Mishkat al-Masabih

Mu'adh b. Jabal said the Prophet heard a man making supplication saying, “O God, I ask Thee for complete favour,” and asked him what complete favour meant. On his replying that it was a supplication by which he hoped to receive good, he said, “Part of complete favour is to enter paradise and be safe from hell.” He heard a man saying, “O Possessor of majesty and splendour,” and said, “Your prayer is answered, so make request.” The Prophet also heard a man who was saying, “O God, I ask Thee for endurance,” and said, “You have asked God for trial; now ask Him for wellbeing.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying that if anyone sits in an assembly where there is much clamour* and says before getting up to leave, “Glory be to Thee, O God, and I begin with praise of Thee; I testify that there is no god but Thou; I ask Thy pardon and turn to Thee in repentance,” he will be forgiven for what took place in that assembly where he was. *Or, ‘wicked talk,’ or, 'meaningless talk' Tirmidhi and Baihaqi in ad-Da'awat al-kabir, transmitted it.

‘Ali was brought a beast to ride, and when he put his foot in the stirrup he said, “In the name of God.” Then when he sat on its back he said, “Praise be to God.” He then said, “Glory be to Him who has made this subservient to us, for we had not the strength, and to our Lord do we return.” He then said, “Praise be to God (thrice); God is most great (thrice); Glory be to Thee. I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for only Thou forgivest sins.” He then laughed, and when he was asked what he was laughing at, he replied that he had seen God’s messenger do as he had done and laugh after that. He had asked him what he was laughing at, and he told him that his Lord was pleased with His servant when he asked Him to forgive him his sins, for God says, “He knows that I alone forgive sins.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar told that when the Prophet said farewell to a man he took him by the hand and did not let it go till the man let go the Prophet’s hand, and he would say, “I entrust to God your religion, what you are responsible for, and your last deeds.” A version has “Your final deeds.”* *The text of the tradition has akhira 'amalika and the version khawatima 'amalika, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but in the version of the last two “your last deeds” is not mentioned.

‘Abdallah al-Khatmi told that when God’s messenger wanted to commend an army he said, “I entrust to God your religion, what you are responsible for, and your final deeds.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas told of a man coming to the Prophet and saying, “Messenger of God, I intend to make a journey, so give me provisions.” He replied, “May God provide you with piety!” He asked for more, so he added, “And forgive your sin.” He said, “Say more, you for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom,” and he added, “And give you abundance of good wherever you are,” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Abu Huraira told of a man who said, “Messenger of God, I intend to make a journey, so give me an injunction.” He told him to maintain fear of God and say “God is most great” on every rising ground, and when the man turned away he said, “O God, make the distance short for him and make the journey easy for him.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that when God’s messenger was travelling and night came on he said, "O earth, my Lord and your Lord is God; I seek refuge in God from your evil, the evil of what you contain, the evil of what has been created in you, and the evil of what creeps upon you; I seek refuge in God from lions, from large black snakes, from other snakes, from scorpions, from the evil of jinn which inhabit a settlement and from a parent and his offspring."* *This last phrase occurs in Qur’an, xc, 3 where it appears to be used in a straightforward sense; but in the tradition it is said to be a reference to lblis and his offspring of devils. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas told that when God’s messenger went on an expedition he said, "O God, Thou art my aider and helper; by Thee I move, by Thee I attack, and by Thee I fight." Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Musa told that when the Prophet feared a people he said, "O God, we put Thee in front of them, and we seek refuge in Thee from their evils." Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Umm Salama told that when the Prophet went out of his house he said, “In the name of God; I trust in God; O God, we seek refuge in Thee from slipping, or straying, or causing injustice, or suffering injustice, or doing wrong, or having wrong done to us." Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition, In the version of Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah, Umm Salama said that God’s messenger never went out of her house without raising his eye to the sky and saying, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee lest I stray or lead others stray,* or cause injustice, or suffer injustice, or do wrong, or have wrong done to me.” *Some read as above, but others read 'or be led astray'.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying that when a man goes out of his house and says, "In the name of God; I trust in God; there is no might and no power but in God," the following will be said to him at that time, "You are guided, defended and protected." The devil will go far from him and another devil will say, "How can you deal with a man who has been guided, defended and protected?" Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted up to “the devil will go far from him."

