Mishkat al-Masabih

Thauban reported the Prophet as saying that a servant seeks to please God and keeps on doing so, then God who is great and glorious says to Gabriel, “My servant so and so seeks to please me, therefore my mercy had descended on him.” Gabriel says, “God’s mercy has descended on so and so,” and the bearers of the Throne and those who are around them say it until the inhabitants of the seven heavens say it, after which it comes down to him on the earth. Ahmad transmitted it.

In connection with God’s words, “Among them are some who wrong themselves, some who follow a middle course, and some who are foremost in good deeds,” Usama b. Zaid reported the Prophet as saying, “They will all go to paradise.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Kitab al-ba'th wan-nushur.

"We have come to the morning, and in the morning the dominion belongs to God ..." A version has, "My Lord, I seek refuge in Thee from a punishment in hell and a punishment in the grave." Muslim transmitted it.

Hudhaifa said that when the Prophet lay down on his bed at night he placed his hand under his cheek, and would then say, "O God, in Thy name I die and live." When he awoke he said, "Praise be to God who has given us life after causing us to die,* and to whom we shall be resurrected." *Behind this phrase probably lies the idea expressed in Qur’an, xxxix, 42 which says, "It is God who takes the souls at the time of their death, and those which do not die during their sleep." Bukhari transmitted it, Muslim transmitting from al-Bara’.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying that when any of them went to bed he should dust his bedding with the inner extremity of his lower garment, for he does not know what has come on to it since he left it. He should then say, “In Thy name, my Lord, I lay down my side and in Thee I raise it up. If Thou keepest my soul have mercy on it, but if Thou lettest it go guard it with that with which Thou guardest Thy upright servants.” A version says that he should then lie down on his right side and say, “In Thy name...” (Bukhari and Muslim). A version says he should dust it three times with the border of his garment, and has “If Thou keepest my soul grant it pardon.”

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib said that when God’s messenger went to bed he lay on his right side and then said, “O God, I have handed over my soul to Thee, turned my face to Thee, entrusted my affairs to Thee, and committed my back to Thee out of desire for and fear of Thee. There is no refuge and no place of safety from Thee except by having recourse to Thee. I believe in Thy Book which Thou hast sent down and in Thy Prophet whom Thou hast sent.” God’s messenger said that if anyone repeated these words and died that night, he would die in the true religion. In a version he reported God’s messenger as telling a man to perform the ablution for prayer when he went to bed, lie down on his right side, and say, “O God, I have handed over my soul to Thee . . . Thou hast sent.” He added, “If you die during the night you will die in the true religion, and if you live till the morning you will obtain good.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas told that when God’s messenger went to his bed he said, “Praise be to God who has fed us, given us drink, satisfied us and given us refuge. Many there are who have no one to provide sufficiency for them, or give them refuge.” Muslim transmitted it.

He visited us when we had gone to bed, and when we were about to get up he told us to stay where we were. He then came and sat down between her and me, and I felt the coldness of his foot on my belly. He then said, “Let me guide you to something better than what you have asked. When you go to bed, say ‘Glory be to God’ thirty-three times, ‘Praise be to God’ thirty-three times, and ‘God is most great’ thirty-four times. That will be better for you than a servant.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira said that when Fatima went to the Prophet and asked him for a servant, he said, “Let me guide you to something which is better than a servant. You should say ‘Glory be to God thirty-three times, ‘Praise be to God" thirty-three times, and ‘God is most great’ thirty-four times at each time of prayer and when you go to bed.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that God’s messenger would say in the morning, "O God, by, Thee we come to the morning, by Thee we come to the evening, by Thee we live, by Thee we die, and to Thee do we come." In the evening he said, “O God, by Thee we come to the evening, by Thee we come to the morning, by Thee we live, by Thee we die, and to Thee are we resurrected.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He told how Abu Bakr said he had asked God’s messenger to command him something to say in the morning and the evening, and he had told him to say, “O God, who knowest the unseen and the seen, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Lord and Possessor of everything, I testify that there is no god but Thee; I seek refuge in Thee from the evil within myself, from the evil of the devil and his .”* He instructed him to say it morning and evening, and when he went to bed. *The Arabic word may be read either as shirk (attributing a partner to God), or as sharah (snare). The former is preferred. Cf. Mirqat, ili, 99. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Aban b. ‘Uthman said he heard his father quoting God’s messenger as saying that if anyone says three times every morning and evening, “In the name of God, when whose name is mentioned nothing in earth or heaven can cause harm, and He is the Hearer, the Knower,” he will not be harmed by anything. Aban was afflicted by some paralysis, and when a man began to look at him Aban would say, “Why are you looking at me? The tradition is as I told it to you, but I did not say the words that day in order that God might carry out what He had decreed for me.” Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Abu Dawud transmitted it. Abu Dawud’s version has, “He will not suffer sudden affliction till the morning, and if anyone says it in the morning he will not suffer sudden affliction till the evening.”

