to one of you when he is in his Salat and says: “Remember such and such, remember such and such” until he turns perhaps he will not do it. And he comes to him and he is lying down and makes him sleepy until he falls asleep.’”

“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.).”

“I asked Aishah [may Allah be pleased with her]: ‘With what did the Prophet used to open his Salat when he stood up in the night?’ She said: ‘When he stood up in the night, he would open his Salat by saying: “O Allah, Lord of Jibra’il, Mika’il, and Israfil; Originator of the heavens and the earth, [and] Knower of the hidden and the seen; You judge between Your slaves concerning that which they used to differ, guide me through that which there has been difference concerning the truth, verily, You are upon a straight path (Allāhumma rabba Jibrīla wa Mīkā'ila wa Isrāfīl, fāṭira-samāwāti wal-arḍi [wa] `ālimal-ghaibi wash-shahādati anta taḥkumu baina `ibādika fīmā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūn, ihdini limakhtulifa fīhi minal-ḥaqqi bi'idhnika innaka tahdī man tashā'u ilā ṣirātin mustaqīm).”

“I have directed my face towards the One who created the Heavens and the earth, as a Hanif, and I am not of the idolaters. Indeed, my Salat, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying is for Allah, the Lord of all that exists, there is no partner for Him, and with this have I been ordered, and I am among the Muslims. O Allah, You are the King, there is none worthy of worship except You. You are My Lord, and I am Your slave, I have wronged myself, and I admit to my sin, so forgive me all my sins, verily, there is none who forgives sins but You. And guide me to the best of the manners, none guides to the best of them except You, and turn the evil of them away from me, [verily,] none can turn the evil of them away from me except You. I have believed in You. Blessed are You and Exalted are You, I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to you (Wajjahtu wajhiya lilladhī faṭaras-samāwāti wal-arḍa ḥanīfan wa mā ana min al-mushrikīn, inna ṣalātī wa nusukī wa maḥyāya wa mamātī lillāhi rabbil-`ālamīn, lā sharīka lahū wa bidhālika umirtu wa ana min al-muslimīn. Allāhumma antal-maliku lā ilāha illā ant, anta rabbī, wa ana `abduka ẓalamtu nafsī wa`taraftu bidhanbī faghfirlī dhunūbī jamī`an, innahū lā yaghfir adh-dhunūba illā ant. Wahdinī li-aḥsanil-akhlāqi lā yahdī li-aḥsanihā illā ant. Waṣrif `annī sayyi’ahā [innahū] lā yaṣrifu `annī sayyi’aha illā ant. Āmantu bika tabārakta wa ta`ālaita astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilaik).” And when he would bow in Ruku`, he would say: “O Allah, to You I have bowed, and in You I believe, and to You have I submitted. My hearing, my sight, my brain, my bones and my sinew are humbled to you (Allāhumma laka raka`tu wa bika āmantu wa laka aslamtu. Khasha`a laka sam`ī wa baṣarī wa mukhkhī wa `iẓāmī, wa `aṣabī)” Then when he would raise his head, he would say: “O Allah, our Lord, to You is praise the fill of the Heavens and the earths and the fill of whatever You will of things. (Allāhumma rabbanā lakal-ḥamdu mil’as-samāwāti wal-arḍīna wa mā bainahumā, wa mil’a mā shi’ta min shay’in ba`d).” Then, when he prostrated, he would say: “O Allah, to You have I prostrated, and in You have I believed, and to You have I submitted, my face has prostrated to the One Who created it and fashioned it, and gave it its hearing and its sight. So Blessed is Allah, the Best of creators (Allāhumma laka sajadtu wa bika āmantu wa laka aslamtu, sajada wajhi lilladhī khalaqahū fa ṣuwwarahū wa shaqqa sam`ahū wa baṣarahū fatabārak Allāhu ahsanul-khāliqīn).” Then the last of what he would say between At-Tashah-hud and As-Salam would be: “O Allah, forgive me what I have done before and after, and what I have hidden and what I have done openly, and what You know more of it than I, You are the One who sends forth and the One who delays, there is none worthy of worship except You. (Allāhummaghfirlī mā qaddamtu wa mā akhkhartu wa mā asrartu wa mā a`lantu wa mā anta a`lamu bihī minnī antal-Muqaddimu wa antal-Mu’akhkhiru, lā ilāha illā ant).”