Difficulties & Happiness

When Something You Dislike Happens #1

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ حَالٍ

(1x)

All praise is for Allah in every situation.

Al-ḥamdu li-llāhi ʿalā kulli ḥāl.

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw anything which displeased him, he used to say [the above]. (Ibn Mājah 3803, Ibn al-Sunnī 378)

When Something You Dislike Happens #2

قَدَّرَ اللّٰهُ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ

(1x)

Allah has decreed and He does whatever He wills.

Qaddara-llāhu wa mā shā’a faʿal.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone. Be keen on what benefits you and seek help from Allah, and do not give up. If anything afflicts you, do not say: ‘If I had done (something else), such and such would have happened.’ But say [the above], for (the utterance) ‘If’ provides an opening for the deeds of the devil.” (Muslim 2664)

When One is in a Difficult Situation

اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إِلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلًا ، وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلًا

(1x)

O Allah, there is no ease except in that which You have made easy, and You make the difficulty easy when You wish.

Allāhumma lā sahla illā mā jaʿaltahū sahlā, wa anta tajʿalu-l-ḥazna idhā shi’ta sahlā.

Anas b. Malik (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) ﷺ narrates that the Messenger of Allah said [the above]. (Ibn Hibbān 2427, Ibn al-Sunnī 351)

When Struck by a Calamity

إِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ أْجُرْنِيْ فِيْ مُصِيْبَتِيْ ، وَأَخْلِفْ لِيْ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا

(1x)

To Allah we belong and unto Him is our return. O Allah, recompense me for my affliction and replace it for me with something better

Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn, Allāhumma-‘jurnī fī muṣībatī, wa akhlif lī khayram-minha.

Umm Salamah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “There is no Muslim who is afflicted with a calamity, and then says what Allah has commanded him [the above supplication], except that Allah will recompense him with something better than it.” She says: “When Abū Salamah (her first husband) passed away, I said, ‘Which Muslim is better than Abū Salamah – the first household to migrate to the Messenger of Allah?’ I then said (the above duʿā’), and Allah recompensed me (by marrying me to) the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” (Muslim 918)

Grief & Anxiety #1

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ عَبْدُكَ ، وَابْنُ عَبْدِكَ ، وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ ، نَاصِيَتِيْ بِيَدِكَ ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ ، سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ ، أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِيْ كِتَابِكَ ، أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِيْ عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيْعَ قَلْبِيْ ، وَنُوْرَ صَدْرِيْ وَجَلَاءَ حُزْنِيْ ، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّيْ

(1x)

O Allah, I am Your slave and the son of Your male slave and the son of Your female slave. My forehead is in Your Hand (i.e. you have control over me). I am subject to Your judgement and Your decree concerning me is just. I ask You – by every name that is Yours, by which You have named Yourself, or taught any one of Your creation, or revealed in Your Book, or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You – to make the Qur’ān the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the banisher of my grief and the reliever of my anxiety.

Allāhumma innī ʿabduk, wa-bnu ʿabdik, wa-bnu amatik, nāṣiyatī bi-yadik, māḍin fiyya ḥukmuk, ʿadlun fiyya qaḍā’uk, as’aluka bi-kulli-smin huwa lak, sammayta bihi nafsak, aw ʿallamtahū aḥadam-min khalqik, aw anzaltahū fī Kitābik, awi-sta’tharta bihī fī ʿilmi-l-ghaybi ʿindak, an tajʿala-l-Qur’āna rabīʿa qalbī, wa nūra ṣadrī wa jalā’a ḥuznī, wa dhahāba hammī.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is no one amongst you who, when he is stricken with grief and anxiety, says [the above] except that Allah will remove his grief and anxiety, and will give him joy instead.” The companions said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, should we not learn these words?’ He ﷺ replied, ‘Of course! One who hears it should learn it.’” (Ahmad 3712)

Grief & Anxiety #2

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْعَظِيْمُ الْحَلِيْمُ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيْمِ

(1x)

There is no god but Allah, the Supreme, The Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of the Noble Throne.