Abu Malik al-Ash'ari reported God's messenger as saying that when a man goes into his house he should say, “O God, I ask Thee for good both when entering and when going out; in the name of God we have entered and in God our Lord do we trust.” He should then greet his family. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that when the Prophet congratulated* a man on his marriage he said, “God bless you, bless you both, and prosper your union.” *The verb used is raffa'a which originally meant saying to someone who had just been married, "may the marriage produce close union and sons." It is said that because this was a phrase used in pre-lslamic times, the Prophet substituted for it the words used in this tradition. The verb thus develops simply the meaning of congratulating without in itself involving any particular formula. Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

'Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said his grandfather told how the Prophet said that when anyone of them married a woman, or bought a servant he should say, “O God, I ask Thee for the good in her and in the disposition Thou hast given her, and I seek refuge in Thee from the evil in her and in the disposition Thou hast given her.” When he buys a camel he should take hold of the top of its hump and say the same kind of thing. In a version regarding a woman and a servant it says he should take hold of her forelock and make supplication for a blessing. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Bakra reported God’s messenger as saying that the supplications to be used by one who is distressed are, “O God, Thy mercy is what I hope for. Do not abandon me to myself for an instant, but put all my affairs in good order for me. There is no god but Thou.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri told of a man who said to God’s messenger that he was entangled in cares and debts. He replied, “Shall I not teach you words by which, when you say them, God will remove your care and settle your debt?” and when the man expressed a desire to hear them he told him to say morning and evening, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from care and grief; I seek refuge in Thee from incapacity and slackness; I seek refuge in Thee from niggardliness and cowardice; I seek refuge in Thee from being overcome by debt and being put in subjection by men.” He said that when he did that God removed his care and settled his debt. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Ali told of a slave who had made a contract with his master to pay for his freedom(1) coming to him and saying, “I am unable to fulfill my contract,* so give me help.” He suggested teaching him words he had been taught by God’s messenger, which would be so effective that if he had a debt as large as a huge mountain God would pay it for him, telling him to say, “O God, grant me enough of what Thou makest lawful so that I may dispense with what Thou makest unlawful, and make me able by Thy grace to dispense with all but Thee.” 1. Mukatab. Although the term comes from the root meaning to write, the contract was not necessarily written. *Kitabati. While the word properly refers to something written, it is used for a contract whether written or not. Tirmidhi and Baihaqi, in ad-Da'awat al-kabir, transmitted it.

‘A'isha said that when God’s messenger sat in an assembly or prayed he spoke some words, so she asked him about them. Saying that they were, “Glory be to Thee, O God, and I begin with praise of Thee; there is no god but Thou; I ask forgiveness of Thee and turn to Thee in repentance,” he told her that if one speaks what is good this will act as a seal on his words till the day of resurrection, and that if one speaks what is evil this will act as an atonement for what he has said. Nasa’i transmitted it.

Qatada told of hearing that when God’s messenger saw the new moon he said, “A new moon of good and right guidance; a new moon of good and right guidance; a new moon of good and right guidance. I believe in Him who created you” (three times). He would then say, “Praise be to God who has made such and such a month to pass and has brought such and such a month.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying that if anyone is afflicted by much care he should say, “O God, I am Thy servant, the son of Thy servant, the son of Thy handmaid, and at Thy disposal; my forelock is in Thy hand; Thy judgment is effective regarding me; just concerning me is Thy decree; I ask Thee by every name Thou hast by which Thou hast called Thyself, or sent down in Thy Book, or taught any of Thy creatures, or kept to Thyself in the hidden place of the unseen, to make the Qur’an the Spring of my heart and the means of clearing away my care and grief.” He declared that no one had ever said it without God removing his grief and giving him joy instead of it. Razin transmitted it.

