Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious,
thus stated: I am near to the thought of My servant as he
thinks about Me, and I am with him as he remembers Me. And
if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My
Heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him
in assembly, better than his (remembrance), and if he
draws near Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by
the cubit, and if he draws near Me by the cubit I draw
near him by the space (covered by) two hands. And if he
walks towards Me, I rush towards him.
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of
A'mash with the same chain of transmitters, but there is
no mention of these words:" He draws near Me by the space
of a hand, I draw near him by the space (covered) by two
hands."
Hammam b. Munabbih reported so many ahadith from Abu
Huraira and one out of them is this that Allah's Messenger
(may peace be upon him) said that Allah thus stated: When
My servant draws close to me by the span of a palm, I draw
close to him by the space of a cubit, and when he draws
close to Me by the space of a cubit, I draw close to him
by the space (covered) by two hands, and when he draws
close to Me by the space (covered by) two hands, I go in
hurry towards him.
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) was travelling along the path leading to
Mecca that he happened to pass by a mountain called Jumdan.
He said: Proceed on, it is Jumdan, Mufarradun have gone
ahead. They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said:
Allah's Messenger, who are Mufarradun? He said: They are
those males and females who remember Allah much.
Chapter 2: THE NAMES OF ALLAH, THE EXALTED, AND
THE MERIT OF ONE WHO ENUMERATES THEM
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: There are ninety-nine names of Allah;
he who commits them to memory would get into Paradise.
Verily, Allah is Odd (He is one, and it is an odd number)
and He loves odd number. And in the narration of Ibn 'Umar
(the words are):" He who enumerated them."
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon
him) as saying: Verily, there are ninety-nine names for
Allah, i. e. hundred excepting one. He who enumerates them
would get into Paradise. And Hammam has made this addition
on the authority of Abu Huraira who reported it from
Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) that he said:" He
is Odd (one) and loves odd number."
Chapter 3: SUPPLICATION SHOULD BE MADE WITH
CONVICTION AND WILL
Anas reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)
as saying: When one of you makes supplication, he should
supplicate with a will and should not say: O Allah, confer
upon me if Thou likest, for there is none to coerce Allah.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: When one of you makes a supplication
(to his Lord) one should not say: O Allah, grant me
pardon, if Thou so likest, but one should beg one's (Lord)
with a will and full devotion, for there is nothing so
great in the eye of Allah which He cannot grant.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: None of you should say to Allah (like
this): O Allah, grant me mercy, if thou so likest. The
supplication (of his) should (be permeated with)
conviction (that it would be accepted by the Lord), for
Allah is the Doer of (everything) He likes to do, and
there is none to force Him (to do or not to do this or
that).
Chapter 4: IT IS NOT SOMETHING APPRECIABLE TO
MAKE REQUEST FOR DEATH FROM THE LORD WHEN ONE IS IN TROUBLE
Anas (b. Malik) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) as saying. None of you should make a request
for death because of the trouble in which he is involved,
but if there is no other help to it, then say: O Allah,
keep me alive as long as there is goodness in life for me
and bring death to me when there is goodness in death for
me.
Nadr b. Anas reported, as when Anas was alive, that he
said: Had Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) not
stated this.." None should make a request for death," I
would have definitely done that.
Abu Hazim reported: I visited Khabbab who bad seven
cauteries on his stomach and he s aid: Had Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) not forbidden us to call
for death, I would have done so.
Hammam b. Munabbih said: Abu Huraira narrated to us
ahadith from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and
out of these one is that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) said: None amongst you should make a request for
death, and do not call for it before it comes, for when
any one of you dies, he ceases (to do good) deeds and the
life of a believer is not prolonged but for goodness.
Chapter 5: HE WHO LOVES TO MEET ALLAH, ALLAH ALSO
LOVES TO MEET HIM, AND HE WHO DISLIKES TO MEET ALLAH, ALLAH
ALSO ABHORS TO MEET HIM
Ubida b. Samit reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah
also loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah,
Allah also abhors to meet him.
A'isha reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) said: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to
meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah abhors
to meet him. I ('A'isha) said: Allah's Apostle, so far as
the feeling of aversion against death is concerned, we all
have this feeling. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said:
It is not that (which you construe), but (this) that when
a believer (at the time of death) is given the glad
tidings of the mercy of Allah, His Pleasure, and of
Paradise, he loves to meet Allah, and Allah also loves to
meet him, and when an unbeliever is given the news of the
torment at the Hand of Allah, and Hardship to be imposed
by Him, he dislikes to meet Allah and Allah also abhors to
meet him.