Lā ilāha illā-llāhu-l-ʿĀẓīmu-l-Ḥalīm, lā ilāha illā-llāhu Rabbu-l-ʿĀrshi-l-ʿAẓīm, lā ilāha illā-llāhu Rabbu-s-samāwāti wa Rabbu-l-arḍi wa Rabbu-l-ʿĀrshi-l-karīm.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would invoke Allah at the time of distress with [the above]. (Bukhārī 6345, Muslim 2730)

When One is Afraid of People #1

اَللّٰهُمَّ اكْفِنِيْهِمْ بِمَا شِئْتَ

(1x)

O Allah, suffice me from them, with what You choose.

Allāhumma-kfinīhim bimā shi’ta.

Muslim 3005

When One is Afraid of People #2

حَسْبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ

(1x)

Allah is enough for us and He is the Best Protector.

Ḥasbunallāhu wa niʿmal Wakīl.

Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) narrated: “[the above] was said by Ibrāhīm (‘alayhis-salām) when he was thrown into the fire; and it was said by Muhammad ﷺ when they (i.e. the hypocrites) said, “A great army is gathering against you, therefore, fear them,” but it only increased their faith and they said: “Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer (of affairs, for us).” (3.173) (Bukhārī 4563)

Explanation coming soon…

When One is Afraid of People #3

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَجْعَلُكَ فِيْ نُحُوْرِهِمْ ، وَنَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شُرُوْرِهِمْ

(1x)

O Allah, we make You our shield against them and we seek refuge in You from their evil.

Allāhumma innā najʿaluka fī nuḥūrihim, wa naʿūdhu bika min shurūrihim.

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was apprehensive of [a group] of people, he would say: [the above]. (Abū Dāwūd 1537)

When One is Afraid of People #4

اَللّٰهُمَّ أنْتَ عَضُدِيْ وَأَنْتَ نَصِيْرِيْ ، بِكَ أَحُوْلُ ، وبِكَ أصُوْلُ ، وَبِكَ أُقَاتِلُ

(1x)

O Allah, You are my aid and helper; by You I move, by You I attack, and by You I fight.

Allāhumma Anta Aḍudī wa Anta Naṣīrī, Bika aḥūlu, wa bika aṣūlu, wa bika uqātil.

Anas b. Mālik (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went on an expedition, he said [the above].” (Abū Dāwūd 2632)

When One is Afraid of People #5

اَللّٰهُ اَللّٰهُ رَبِّيْ ، لاَ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا

(1x)

Allah, Allah is my Lord, I do not assign anything as a partner to Him.

Allāhu Allāhu Rabbī, lā ushriku bihi shay’ā.

Asmā bint ʿUmays (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to her: “Shall I not teach you words for you to say in times of distress?” or “when in distress?”. He then said [the above]. (Abū Dāwūd 1525)

Explanation coming soon…

When One is Afraid of People #6

اَللّٰهُمَّ اسْتُرْ عَوْرَاتِنَا وَاٰمِنْ رَوْعَاتِنَا

(1x)

O Allah, conceal our faults and assuage my fears.

Allāhumma-stur ‘awrātinā wa āmin raw‘ātinā.

Abū Sa‘īd al-Khuḍrī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “We (the Companions) said on the Day of Khandaq (Trenches): ‘O Messenger of Allah, is there anything we can say? For the hearts have reached the throats (out of fear).’ He ﷺ replied: ‘Yes! (Say) [the above].’ Abū Sa‘īd al-Khuḍrī says: ‘Allah, Mighty and Majestic destroyed the faces of the enemy with wind and Allah made them face defeat through wind.’” (Ahmad 10613)

When Meeting the Enemy

اَللّٰهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ ، ومُجْرِيَ السَّحَابِ ، وهَازِمَ الْأحْزَابِ ، اهْزِمْهُمْ وانْصُرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ

(1x)

O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Mover of the clouds, Defeater of the tribes, defeat them and grant us victory over them.

Allāhumma munzila-l-kitāb, wa mujriya-s-saḥāb, wa hāzima-l-aḥzāb, ihzimhum wa-n-ṣurnā ʿalayhim.