Jabir said that when they went up to high ground they said, “God is most great,” and when they descended they said, “Glory be to God.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas told that when anything caused God’s messenger anxiety he would say, “O Living One, O Eternal One, in Thy mercy I seek help.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition which is not committed to memory.* *Laisa bi-mahfuz is used here. A tradition called mahfuz is one which is considered superior when compared with a shadhdh tradition (cf. p. xii).

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that at the battle of the Trench they asked God’s messenger whether there was anything they could repeat, for their hearts were in their mouths.* He replied that there was; they should say, “O God, cover our danger points(1) and give security from fears.” He said that God then sent a wind in the faces of His enemies and God routed them by the wind. *Literally, ‘For the hearts had reached the windpipes.’ 1. The word is 'aurat used in a similar prayer on p. 510. There it was translated 'faults'. Another meaning refers to places on a frontier, etc., which give openings to an enemy, and so are places where caution is necessary. This seems more suitable in the present context. Cf. Mirqat, iii, 134. Ahmad transmitted it.

Buraida reported that when the Prophet entered the market he said, “In the name of God. O God, I ask Thee for the good of this market and the good of what it contains, and I seek refuge in Thee from its evil and the evil of what it contains. O God, I seek refuge in Thee lest I get a bad bargain in it.” Baihaqi transmitted it in ad-Da‘ awat al-kabir.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Seek refuge in God from severe calamity, being overtaken by misery, (1) evil destiny, and the triumphant mockery of enemies.” 1. darak ash-shaqa. It might be translated “the depth of misery.” Cf. Qur’an, iv, 145 where the accepted reading is dark, although the word has also been read darak. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said that the Prophet used to say, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from care, grief, incapacity, slackness, cowardliness, niggardliness, the burden of debt, and being overpowered by men.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha said that the Prophet used to say, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from slackness, decrepitude, debt and sin. O God, I seek refuge in Thee from the punishment in hell, the trial hell, the trial in the grave, (2) the punishment in the grave, the evil of the trial of riches, the evil of the trial of poverty, (3) and the evil of the testing of the antichrist. (4) O God, wash away my sins with snow and hail water, purify my heart as a white garment is purified from filth, and put my sins as far away from me as Thou hast put the East from the West.” 2. Being unable to answer the two angels. 3. Riches may lead to oppression and poverty to envy. 4. al-Masih ad-dajjal. The false Christ who is to appear in the last days. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Zaid b. Arqam said that God’s messenger used to say, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from incapacity, slackness, cowardliness, niggardliness, decrepitude, and the punishment in the grave. O God, bring my soul to fear of Thee and purify it; Thou art the best of those who purify it; Thou art its Patron and Master. O God, I seek refuge in Thee from knowledge which does not profit, from a heart which is not submissive, from an appetite which is insatiable, and from a supplication which is not granted an answer.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar said that one of the supplications of God’s messenger was, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from the decline of Thy favour, change in Thy granting wellbeing, sudden vengeance from Thee, and all Thy displeasure.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s messenger used to say, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of what I have done and from the evil of what I have not done.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger used to say, “O God, to Thee I have submitted, in Thee I believe, on Thee I rely, to Thee I turn in repentance, and by Thee I contend. O God, I seek refuge in Thy might, than whom there is no god, lest Thou leadest me into error. Thou art the Living One who dost not die, while jinn and men die.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

knowledge which does not profit, a heart which is not submissive, an appetite which is insatiable, and a supplication which is not heard.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Tirmidhi transmitted it from ‘Abdallah b. 'Amr, and Nasa’i from both sources.

cowardliness, niggardliness, the evils of old age, evil thoughts, and the punishment in the grave. Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that God’s messenger used to say, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from poverty, lack and abasement, and I seek refuge in Thee lest I cause or suffer wrong.” Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.