'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah also
loves to meet him, and who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah
abhors to meet him. There is death before (one is able to)
meet Allah.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: He who loves meeting Allah, Allah
loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah,
Allah abhors to meet him. I (Shuraih b. Hani, one of the
narrators) came to A'isha and said to her: Mother of the
faithful, I heard Abu Huraira narrate from Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) which, if it is actually
so, is a destruction to us. Thereupon she said: Those are
in fact ruined who are ruined at the words of Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him). What are (the words
which in your opinion would cause your destruction)? He
said that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) had
stated: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah too loves to
meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah too
abhors to meet him, and there is none amongst us who dons
not hate death. Thereupon she said: Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) has in fact stated this, but it does
not mean what you construe, but it implies (the time) when
one loses the lustre of the eye, and there is rattling in
the throat, shudder in the body and convulsion in fingers
(at the time of death). (It is about this time) that it
has been said: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah would
love to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah
would abhor to meet him
Abu Musa reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon
him) as saying: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah too
loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah,
Allah abhors to meet him.
Chapter 6: MERIT OF REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH AND
CALLING HIM, AND NEARNESS TO ALLAH, THE EXALTED
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him as saying that Allah thus stated: I live in the
thought of My servant as he thinks of Me and with him as
he calls Me.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon
him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said:
When My servant draws close to Me by the span of a palm, I
draw close to him by the cubit and when he draws close to
Me by the cubit, I draw close to him by the space
(covered) by two hands, and when he draws close to Me by
the space (covered) by two hands, I go in hurry towards
him.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious,
thus stated: I live in the thought of My servant as he
thinks about Me, and I am with him, as he remembers Me And
if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My
Heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him
in the assembly, better than he (does that), and if he
draws near Me by the span of a palm I draw near him by the
cubit, and if he draws near Me by the cubit I draw near
him by the space (covered by) two hands. And it he walks
towards Me, I rush towards him.
Abu Dharr reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious,
stated:" He who comes with goodness, there are in store
for him ten like those and even more than those: 'And he
who comes with vice, ' it is only for that that he is
called to account. I even forgive him (as I like) and he
who draws close to Me by the span of a palm I draw close
to him by the cubit, and he who draws close to Me by the
cubit I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two
hands, and he who walks towards Me I rush towards him, and
he who meets Me in the state that his sins fill the earth,
but not associating anything with Me, I would meet Him
with the same (vastness) of pardon (on My behalf)." This
hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Waki'.
A hadith like this has been transmitted on the
authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters
and he (further) said: There is for him ten like that (the
good he performed) or more than that.
Chapter 7: THE DISAPPROVAL OF SUPPLICATION IN
WHICH A REQUEST IS MADE TO ALLAH FOR PUNISHMENT OF ONE'S
(MISDEEDS) IN THE WORLD
Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) visited a person from amongst the Muslims in order to
inquire (about his health) who had grown feeble like the
chicken. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said:
Did you supplicate for anything or beg of Him about that?
He said: Yes. I used to utter (these words): Impose
punishment upon me earlier in this world, what Thou art
going to impose upon me in the Hereafter. Thereupon
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Hallowed
be Allah, you have neither the power nor forbearance to
take upon yourself (the burden of His Punishment). Why did
you not say this: O Allah, grant us good in the world and
good in the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of
Fire. He (the Holy Prophet) made this supplication (for
him) and he was all right.
Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) visited a person from amongst his Companions who had
grown as feeble as the chicken. The rest of the hadith is
the same, but with this variation that he (the Holy
Prophet) said: You have not power enough to undergo the
torment imposed by Allah. And there is no mention of: He
supplicated Allah for him and He cured him.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon
him) as saying Allah has mobile (squads) of angels, who
have no other work (to attend to but) to follow the
assemblies of Dhikr and when they find such assemblies in
which there is Dhikr (of Allah) they sit in them and some
of them surround the others with their wings till the
space between them and the sky of the world is fully
covered, and when they disperse (after the assembly of
Dhikr is adjourned) they go upward to the heaven and
Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, asks them although He is
best informed about them: Where have you come from? They
say: We come from Thine servants upon the earth who had
been glorifying Thee (reciting Subhan Allah), uttering
Thine Greatness (saying Allah o-Akbar) and uttering Thine
Oneness (La ilaha ill Allah) and praising Thee (uttering
al-Hamdu Lillah) and begging of Thee. Be would say: What
do they beg of Me? They would say: They beg of Thee the
Paradise of Thine. He (God) would say: Have they seen My
Paradise? They said: No, our Lord. He would say: (What it
would be then) if they were to see Mine Paradise? They
(the angels) said: They seek Thine protection. He (the
Lord) would say: Against what do they seek protection of
Mine? They (the angels) would say: Our Lord, from the
Hell-Fire. He (the Lord) would say: Have they seen My
Fire? They would say: No. He (the Lord) would say: What it
would be if they were to see My Fire? They would say: They
beg of Thee forgiveness. He would say: I grant pardon to
them, and confer upon them what they ask for and grant
them protection against which they seek protection. They
(the angels) would again say: Our Lord, there is one
amongst them such and such simple servant who happened to
pass by (that assembly) and sat there along with them (who
had been participating in that assembly). He (the Lord)
would say: I also grant him pardon, for they are a people
the seat-fellows of whom are in no way unfortunate.
Chapter 9: THE MERIT OF THIS (SUPPLICATION):" O
ALLAH, GRANT US THE GOOD IN THE WORLD AND GOOD IN THE
HEREAFTER AND SAVE US FROM THE TORMENT OF HELL"
Qatada asked Anas which Supplication Allah's Apostle
(may peace be upon him) frequently made. He said: The
supplication that he (the Holy Prophet made very
frequently is this:" O Allah, grant us the good in this
world and the good in the Hereafter and save us from the
torment of Hell-Fire." He (Qatada) said that whenever Anas
had to supplicate he made this very supplication, and
whenever he (intended) to make another supplication he
(inserted) this very supplication in that.
Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) used to supplicate (in these words):" Our Lord, grant
us the good in this world and the good in the Hereafter
and save us from the torment of Hell Fire."
Chapter 10: THE MERIT OF PRONOUNCING TAHLIL,
TASBIH AND SUPPLICATION
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: He who uttered these words:" There is
no god but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him.
Sovereignty belongs to Him and all the praise is due to
Him, and He is Potent over everything" one hundred times
every day there is a reward of emancipating ten slaves for
him, and there are recorded hundred virtues to his credit,
and hundred vices are blotted out from his scroll, and
that is a safeguard for him against the Satan on that day
till evening and no one brings anything more excellent
than this, except one who has done more than this (who
utters these words more than one hundred times and does
more good acts) and he who utters:" Hallowed be Allah, and
all praise is due to Him," one hundred times a day, his
sins are obliterated even if they are equal to the extent
of the foam of the ocean.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: He who recites in the morning and in
the evening (these words):" Hallowed be Allah and all
praise is due to Him" one hundred times, he would not
bring on the Day of Resurrection anything excellent than
this except one who utters these words or utters more than
these words.
'Amr b. Maimun reported: He who uttered:" There is no
god but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him, His is
the Sovereignty and all praise is due to Him and He is
Potent over everything" ten times, he is like one who
emancipated four slaves from the progeny of Isma'il. Rabi'
b. Khuthaim narrated a hadith like this. Sha'bi reported:
I said to Rabi': From whom did you hear it? He said: From
'Amr b. Maimun. I came to 'Amr b. Maimun and said to him:
From whom did you hear this hadith? He said: from Ibn Abi
Laila. I came to Ibn Abi Laila and said to him: From whom
did you hear this hadith? He said: From Abu Ayyub Ansari,
who narrated from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him).
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: Two are the expressions which are
light on the tongue, but heavy in scale, dear to the
Compassionate One:" Hallowed be Allah and praise is due to
Him" ;" Hallowed be Allah, the Great."
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: The uttering of (these words):"
Hallowed be Allah; all praise is due to Allah, there is no
god but Allah and Allah is the Greatest," is dearer to me
than anything over which the sun rises.
Mu'sab b. Sa'd reported on the authority of his father
that a desert Arab came to Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) and said to him: Teach me the words which I
should (often) utter. He said: Utter," There is no god but
Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. Allah is the
Greatest of the great and all praise is due to Him.