ʿAbdullāh b. Abī Awfā (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, on one of the days that he met the enemy, waited until the sun rose, the stood among the people and said: “O people, do not look forward to meeting the enemy, but ask Allah for well-being. When you meet them, be steadfast. And know that Paradise is under the shadow of swords.” Then he said [the above]. (Bukhārī 3025)

When One Feels Frightened

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ

(1x)

There is no god but Allah.

Lā ilāha illā-llāh.

Zaynab bint Jaḥsh (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once came to her in a state of fear and said, [the above] Woe unto the Arabs from a danger that has come near. An opening has been made in the wall of Yājūj and Mājūj like this, making a circle with his thumb and index finger. Zaynab bint Jaḥsh said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Shall we be destroyed even though there are pious persons among us?” He said, “Yes, when evil (people) will increase.” (Bukhārī 3346)

When One Fears a Ruler

اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمٰـوٰتِ السَّبْعِ ، وَرَبَّ العَرْشِ العَظِيْمِ ، كُنْ لِيْ جَارًا مِنْ فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ ، وَأَحْزَابِهِ مِنْ خَلَائِقِكَ ؛ أنْ يَّفْرُطَ عَلَىَّ أحَدٌ مِنهُمْ أوْ يَطْغٰى ، عَزَّ جَارُكَ ، وَجَلَّ ثَنَاؤُكَ ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

(1x)

O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens, Lord of the Magnificent Throne, be for me a support against [such and such a person] and his helpers from among your creatures, lest any of them abuse me or do me wrong. Mighty is Your patronage, and glorious are Your praises. There is none worthy of worship but You.

Allāhumma Rabb-as-samāwāti-s-sabiʿ, wa Rabba-l-ʿArshi-l-ʿaẓīm, kun lī jāran min fulāni-bni-fulān, wa aḥzābihi min khalāiqiqa; ay-yafruṭa ʿalayya aḥadun minhum aw yaṭgā, ʿazza jāruk, wa jalla thanā’uk, wa lā ilāha illā Ant.

ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “When one of you fears a ruler, they should say [the above].” (Ṭabarānī in Muʿjam al-Kabīr)

When Overwhelmed With Difficulties

حَسْبِيَ اللّٰهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ

(1x)

Allah is enough for me and He is the Best Protector

Ḥasbiyallāhu wa niʿmal Wakīl.

Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā) said: “The last utterance of Ibrāhīm n when he was thrown into the fire was [the above].” (Bukhārī 4564)

When Difficulties Make You Yearn for Death

اَللّٰهُمَّ أَحْيِنِيْ مَا كَانَتِ الْحَيَاةُ خَيْرًا لِّيْ ، وَتَوَفَّنِيْ إِذَا كَانَتِ الْوَفَاةُ خَيْرًا لِّيْ

(1x)

O Allah, let me live as long as life is better for me; and give me death when death is better for me.

Allāhumma aḥyinī mā kānati-l-ḥayātu khayral-lī, wa tawaffanī idhā kānati-l-wafātu khayral-lī.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “None of you should wish for death because of a difficulty that befalls him. Rather he should say [the above].” (Bukhārī 5671, Muslim 2680)

For Difficult Times: All Your Prayers Answered

لَآ إِلٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّيْ كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِيْنَ

(1x)

There is no god worthy of worship except You; You are free from all imperfection. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers. (21:87)

Lā ilāha illā Anta subḥānaka innī kuntu mina-ẓ-ẓālimīn.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The supplication of Dhun-Nūn (Prophet Yūnus) when he supplicated, while in the belly of the whale was: [the above]. ”No Muslim man ever supplicates with [the above] except that Allah answers his supplication.” (Tirmidhī 3505)

When One is Distressed

اَللّٰهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُوْ فَلَا تَكِلْنِيْ إِلٰى نَفْسِيْ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ ، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِيْ كُلَّهُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

(1x)

O Allah! Your Mercy is what I hope for so do not entrust me to myself for the blink of an eye, rectify all of my affairs. There is no god worthy of worship but You.