"We have come to the morning, and in the morning the dominion belongs to God..." *The transmitter was not sure which word was used. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it. Tirmidhi did not mention "from the evil of infidelity" in his version.

One of the Prophet's daughters said that he used to teach her, telling her to say in the morning, "Glory be to God, and I begin with praise of Him; there is no power but in God; what God wills comes to pass, and what He does not will does not come to pass; I know that God is omnipotent and that God has comprehended everything in knowledge;" for whoever says it in the morning will be guarded till the evening, and whoever says it in the evening will be guarded till the morning. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying that if anyone repeats in the morning, "So glory be to God in the evening and in the morning; to Him is the praise in the heavens and the earth; and in the late evening and at noon .. . thus shall you be brought forth," he will get that day what he has missed; and if anyone repeats these words in the evening he will get that night what he has missed. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu ‘Ayyash reported God's messenger as saying that if anyone says in the morning, “There is no god but God alone who has no partner; to Him belongs the dominion, to Him praise is due, and He is omnipotent,” he will have a reward equivalent to that for setting free a slave from among the descendants of Ishmael, will have ten good deeds recorded for him, will have ten evil deeds deducted from him, will be advanced ten degrees, and will be guarded from the devil till the evening. If he says them in the evening he will have a similar recompense till the morning. Hammad b. Salama said that a man saw God’s messenger in a dream and said, “Messenger of God, Abu ‘Ayyash is relating such and such on your authority,” to which he received the reply, “Abu ‘Ayyash has spoken the truth.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Al-Harith b. Muslim at-Tamimi quoted his father as saying that God’s messenger told him secretly to say seven times when he had finished the sunset prayer, before speaking to anyone, “O God, protect me from hell”; for if he said that and died that night, exemption from it would be recorded for him. He also told him to say that when he had prayed the morning prayer, for if he died that day, exemption from it would be recorded for him. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s messenger never failed to use these words evening and morning, “O God, I ask Thee for security in this world and the next; O God, I ask Thee for forgiveness and security in my religion and my worldly affairs, in my family and my property; O God, conceal my faults and keep me safe from the things which I fear; O God, guard me in front of me and behind me, on my right hand and on my left, and from above me; and I seek refuge in Thy greatness from receiving unexpected harm from below me.” Waki‘ said he meant being swallowed up by the earth. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying that if anyone says in the morning, “O God, in the morning we call Thee, the bearers of Thy Throne, Thy angels and all Thy creatures to witness that Thou art God than whom alone there is no god, being without a partner, and that Muhammad is Thy servant and messenger,” God will forgive him any sins he commits that day; and if he says it in the evening, God will forgive him any sins he commits that night. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition.

Thauban reported God’s messenger as saying that if any Muslim says three times evening and morning, "I am pleased with God as Lord, with Islam as religion, and with Muhammad as Prophet," God will certainly please him on the day of resurrection. Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Hudhaifa said that when the Prophet wanted to go to sleep he placed his hand under his head and said, "O God, guard me from thy punishment on the day when Thou gatherest Thy servants," or "raisest up Thy servants." Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ahmad gave al-Bara’ as his authority.

Hafsa said that when God’s messenger wanted to go to sleep he put his right hand under his cheek, and would then say three times, "O God, guard me from Thy punishment on the day when Thou raisest up Thy servants." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Ali reported that God’s messenger used to say when he lay down, "O God, I seek refuge in Thy noble Person and in Thy perfect words from the evil of what Thou seizest by its forelock; O God, Thou removest debt and sin; O God, Thy troop is not routed, Thy promise is not broken, and the riches of the rich do not avail against Thee. Glory and praise be unto Thee." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id reported God's messenger as saying that if anyone says three times when going to bed, "I ask the forgiveness of God than whom there is no god, the Living, the Eternal, and I turn in repentance to Him," God will forgive him his sins, even if they are like the foam of the sea, or in number like the sand which is accumulated,* or as many as the leaves of the trees, or as numerous as the days of this world. *The word is ‘alij. Some say ‘Alij is a place in the desert, the translation being ‘the sand of ‘Alij; others treat it as translated above. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Shaddad b. Aus reported God’s messenger as saying, "If any Muslim recites a sura from God’s Book when he goes to bed, God will put an angel in charge of him, and nothing which may harm him will come near him till he wakes". Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As reported God’s messenger as saying there are two characteristics which will not be retained by any Muslim without his entering paradise. While they are easy, those who act upon them are few. One should say ‘Glory be to God’ ten times after every prayer, ‘Praise be to God’ ten times and ‘God is most great’ ten times. (He said he had seen God’s messenger counting them on his hand, and saying, “That is a hundred and fifty on the tongue, but one thousand five hundred in the scale”). When he goes to his bed he should say ‘Glory be to God,’ ‘God is most Great’ and ‘Praise be to God’ a hundred times, for that is a hundred on the tongue, but a thousand in the scale. He asked them which of them could commit two thousand five hundred sins in a day and a night.* He was asked how they could not retain these characteristics, and told them that the devil comes to a man while he is engaged in prayer, calling such and such and such and such to his memory until he turns away and perhaps may not do it. He also comes to him on his bed and keeps on making him sleep till he falls asleep. *The thousand plus the preceding fifteen hundred make two thousand five hundred good deeds with which the man who observes the two characteristics mentioned is credited, and as one could hardly commit as many sins in a day and a night there is a balance in his favour. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it. In Abu Dawud's version he said, “Two qualities or two characteristics will not be adhered to by a Muslim ...” And also in his version after saying “One thousand five hundred in the scale” he said, “When he goes to his bed he should say ‘God is most great’ thirty-four times, ‘Praise be to God’ thirty-three times and ‘Glory be to God’ thirty-three times.” In most texts of al-Masabih it is given on the authority of ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar.