Hallowed be Allah, the Lord of the worlds, there is no
Might and Power but that of Allah, the All-Powerful and
the Wise." He (that desert Arab) said: These all (glorify)
my Lord. But what about me? Thereupon he (the Holy
Prophet) said: You should say:" O Allah, grant me pardon,
have mercy upon me, direct me to righteousness and provide
me sustenance." Musa (one of the narrators) said: I think
he also said:" Grant me safety." But I cannot say for
certain whether he said this or not. Ibn Abi Shaiba has
not made a mention of the words of Musa in his narration.
Abu Malik Ashaja'i reported on the authority of his
father that whenever a person embraced Islam, Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) instructed him to
recilte:" O Allah, grant me pardon, have mercy upon me,
direct me to the path of righteousness and provide me
sustenance."
Abu Malik reported on the authority of his father that
when a person embraced Islam, Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) used to teach him how to observe prayer and
then commanded him to supplicate in these words:" O Allah,
grant me pardon, have mercy upon me, direct me to the path
of righteousness, grant me protection and provide me
sustenance."
Abu Malik reported on the authority Of his father that
he heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as
saying to the person who bad come to him and asked him as
to how he should beg his Lord, that he should utter these
words:" O Allah, grant me pardon, have mercy upon me,
protect me, provide me sustenance," and he collected his
fingers together except his thumb and said: It is in these
words (that there is supplication) which sums up for you
(the good) of this world and that of the Hereafter.
Mus'ab b. Sa'd reported that his father told him that
he had been in the company of Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) that he said: Is one amongst you powerless to
get one thousand virtues every day. Amongst those who had
been sitting there, one asked: How one amongst us can get
one thousand virtues every day? He said: Recite:" Hallowed
be Allah" one hundred times for (by reciting them) one
thousand virtues are recorded (to your credit) and one
tbousand vices are blotted out.
Chapter 11: THE MERIT OF AN ASSEMBLY FOR THE
RECITATION OF THE QUR'AN OR FOR TIIE DHIKR (REMEMBRANCE OF
ALLAH)
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: He who alleviates the suffering of a
brother out of the sufferings of the world, Allah would
alleviate his suffering from the sufferings of the Day of
Resurrection, and he who finds relief for one who is hard
pressed, Allah would make things easy for him in the
Hereafter, and he who conceals (the faults) of a Muslim,
Allah would conceal his faults in the world and in the
Hereafter. Allah is at the back of a servant so long as
the servant is at the back of his brother, and he who
treads the path in search of know- ledge, Allah would make
that path easy, leading to Paradise for him and those
persons who assemble in the house among the houses of
Allah (mosques) and recite the Book of Allah and they
learn and teach the Qur'an (among themselves) there would
descend upon them the tranquillity and mercy would cover
them and the angels would surround them and Allah makes a
mention of them in the presence of those near Him, and he
who is slow-paced in doing good deeds, his (high) descent
does not make him go ahead.
Agharr Abi Muslim reported: I bear witness to the fact
that both Abu Huraira and Abu Sa'id Khudri were present
when Allah's Messenger may peace be upon him) said: The
people do not sit but they are surrounded by angels and
covered by Mercy, and there descends upon them
tranquillity as they remember Allah, and Allah makes a
mention of them to those who are near Him. This hadith has
been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same
chain of transmitters.
Abu Sa'id Khudri reported that Mu'awiya went to a
circle in the mosque and said: What makes you sit here?
They said: We are sitting here in order to re- member
Allah. He said: I adjure you by Allah (to tell me whether
you are sitting here for this very purpose)? They said: By
Allah, we are sitting here for this very purpose.
Thereupon, he said: I have not demanded you to take an
oath, because of any allegation against you and none of my
rank in the eye of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) is the narrator of so few ahadith as I am. The fact
is that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) went out
to the circle of his Companions and said: What makes you
sit? They said: We are sitting here in order to remember
Allah and to praise Him for He guided us to the path of
Islam and He conferred favours upgn us. Thereupon he
adjured by Allah and asked if that only was the purpose of
their sitting there. They said: By Allah, we are not
sitting here but for this very purpose, whereupon he (the
Messenger) said: I am not asking you to take an oath
because of any allegation against you but for the fact
that Gabriel came to me and he informed me that Allah, the
Exalted and Glorious, was talking to the angels about your
magnificence.