Allāhumma raḥmataka arjū fa-lā takilnī ilā nafsī ṭarfata ʿayn, wa aṣliḥ lī sha’nī kullah lā ilāha illā Ant.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The supplications for the one who is distressed are [the above].” (Abu Dāwud 5090)

3 Quls: Be Sufficed in All Your Matters

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ. قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ ، اَللّٰهُ الصَّمَدُ ، لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُوْلَدْ ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ.

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ. قُلْ أَعُوْذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ، مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ.

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ. قُلْ أَعُوْذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ، مَلِكِ النَّاسِ ، إِلٰهِ النَّاسِ ، مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ ، اَلَّذِيْ يُوَسْوِسُ فِيْ صُدُوْرِ النَّاسِ ، مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ.

 
In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very Merciful. Say, He is Allah, the One, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who has not given birth and was not born, and to Whom no one is equal. (112) In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very Merciful. Say, I seek protection of the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of what He has created, and from the evil of the darkening night when it settles, and from the evil of the blowers in knots, and from the evil of the envier when he envies. (113) In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very Merciful. Say, I seek protection of the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws, who whispers in the hearts of mankind, whether they be Jinn or people. (114)
Bismi-llāhi-r-Raḥmāni-r-Raḥīm. Qul Huwa-llāhu Aḥad. Allāhu-ṣ-Ṣamad. Lam yalid wa lam yūlad. Wa lam yakul-lahū kufuwan aḥad. Bismi-llāhi-r-Raḥmāni-r-Raḥīm. Qul aʿūdhu bi-Rabbi-l-falaq. Min sharri mā khalaq. Wa min sharri ghāsiqin idhā waqab. Wa min sharri-n-naffāthāti fi-l-ʿuqad. Wa min sharri ḥāsidin idhā ḥasad. Bismi-llāhi-r-Raḥmāni-r-Raḥīm. Qul aʿūdhu bi-Rabbi-n-nās. Maliki-n-nās. Ilāh-hin-nās. Min sharri-l-waswāsi-l-khannās. Al-ladhī yuwaswisu fī ṣudūri-n-nās. Mina-l-jinnati wa-n-nās.

Muʿādh b. ʿAbdullāh b. Khubaib, narrated from his father (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu), who said: “We went out on a rainy and extremely dark night, looking for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, so that he could lead us in Salāh.” He said: “So I met him and he ﷺ said: ‘Say’ but I did not say anything. Then he ﷺ said: ‘Say.’ But I did not say anything. He ﷺ said: ‘Say.’ So I said: ‘What should I say?’ He ﷺ said: **“Recite Sūrah al-Ikhlās and al-Mu’awwidhatayn (Sūrah al-Falaq and Sūrah al-Nās) three times in the morning and the evening. It will suffice you in all respects.”** (Tirmidhī 3575)
‘It will suffice you in all respects’ means it will protect you from all evil.

Brief Commentary (Surah al-Ikhlas)
 
• Sūrah al-Ikhlās is a perfect summary and description of Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā).
 
• **“Allah”** is the One who is adored and worshipped. The Name ‘Allah’ includes all of His majestic and beautiful qualities and attributes.
 
• The Sūrah begins by affirming that Allah is **“One”**. He is Unique in His Perfection, in His Most Beautiful Names and Perfect Lofty Attributes, and He is Unique in His Perfect Deeds. There is nothing like Him.
 
• The Arabic word used in the Sūrah to affirm that Allah is **“One”** (Aḥad) also carries the meaning of “only” i.e. His oneness is unique, and there is none like Him.
 
• In the next verse, Allah describes Himself as “al-Ṣamad”. Al-Ṣamad is the Perfect Master, the One who the whole creation turns to for the fulfilment of their needs. He needs no one, but everyone needs Him, and are fully dependent on Him. He is Perfect in His knowledge, mercy, wisdom, power, honour and glory. Since He is perfect, He doesn’t need anyone, as nothing they can do can benefit or harm Him. He does not feel hunger nor thirst. He is the Everlasting who will never perish. To Him and Him alone are all prayers and supplications addressed. He and only He decides everything independently, and no one shares His authority.
 