‘Abdallah b. Ghannam reported God’s messenger as saying, that if anyone says in the morning, "O God, whatever favour has come to me or to any of Thy creatures in the morning, it comes from Thee alone who hast no partner, to whom be praise and thanksgiving," he will have expressed full thanksgiving for the day; and if anyone says the same in the evening he will have expressed full thanksgiving for the night. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told that when the Prophet went to his bed he used to say, “O God, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of everything, who splittest the grain and the kernel, who hast sent down the Torah, the Injil and the Qur’an, I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of every evil agent whose forelock Thou seizest. Thou art the First and there is nothing before Thee; Thou art the Last and there is nothing after Thee; Thou art the Outward and there is nothing above Thee; Thou art the Inward and there is nothing below Thee. Pay the debt for me and grant me riches instead of poverty.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Muslim also transmitted it with a slight difference.

Abul Azhar al-Aimari told that when God’s messenger went to his bed at night he said, “In the name of God. I have laid down my side for God. O God, forgive me my sin, drive away my devil, free me from my responsibility, and place me in the highest assembly.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar told that when God’s messenger went to his bed at night he said, “Praise be to God who has given me sufficiency, has guarded me, given me food and drink, been most gracious to me, and given to me most lavishly. Praise be to God in every circumstance. O God, Lord and King of everything, God of everything, I seek refuge in Thee from hell.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Buraida said that Khalid b. al-Walid complained to God’s messenger that he was afflicted by sleeplessness at night, and God’s Prophet told him to say when he went to his bed, “O God, Lord of the seven heavens and what they overshadow, Lord of the earths and what they carry, Lord of the devils and what they lead astray, be a Protector to me from the evil of Thy entire creation lest any of them do evil or act wrongfully to me. Strong is Thy protection and glorious is Thy praise. There is no god other than Thee. There is no god but Thee.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a tradition whose isnad is not strong, and the traditions of al-Hakam b. Zuhair, the transmitter, are abandoned by some traditionists.