He said that God’s messenger used to say, "O God, I seek refuge in Thee from divisiveness, hypocrisy and evil character." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He said that God’s messenger used to say, "O God, I seek refuge in Thee from hunger, for it is an evil bedfellow; and I seek refuge in Thee from treachery, for it is an evil hidden trait." 1 1. Literally, ‘lining.’ Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Anas said that God’s messenger used to say, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from leprosy, elephantiasis, madness, and evil diseases.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Qutba b. Malik said that the Prophet used to say, "O God, I seek refuge in Thee from objectionable characteristics, deeds and passions." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Shutair b. Shakal b. Humaid said that his father asked God’s Prophet to teach him a formula by which he might seek refuge in God, and he told him to say, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from evil in what I hear, see, speak, think about, and from evil arising from my sexual passion.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abul Yasar said, that God’s messenger used to make this supplication, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from my house falling on me; I seek refuge, in Thee from falling into an abyss, drowning, burning and decrepitude; I seek refuge in Thee from the devil harming me at the time of my death; I seek refuge in Thee from dying in Thy path while retreating; and I seek refuge in Thee from dying of the sting of a poisonous creature.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it. In another version Nasa’i added, “and from sorrow.”

Mu'adh reported the Prophet as saying, “Seek refuge in God from covetousness which leads to disgrace.” Ahmad and Baihaqi, in ad-Da'awat al-kabir, transmitted it.

‘A’isha told of the Prophet looking at the moon and saying, “Seek refuge in God from the evil of this one, ‘A'isha, for this is the darkness when it overspreads.” 2 2. cf. Qur’an, cxiii, 3. The tradition is said to refer to the moon being eclipsed. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

'Imran b. Husain told of the Prophet asking his father, “How many gods do you worship to-day, Husain?” His father replied, “Seven, six in the earth and one in heaven.” He asked, “Which of them do you take account of regarding your hopes and your fears?” On receiving his reply that it was the one in heaven, he said, “If you were to accept Islam, Husain, I would teach you two phrases which would benefit you.” When Husain accepted Islam" he asked God’s messenger to teach him the two phrases he had promised him, and he told him to say, “O God, direct me in the right way and deliver me from the evil within myself.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, said that his grandfather reported God’s messenger as saying that when anyone was alarmed while asleep he should say, “I seek refuge in God's perfect words from His anger, His punishment, the evil of His servants, the evil suggestions of the devils and their presence,” for they will not injure him. 'Abdallah b. ‘Amr used to teach them to those of his children who had reached puberty and those who had not. He wrote them down on some material (1) and hung the writing on the child’s neck. 1. The word is sakh which usually means a document. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, this being Tirmidhi's wording.

Anas reported God’s messsenger as saying that if anyone asks God for paradise three times, paradise will say, ‘‘O God, bring him into paradise;” and if anyone asks for protection from hell three times, hell will say, "O God, grant him protection from hell.” Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Al-Qa'qa' reported Ka‘b al-Ahbar as saying, “Were it not for some words which I say, the Jews would treat me as an ass.” (2) He was asked what they were and replied, “I seek refuge in God’s mighty Person than which nothing is mightier, in God’s perfect words which no one, whether pious or profligate, can go beyond and in God’s beautiful names, those which I know and those which I do not know, from the evil of what He has created, produced and brought into being.” 2. This might be translated “turn me into an ass.” If that is the correct translation it would suggest the use of magic. Malik transmitted it.

My father used to say at the end of the prayer, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from infidelity, poverty and the punishment in the grave.” I used to say these words also, so he asked me, “From whom did you get this, sonny?” When I told him that I had got it from him, he said that God’s messenger used to say these words at the end of the prayer. Nasa'i and Tirmidhi transmitted it, but the latter did not mention "at the end of the prayer." Ahmad transmitted the wording of the tradition, but he had, "at the end of every prayer."

Abu Sa'id said he heard God’s messenger say, "I seek refuge in God from infidelity and debt." A man asked him whether he treated infidelity on a level with debt, and he replied that he did. A version has, "O God, I seek refuge in Thee from infidelity and poverty." A man asked whether they were equal, and replied that they were. Nasa’i transmitted it.

“O God, forgive me my sin, my ignorance, my extravagance in my affairs, and what Thou knowest better than I do. O God, forgive me my serious and my frivolous sins, my unintentional and my intentional sins, for I am guilty of all that. O God, forgive me my former and my latter sins, what I have kept secret and what I have done openly, and what Thou knowest better than I do. Thou art the Advancer, Thou art the Delayer, and Thou art omnipotent.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)