• The people of Quraysh wanted to know the lineage of Allah, so He clarified to them in this Sūrah that **“He has not given birth and was not born”** i.e. He does not have a parent or child. When one has a parent, this shows they needed someone to cause them to be brought into existence. And when one has a child, this shows they need someone to assist them or to carry their lineage, and that this person is similar to His father. Since all of these points contradict the quality of Allah being “**al-Ṣamad**”, it is only befitting that Allah is free from them.
 
• Anything that is born is ‘dependent’. And anything which is ‘dependent’ cannot be divine, and therefore does not deserve to be worshipped.
 
• “**And to whom no one is equal**”: This last verse is a summary of the previous verses in that there is none like Allah, and that He has the most perfect and complete attributes. No one resembles Him in anything or is equivalent to Him in any respect.
 
` `
` `
**Benefits & Action Points (Surah al-Ikhlas)**
 
• We recite Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ (for the morning and evening adhkar) first because we praise Allah through it. Similar to when making duʿā’, we praise Allah first and then make our requests. Here, we are praising Allah through Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ, and then following up with the next two Sūrahs (**al Mu’awwidhatayn**), which consist of requests. Similarly, by starting off with Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ, we develop certainty (yaqīn) that Allah is truly the only One who can help us.
 
• This Sūrah outlines, in the clearest of terms, the principal and most fundamental ideas of the great truth of Islam: **The Oneness of Allah**.
 
• This Sūrah covers some of the most fundamental points of Islamic creed. It counters all false claims and allegations made by humans across the centuries in relation to knowing Allah, despite its brevity.
 
• The 1st verse affirms Allah’s Oneness. The 2nd verse affirms His Perfection. The 3rd verse affirms His being Eternal, without a beginning or end, negating any parents or children. And the last verse affirms His Greatness and Uniqueness, negating any rivals or companions.
 
• This Sūrah is about the Oneness and Uniqueness of Allah. When we understand that Allah Alone possesses these qualities, it only makes sense that we worship Him Alone. We love Him above everyone and everything else, we only fear Him, and we submit to Him.
 
• When we free ourselves from believing in anything but Allah, and uphold this everlasting truth, we begin to enjoy freedom from all shackles, false ideas, evil desires, fears and confusions of any sort.
 
• As with Āyat al-Kursī, this Sūrah deals with the greatness of Allah. It is included in the morning and evening adhkār to stir appreciation for the greatness of Allah, thereby helping the person be more attentive and optimistic when reciting the remainder of the duʿās.
 
• This Sūrah affirms that we are all in need of Allah, and that He can fulfill all of our needs. Reflect over this when reciting this Sūrah to set yourself in the right frame of mind for making the subsequent adhkār.
 
` `
` `
**Virtues of Surah al-Ikhlas**
 
• Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ is equivalent to one third of the Qur’ān. Whoever recites it ten times, Allah will build a palace for him in Paradise.
 
• Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ leads to Paradise. There was a Companion (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) who would lead the prayer and would always recite Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ in every rakʿah of ṣalāh, and then follow it up with reciting from elsewhere.  When the Messenger ﷺ asked him why he did this, he said, “O Messenger of Allah, indeed I love it.” He ﷺ said, “Your love for it will admit you into Paradise” (Tirmidhī).
 
• Another companion did something similar. When the Messenger ﷺ told his companions to ask him why he did this, he replied, “**Because it is the description of al-Raḥmān, and I love to recite it**.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Inform him that Allah loves him.”
 
• Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ also contains the Greatest Names of Allah (ism Allah al-Aʿẓam). Buraydah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard a man saying:
**اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ بِأَنِّيْ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللهُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ الَّذِيْ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُوْلَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
***“O Allah, I ask You as I bear witness that You are Allah, there is no god but You, the One, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who has not given birth and was not born, and to Whom no one is equal.” *
 
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remarked: “By the One in Whose Hand is my life, He has certainly asked Allah with His Greatest Name; when He is supplicated by it, He responds, and when asked, He gives” (Tirmidhī).
 