Abu Malik reported God’s messenger as saying that when one got up in the morning he should say, "We have reached the morning, and in the morning the dominion belongs to God, the Lord of the universe, O God, I ask Thee for the good this day contains, for conquest, victory, light, blessing and guidance during it; and I seek refuge in Thee from the evil it contains and the evil contained in what comes after it." In the evening he should say the like. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu Bakra said that he remarked to his father that he had heard him say every morning, “O God, grant me soundness in my body; O God, grant me soundness in my hearing; O God, grant me soundness in my sight. There is no god but Thee and that he repeated it three times morning and evening. He replied, "Sonny, I heard God’s messenger using these words as a supplication and I like to follow his practice." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa told that God’s messenger said in the morning, "We have reached the morning, and in the morning the dominion belongs to God; praise is due to God; majesty and might belong to God; the creation, the command, night and day and what is at rest by night and day belong to God. O God, make the beginning of this day uprightness, its middle success, and its end attainment, O most merciful among those who show mercy." Nawawi mentioned it in Kitab al-adhkar by the transmission of Ibn as-Sunni.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Abza told that God's messenger used to say in the morning, “We have reached the morning following the original religion of Islam, the assertion of God’s unity, the religion of our Prophet Muhammad, and the rite of our father Abraham who was a hanif and was not one of the polytheists." Ahmad and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying that if anyone who means to have intercourse with his wife says, “In the name of God. O God, keep us away from the devil and keep the devil away from what Thou hast provided us,” should it be ordained that a child be born to them thereby, no devil will ever harm it. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He told that God’s messenger used to say when he was anxious “There is no god but God, the Incomparably Great, the Clement; there is no god but God, the Lord of the mighty Throne; there is no god but God, the Lord of the heavens, the Lord of the earth, and the Lord of the noble Throne.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Two men reviled one another in the Prophet’s presence when we were sitting near him, and when one of them who had become red in the face reviled the other angrily the Prophet said that he knew a phrase by repeating which the man could get rid of his angry feelings: “I seek refuge in God from that accursed devil.” Those present asked the man whether he heard what the Prophet was saying, and he replied, “I am not possessed by a devil.”* *Majnun. The word literally means to be possessed by a jinni, but it can also mean to be possessed by a devil. Shaitan is used in the preceding sentence. Majnun is also used meaning ‘mad’, but that does not fit this context. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, “When you hear the cocks crowing ask God for some of His grace, for they have seen an angel; but when you hear an ass braying seek refuge in God from the devil, for it has seen a devil.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar said that when God’s messenger sat on his camel to go out on a journey, he said “God is most great” three times. Then he said, "Glory be to Him who has made this subservient to us, for we had not the strength for it, and to our Lord do we return. O God, we ask Thee in this journey of ours for uprightness, piety and such deeds as are pleasing to Thee. O God, make easy for us this journey of ours and make its length short for us. O God, Thou art the Companion in the journey and the One who looks after the family and the property in our absence. O God, I seek refuge in Thee from the difficulty of travelling, unhappiness in what I see, and finding harm has come when I return to my property and family." When he returned he said these words, adding, "Returning, repentant, serving and praising our Lord." Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Sarjis said that when God’s messenger went on a journey he sought refuge in God from the difficulty of the journey, sorrow when he returned, scarcity after abundance, the claim of the oppressed, and seeing harm come to his family and property. Muslim transmitted it.

Khaula daughter of Hakim said she heard God’s messenger say that if anyone says when he alights somewhere, "I seek refuge in God’s perfect words from the evil of what He has created," no evil will befall him till he departs from that alighting-place of his. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told of a man coming to God’s messenger and saying, “Messenger of God, what I have suffered from a scorpion which stung me last night!” He replied that if he had said in the evening, "I seek refuge in God’s perfect words from the evil of what He has created," it would not have harmed him. Muslim transmitted it.

He said that when the Prophet was on a journey he would say at daybreak, "Let a hearer hear beginning with praise of God and His good favour towards us. Our Lord, accompany us and show favour to us who are seeking refuge in God from hell." Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that when God’s messenger returned from an expedition, a hajj, or an ‘umra, on every rising piece of ground he would say three times, "God is most great." Then he would say, “There is no god but God alone who has no partner, to whom the dominion belongs, to whom praise is due, and who is omnipotent. We are returning repentant, serving, prostrating ourselves before our Lord, and expressing praise. God alone has verified His promise, helped His servant, and routed the Confederates.”* *The reference is to the siege of Medina in 5 A.H. when a trench was dug as a protection. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa said that God’s messenger invoked a curse on the polytheists at the battle of the Confederates, saying, “O God, who hast sent down the Book and art quick to take reckoning; O God, rout the Confederates, rout them and convulse them.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Busr said that God’s messenger visited his father and they presented him with some food and a mixture of dates, dried curd and clarified butter,* some of which he ate. Then some dates were brought to him and he ate them, throwing away the stones between two fingers, joining the forefinger and the middle finger. A version says that he began to throw away the stones on the outside of his forefinger and middle finger. He was then brought something to drink, and when he had drunk it father took hold of the bridle of his beast and said, “Supplicate God for us.” So he said, “O God, bless them in that with which Thou hast provided them, forgive them and show them mercy.” *The Arabic word for this dish is watba. The word hais is used for very much the same dish. See p. 439, n.1. Muslim transmitted it.

Talha b. ‘Ubaidallah told that when the Prophet saw the new moon he said, “O God, make the new moon rise on us with security, faith, safety and Islam. My Lord and your Lord is God.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

‘Umar b. al-Khattab and Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying that if anyone says, on seeing someone who is suffering affliction, “Praise be to God who has kept me free from the affliction He has brought on him and has shown me favour above many whom He has created,” that affliction, whatever it may be, will not smite him. Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn ‘Umar. Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition, and ‘Amr b. Dinar, the transmitter, is not strong.

‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying that if anyone says on entering the market, “There is no god but God alone who has no partner, to whom belongs the dominion, to whom praise is due, who gives life and causes death while He is living and does not die, in whose hand is good, and who is omnipotent,” God will record for him a million good deeds, obliterate from him a million evil deeds, raise him a million degrees, and build him a house in paradise. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a gharib tradition. Sharh as-sunna has, “Says in a general market in which things are sold,” instead of “on entering the market.”