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 [The siege of Medina in 5 A. H.] 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 [Kitab] 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 [which leads to] 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 [Kitab] 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.)

Abu Huraira said that God’s messenger used to say, “O God, order well for me my religion which is the support of my affairs; order well for me my worldly affairs in which my livelihood is found; order well for me my life to come where is my ultimate destination; make life for me a means of increase in all that is good; and make death a rest for me from every evil.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud told on the authority of the Prophet that he used to say, "O God, I ask Thee for guidance, piety, self-control and a competence." Muslim transmitted it.

‘Ali said that God’s messenger told him to say, "O God, guide me and dispose me to do what is right,” keeping in mind when asking for guidance his being guided in the right way, and when asking for disposal to do what is right an arrow’s faculty of hitting the mark. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Malik al-Ashja‘i told on his father’s authority that when a man accepted Islam the Prophet instructed him in the prayer, then commanded him to make supplication with these words, “O God, forgive me, show mercy to me, guide me, grant me health, and grant me provision.” Muslim transmitted it.

Anas said that the Prophet's most frequent supplication was, "O God, bring us blessing in this world, blessing in the next, and guard us from the punishment of hell." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas told that the Prophet used to say when making supplication, "My Lord, help me and do not give help against me; grant me victory and do not grant victory over me; plan on my behalf and do not plan against me; guide me and make right guidance easy for me; grant me victory over those who act wrongfully towards me. My Lord, make me grateful to Thee, mindful of Thee, full of fear towards Thee, devoted to Thy obedience, humble before Thee, earnest in supplication, and penitent. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash away my sin, answer my supplication, clearly establish my evidence, make true my tongue, guide my heart, and draw out the malice in my breast.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Bakr said that God’s messenger mounted the pulpit, then wept and said, "Ask God for forgiveness and health, for after being granted certainty, one is given nothing better than health." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan tradition whose isnad is gharib.

Anas told of a man who came to the Prophet and asked him which supplication was most excellent. To this he replied, "Ask your Lord for health and for security from evil in this world and the next." He came to him on the following day, asked the same question, and received a similar reply. Then when he came on the third day he received a similar reply with this addition, "If you are given health and security from evil in this world and the next, you have attained felicity." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan tradition whose isnad is gharib.

‘Abdallah b. Yazid al-Khatmi told on the authority of God's messenger that he used to say in his supplication, "O God, provide me with Thy love 1 and the love of those whose love will benefit me with Thee; O God, make the things I love with which Thou hast provided me a strength to me regarding what Thou lovest; O God, make the things I love which Thou hast turned away from me a means of my devoting myself to what Thou lovest." 1. hibbaka. This could be translated either as above or as "love of Thee", but the phrase which follows it suggests that the translation given above is the correct one in this context. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

“O God, apportion to us such fear of Thee as will come between us and acts of disobedience to Thee, such obedience to Thee as will bring us to Thy paradise, and such certainty that the calamities of this world will be made easy for us by Thee; let us enjoy our hearing, our sight and our power as long as Thou dost grant us life, and do the same for those who inherit from us; grant us revenge on those who have wronged us and help us against those who are hostile to us; let no calamity befall our religion, let not worldly affairs be our greatest care or all that we know about, and let not those who do not show mercy towards us rule over us.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Abu Huraira told that God's messenger used to say, “O God, grant me benefit in what Thou hast taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. Praise be to God in all circumstances. I seek refuge in God from the state of those who go to hell.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib.