` `
` `
**Brief Commentary (Surah al-Falaq)**
 
• “**I seek protection**”: Istiʿādhah (seeking protection) is an act of the heart. When seeking protection with Allah, we are: (1) throwing ourselves in front of Him, displaying our need of Him, and (2) submitting and humbling ourselves in front of Him. Istiʿādhah is an acknowledgment of Allah’s ultimate power, and the human being’s weakness and inability to combat evil by himself.
 
• We seek protection from the “**Lord (Rabb)** of the daybreak.” Rabb is a special Name of Allah which fills our hearts with gratitude, love and comfort. Rabb is the One who nurtures, nourishes and sustains the whole of creation. He is The Owner, The Master, The Creator and Provider. Rabb is the one who regulates our affairs, protecting us and granting us endless blessings.
 
• ‘**Daybreak**’ is when darkness departs, and daylight overcomes. Daylight, which represents the beginning of the day, pushes the evil elements of the night away. The filthy, the criminals and the debased return to their hideouts.
 
• By reminding ourselves that Allah is the Lord of the daybreak, who erases and replaces darkness with daylight, He too can erase the difficulties in our lives and bring us ease.
 
• We seek refuge from four things in this sūrah:
 
• (1) We seek refuge in Allah “**from the evil of what He has created**”. We remind ourselves that this harm is within the creation of Allah, and therefore we feel at peace knowing that Allah is able to protect us from it as it is under His authority.
 
• Nothing falls outside the creation of Allah, so we have sought refuge from all forms of evil.
 
• 2) After seeking refuge from general evil, we seek refuge from a specific evil: “**from the evil of the darkening night when it settles**”. At night, the devils spread and are more active. The night provides cover in which evil forces can operate without being detected (e.g. thieves), and one is more likely to be attacked by harmful animals. Moreover, when you are alone at night, anxieties and worries can deepen, leading to insomnia and paranoia.
 
• 3) Then we seek refuge in Allah from those “**who blow on knots**” i.e. magic. Instead of fearing magicians, we should seek protection in Allah through this powerful Sūrah.
 
• This verse is linked to the next verse. The root cause of why people do magic is envy.
 
• 4) The last thing we seek refuge in Allah from in this Sūrah is the envy of others, including the evil eye, which something that can have an adverse effect on us.
 
• This also remind us that we shouldn’t be envious of others or wish evil for them.
 
` `
` `
**Benefits & Action Points (Surah al-Falaq)**
 
• When we seek Allah’s protection (istiʿādhah), we kill our own ego, and instead express our servitude (ʿubūdiyyah) to Allah and express our dire need of Him.
 
• This Sūrah, along with Sūrah al-Nās contain a command from Allah, to take refuge in Him and seek His protection in the face of any source of fear, subtle or apparent, known or unknown. It is as if Allah is kindly and affectionately calling on His servants to resort to His care through which they will feel safe and at peace.
 
• When you say you seek refuge in Allah, think about the state of refugees around the world: They leave the worst behind them to seek refuge elsewhere as they believe this place will save them from their current state. This is how we should feel when we seek refuge in Allah; that we are doomed without His refuge and cannot live without it.
 
• When we recited Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ, we referred to Allah as ‘al-Ṣamad’: the One whom we all depend on; this Sūrah teaches us **how** to depend on Him.
 
• In this Sūrah, we seek refuge in Allah from **external** sources of harm, such as the devils and the envy of others. In Sūrah al-Nās, we seek refuge in Allah from **internal** sources of harm. These two surahs together therefore are a formidable form of protection against all harm.
 
• Always recite this Sūrah with complete conviction in the protection that Allah can give you so that you can benefit the most from it.
 
• Ibn Kathīr (raḥimahullāh) writes, ‘The most beneficial cure for magic is what Allah ﷻ revealed to His Messenger ﷺ as a cure: Sūrah al-Falaq and al-Nās. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “No seeker has sought protection with anything like them”’ (Abū Dāwūd).
 
