Seeking Refuge in Allah from High-Stress Situations
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «تَعَوَّذُوا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ جَهْدِ الْبَلَاءِ وَدَرَكِ الشَّقَاءِ وَسُوءِ القضاءِ وشَماتة الْأَعْدَاء
Abu Huraira( رضي الله عنه) reported Allah’s Messenger as saying, “Seek refuge in Allah from a severe calamity, being overtaken by misery, an evil destiny, and the triumphant mockery of enemies.”[1]
Benefits for this subject;
- Imam At-Tibee said: These words repel the calamities in the general sense and in specific sense.[2]
- Imam Al-Bukhari mentioned this Dua in collection twice. Once in the book of Qadr and the other in the book of supplications.
- A severe calamity is of two types. One is when is person is ill in his body and the other is when a person tried by those who spread his wrongdoing and conceal his good. The severe calamity on the body can be described as person having a severe pain from illness that affects his head stomach, and chest.[3]i.e Cancer and Diabetes
- “from a severe calamity…” Every difficulty and hardship that befalls a person and he doesn’t have the ability to bear it or deal with it, is considered a severe calamity. Ibn Umar( Radi Allahu anhu) said : “A severe calamity is when one has a lot of dependents and not enough money to take care of them.[4]
- “from a severe calamity…” Imam At-Tibee said: “It is test that hits a person to the point he kills himself or at least thinks about.[5]
- “ being overtaken by misery…” is divided into two categories; the first relates to the affairs of this life and the other refers to the affairs of the next life.
- “ being overtaken by misery…” Misery is the opposite of happiness. Happiness is obtained by doing righteous deeds while misery is attained by committing sins. In this part of the supplication, you are asking Allah to aide you in avoiding bad deeds which result in your misery. The misery you can possibility encounter is you are overtaken by your bad deeds, thus Allah punishes you for them.[6]
- “ being overtaken by misery…” This can also mean a person lives in misery and is destined to be among the people of Hell.
- “an evil destiny…” An evil destiny is something that befalls a person as trial in regards to his body, health, wealth, and family.
- an evil destiny…” is everything causes bad things to arise in a person’s worldly and religious life, as well in his health and his wealth; and thus he dies in that state.
- “the triumphant mockery of enemies” are words that break the heart and reach the soul.
- the triumphant mockery of enemies” One’s enemies rejoice at the calamities that befall a person. They are delighted to see him being tested in such a way. This characteristic of the supplication is included on all of the other three, although it is separately mentioned. [7]
- These words are concise. The believers should seek refuge in Allah from these four things and taught by the Prophet (ﷺ). He (ﷺ) supplicated with these words to teach his ummah how to do so; as Allah protected him from all kinds of evil. It’s been reported that Ayyub (ﷺ) was asked about the most difficult trial he faced and his reply was the triumphant mockery of enemies.
- This hadith proves that it is legislated to seek refuge in Allah and this doesn’t contradict what has already been decreed for a person can. Consequently, it can be inferred from this that seeking refuge in Allah and supplicating to Him can prevent or repel the things He has decreed for a person. Therefore, this supplication removes that calamity from the individual.[8]
- Supplicating and seeking refuge in Allah shows that a person is in dire need of Him, thus he supplicates to the Most High.
- There is a consensus among the scholars that it is allowed for a person to complain to Allah. [9] This is better than complaining to people who can careless about what you are going through.
Prepared by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle Sr.
Doha,Qatar, 1443H ©
[1] Al-Bukhari 6616 and Muslim 2707
[2] مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح المؤلف: علي بن (سلطان) محمد، أبو الحسن نور الدين الملا الهروي القاري vol 4/pg 1703
[3] Explanation of Riyadus Salaheen, by Al-Uthaymeen, vol 6,pg 23
[4] Sharh Sahih AL-Bukhari, ibn Battal vol 10,pg 110
[5] مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح المؤلف: علي بن (سلطان) محمد، أبو الحسن نور الدين الملا الهروي القاري vol 4/pg 1703
[6] Explanation of Riyadus Salaheen , Al-Uthaymeen, vol 6, pg 23
[7] Faydul Qadir, vol 3,pg 256, by Imam Al-Munawi
[8] مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح المؤلف: علي بن (سلطان) محمد، أبو الحسن نور الدين الملا الهروي القاري vol 4/pg 1703
[9] Jami’ Al-Masa’il by Ibn Taymiyyah , vol 4, pg 72