When the inspiration was sent down to the Prophet, a low sound was heard near his face like the humming of bees. One day when inspiration was sent down to him and we had waited for a time, it left him, then facing the qibla and raising his hands, he said, “O God, give us more and do not give us less; honour us and do not humiliate us; give us and do not withhold from us; choose us and do not prefer others to us; please us and be pleased with us.” He then said, “I have had sent down to me ten verses which will provide entrance to paradise for those who recite them.” He then recited, “The believers have been successful” and continued till he had completed ten verses, 1 1. Qur'an, xxiii, 1-10. Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He then commanded him to perform ablution, doing it well, and make this supplication, “O God, I make request of Thee and I turn towards Thee by means of Thy prophet Muhammad, the prophet of mercy. By means of you 1 have turned towards my Lord to accomplish for me this need of mine. O God, make him an intercessor for me.” 1. bika. This would seem here to refer to the Prophet, although by itself it might naturally be taken to refer to God. The sentence which precedes certainly suggests that it must refer to the Prophet, in which case the translation might go, “by means of whom I have turned towards my Lord.” Changes of pronouns in Arabic often present difficulties to the translator. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih gharib tradition.

Abud Darda’ reported God's messenger as saying that part of David's supplication was that he would say, “O God, I ask Thee for Thy love, 2 the love of those who love Thee, and deeds which will cause me to attain to Thy love. O God, make Thy love dearer to me than myself, my property, my family, and than cold water." He said that when God’s messenger mentioned David and talked about him, he would say that he was most devoted of men to worship. 2. cf. page 530, n. 1. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

‘Ammar b. Yasir led us in a prayer and did so in brief form. One of the people camplained that he had shortened the prayer and conducted it briefly, but he replied that that would cause him no harm, for he had used in it various supplica­ tions he had heard from God’s messenger." When he got up to depart one of the people followed him (‘Ata’ explaining that this was his father although he made a vague reference to himself) 3 and asked him about the supplication, whereupon he came and informed the people of it as follows: “O God, by Thy knowledge of the unseen and Thy power to create, grant me life as long as Thou knowest life to be best for me, and take me when Thou knowest death to be best for me; O God, I ask Thee for fear of Thee both within my secret heart and openly; I ask Thee for the word of truth in pleasure and anger; I ask Thee for moderation both in poverty and riches; I ask Thee for felicity which does not pass away; I ask Thee for comfort which is not cut off; I ask Thee for satisfaction with what is decreed; I ask Thee for a pleasant life 1 after death; I ask Thee for the pleasure of looking at Thy face, and longing to meet Thee in a state in which distress does not cause harm or testing lead astray. O God, beautify us with the adornment of faith, and make us guides who are rightly guided.” Nasa’i transmitted it. 3. The vague reference consists in his saying "one of the people." 1. Literally "coolness of life." The word bard (coolness) develops the meaning of pleasantness.

Umm Salama said that the Prophet used to say after the dawn prayer, “O God, I ask Thee for beneficial knowledge, acceptable action, and good provision.” Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in [Kitab] ad- Da'awat al-kabir, transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that a supplication he had learned from God’s messenger and which he would never give up was, “O God, make me thank Thee greatly, keep Thee in my memory often, follow Thy counsel, and keep Thy injunction.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. 'Amr told that God’s messenger used to say, “O God, I ask Thee for health, continence, integrity, a good character, and acceptance of what is decreed.”

Umm Ma'bad said she heard God’s messenger say, “O God, purify my heart from hypocrisy, my action from vain show, my tongue from falsehood and my eyes from wrongful glances, for Thou knowest the surreptitious looks of the eyes and what is concealed in the breasts.” 2 Baihaqi transmitted the two traditions in [Kitab] ad-Da'awat al-kabir. 2. cf. Qur’an, xl, 19.

The man used it in supplication to God, and God healed him. Muslim transmitted it.

Hudhaifa reported God’s messenger as saying, “It is not fitting for a believer to demean himself." On being asked how he could demean himself he replied, “By exposing himself to a calamity which he has not the capacity to endure." Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

‘Umar told that God’s messenger taught him to say, “O God, make my inner nature better than my outer, and make my outer nature good. O God, I ask Thee to give me some of the abundance Thou givest to men, in family, property and children, which neither strays nor leads astray." Tirmidhi transmitted it.