• Envy is a destructive trait. Learn how to protect yourself from this disease.
 
• This Sūrah highlights the evil of envy and the harm it incurs. This harm reaches the victim by way of the envier’s evil self and sight, despite never having used his hands or tongue. Evil eye is a form of envy. The evil effect takes place when it is intentionally addressed through one’s eyes staring at the person envied. But the intensity of this effect differs according to the weakness of the victim and the power of the evil jealous self.
 
• Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) writes, “The evil eye is an arrow, shot by the one who is jealous, hitting (the victim) sometimes and missing it sometimes. So, if the victim is uncovered and without the protection (of the adhkār), then he definitely will be affected by it. But if the victim is taking precaution (through the adhkār), then it will not affect him; rather it may happen that this arrow is returned back to the envier.”
 
 
` `
` `
**The Virtues**
 
• The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Do you not see that there have been verses revealed to me tonight the like of which has not been seen before. They are (Sūrah al-Falaq and Sūrah al-Nās).” (Muslim)
 
• **Best Ruqyah**: ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) narrated that whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would become sick, he would recite [the last 3 Sūrahs of the Qur’ān] and then blow over his body. She says: “During his last illness from which he passed away, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to blow over himself. But when his sickness intensified, I used to (recite and then) blow on him (with these Sūrahs), and I would wipe his own hand (over him) because of its blessing” (Bukhārī). In another hadīth, she mentions that whenever anyone from his family would become ill, he ﷺ would blow over them with these three Sūrahs. (Muslim)
 
• **Best Protection**: Sūrah al-Nās and Sūrah al-Falaq are the best protection against envy, evil eye and the devils. Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to seek refuge in Allah from the jinn and the human evil eye until the Muʿawwidhatayn (Sūrah al-Falaq and al-Nās) were revealed. When they were revealed, he adopted them and abandoned everything else” (Tirmidhī). He ﷺ also said, “Shall I inform you of the best words with which you can seek Allah’s protection?” I said: “Yes.” He ﷺ said, “Sūrah al-Falaq and Sūrah al-Nās.” (Aḥmad)
 
 
` `
` `
**Brief Commentary (Surah al-Nas)**
 
• “**Lord of mankind**” is how Allah foremostly describes Himself. He is the Rabb, the One who creates, and then nurtures and protects all of us. He looks after our every affair. This verse affirms the Oneness of Allah through His Lordship.
 
• “**King of mankind**” is an attribute of Allah that follows on from Him being the Lord. He looks after all of our affairs, and this can only be done if He has full control and ownership over us.
 
• As Allah is the Lord and the King of mankind, it only makes sense that He alone is worshipped and is the True God: **“God of mankind”**. This verse therefore affirms the Oneness of Allah in terms of His [deserving of] worship.
 
• After praising Allah with three of His Attributes and affirming His true Oneness, we seek refuge from “**the evil of the retreating whisperer**” i.e. Shayṭān.
 
• Shayṭān is described as “**the retreating whisperer**”. This is because when a person is weak and forgets Allah, Shayṭān constantly whispers evil in his ear. However, when a person becomes strong and remembers Allah, Shayṭān hastily retreats, and is prevented from influencing him.
 
• The last verse in this surah clarifies that the ‘Shayṭān’ who leads us to evil is not always from the jinn, but can be from human ‘shayāṭīn’ (devils). They could be evil friends, the musicians we listen to, the celebrities we idolise and the media we consume.
 
` `
` `
**Benefits & Action Points (Surah al-Nas)**
 
• In this Sūrah, refuge is sought in the Lord, King and God of mankind from the sneaky whisperer, jinn or human, who prompts evil ideas in people’s minds. The mind on its own cannot shut out this invisible evil. It needs Allah, and the Sūrah tells us why it is only Allah who is able to do this: He is the Lord, who preserves, directs, cherishes and protects mankind. He is the King who owns, governs and independently runs the world. He is the God, the only True Being who deserves to be worshipped.
 
• Since Shayṭān knows that the heart is the essence of the person, he tries to constantly attack it with whispers, tempt him with desires, and glamourise for him evil words and actions. The only way we can be protected from his evil plots is through asking Allah for help and clinging on to Him.
 
• Allah gave Shayṭān the ability to affect and have direct contact with our hearts. Since this sneaking whisperer operates secretly and constantly suggests evil, we need to be more alert in order to confront it. The best way to confront it and make it ‘retreat’ is through the remembrance of Allah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ quoting Prophet Yaḥyā (ʿalayhis-salām) said: “I command you to remember Allah. Verily, the parable of that is a man who goes forth while his enemies are fast upon him, and then he comes to a safe fortress, where he protects himself from them. In the same way, a servant will not protect himself against Shayṭān except by the dhikr of Allah” (Tirmidhī).
 
• Sūrah al-Falaq teaches us how to seek refuge from **external** sources of harm, and this Sūrah teaches us how to seek refuge from **internal** sources of harm, as following the whispers of Shayṭān will lead us to commit sins. In this way, we would cause ourselves to be harmed and punished.
 
• Sūrah al-Falaq teaches us how to seek refuge from the harms that we **cannot** control; and this surah teaches us to seek refuge from the harms that we **can** control.
 
• Sūrah al-Falaq teaches us how to seek refuge from harms related to **this life**; and this Sūrah teaches us how to seek refuge from harms related to the **hereafter**.
 
• In Sūrah al-Falaq, we seek refuge in Allah using one of His Attributes from **four different sources of evil**; but in this Sūrah we seek refuge in Allah using three of His Attributes from **one source of evil**. This teaches us that the harms related to the hereafter are far greater than those related to this life.
 
` `
` `
**Three Powerful Surahs**
 
• It is Sunnah to recite these three Sūrahs three times in the morning and evening, three times before going to sleep, once after every ṣalāh, and when one is ill.
 
• Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) said, “These Sūrahs are extremely effective in repelling magic, evil eye, and the rest of the evils…The need for a slave to seek Allah’s protection with these Sūrahs is greater than his need for eating, drinking and clothes.”

When Something Pleases You #1

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ

(1x)

All praise is for Allah through whose blessing righteous actions are accomplished.

Al-ḥamdu li-llāh-ladhī bi-niʿmatihī tattimmu-ṣ-ṣāliḥāt.

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw anything which pleased him, he used to say [the above]. (Ibn Mājah 3803, Ibn al-Sunnī 378)

When Something Pleases You #2

لَبَّيْكَ ، إِنَّ الْعَيْشَ عَيْشُ الْآخِرَةِ

(1x)

At Your service (O Allah!), the real life is the life of the Hereafter.

Labbayk, inna-l-‘aysha ‘ayshu-l-ākhirah.

Anas b. Mālik (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out towards the Khandaq (Trench) and saw the Muhajirīn (Emigrants) and the Ansar (Helpers) digging the trench in the cold morning. They had no slaves to do that (work) for them. When the Prophet ﷺ saw their hardship and hunger, he said, ‘O Allah! The real life is the life of the Hereafter, so please forgive Ansar (Helpers) and the Muhajirīn (Emigrants).” They said in reply to him, “We are those who have given the Pledge of allegiances to Muhammad to observe Jihād as long as we live.” (Bukhārī 4099, Muslim 1805)

Ibn ‘Abbās (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhumā) narrated that the Messenger of Allah stood on (the plains of) Arafat and when he said: “Labbayk Allahumma labbayk (At Your service, O Allah, at Your service)”, he said: “Labbayk, innama-l-khayru khayru-l-ākhirah (At Your service (O Allah!), the real goodness is the goodness of the Hereafter).” (Ibn Khuzaymah 4/260)

When Thinking of Something to be a Bad Omen

اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا طَيْرَ إِلَّا طَيْرُكَ ، وَلَا خَيْرَ إِلَّا خَيْرُكَ ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

(1x)

O Allah, there is no bad omen except what You bring and no good except what You bring. There is no deity other than You.

Allāhumma lā ṭayra illā ṭayruk, wa lā khayra illā khayruk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk.

Explanation coming soon…