Chapter 12: EXCELLENCE OF SEEKING FORGIVENESS
FROM ALLAH AND SEEKING THAT VERY MUCH
Al-Agharr al-Muzani, who was one amongst the Companions
(of the Holy Prophet) reported that Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) said: There is (at times) some sort of
shade upon my heart, and I seek forgiveness from Allah a
hundred times a day.
Al-Agharr al-Muzani who was from amongst the Companions
of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) reported that
Ibn 'Umar stated to him that Allah's Messenger (may peace
'be upon him) said: O people, seek repentance from Allah.
Verily, I seek repentance from Him a hundred times a day.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as say- ing: He who seeks repentance (from the
Lord) before the rising of the sun from the west (before
the Day of Resurrection), Allah turns to him with Mercy.
Chapter 13: EXCELLENCE OF REMEMBERING ALLAH IN A
LOW VOICE
Abu Musa reported: We were along with Allah's Apostle
(may peace be upon him) on a journey when the people began
to pronounce Allah-o-Akbar in a loud voice. Thereupon
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: O people,
sh mercy to yourselves for you are not calling One Who is
deaf or absent. Verily, you are calling One Who is
All-Hearing (and) Near to you and is with you. Abu Musa
told that he had been behind him (the Holy Prophet) and
reciting:" There is neither might nor power but that of
Allah." He (the Holy Prophet), while addressing 'Abdullah
b. Qais, said: Should I not direct you to a treasure from
amongst the treasurers of Para- dise? I ('Abdullah b.
Qais) said: Allah's Messenger, do it, of course. Thereupon
he (the Holy Prophet) said: Then recite:" There is no
might and no power but that of Allah."
Abu Musa reported that he (and his other companions)
were climbing upon the hillock along with Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) and when any person
climbed up, he pronounced (loudly):" There is no god but
Allah, Allah is the Greatest." Thereupon Allah's Apostle
(may peace be upon him) said: Verily, you are not
supplicating One Who is deaf or absent. He said: Abu Musa
or Abdullah b Qais, should I not direct you to the words
(which form) the treasure of Paradise? I said: Allah's
Messenger, what are these? He said:" There is no might and
no power but that of Allah."
Abu Musa reported: We were along with Allah's Apostle
(may peace be upon him) on a journey; the rest of the
hadith is the same as transmitted by A'sim.
Abu Musa, reported. We were along with Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) in an expedition. The
rest of the hadith is the same (and there is an addi- tion
of these words in that):" He (the Holy Prophet) said: He
Whom you are sup- plicating is nearer to every one of you
than the neck of his camel." And there is no mention of
these words:" There is no might and no power but that of
Allah."
Abu Musa Ash'ari reported that Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) said to him: Should I not direct you to
the words from the treasures of Paradise, or he said: Like
a treasure from the treasures of Paradise? I said: Of
course, do that. Thereupon he said:" There is no might and
no power but that of Allah."
Abu Bakr reported that he said to Allah's Messenger
(may peace be upon him): Teach me a supplication which I
should recite in my prayer. Thereupon he (the Holy
Prophet) said: Recite:" O Allah, I have done great wrong
to myself." According to Qutaiba (the words were: ) much
(wrong) -there is none to forgive the sins but Thou only,
say:" Grant me pardon from Thyself, have mercy upon me for
Thou art much Forgiving and Compassionate." This hadith
has been transmitted on the authority of 'Amr b. al-'As
that Abu Bakr Siddiq said to Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him): Allah's Messenger. teach me a supplication
which I should make in my prayer and in my house. The rest
of the hadith is the same except with this variation that
he said: Much wrong (Zulman Kathira).
Chapter 14: SUPPLICATION FOR THE SAFEGUARD OF
ONE'S SELF AGAINST THE EVIL OF THE TURMOIL
'A'isha reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) used to make these supplications:" O Allah, I
seek refuge in Thee from the trial of Hell-Fire; and from
the torment of Hell-Fire; and from the trial of the grave
and torment of the grave; and from the evil of the trial
of the affluence and from the evil of the trial of poverty
and I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of the turmoil of
the Dajjal. O Allah, wash away my sins with snow and hail
water, purify my heart from the sins as is purified the
white garment from the dirt, and keep away at a distance
the sins from me as yawns the distance between the East
and the West; O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from sloth,
from senility, from sin, and from debt."
Anas b. Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) used to say:" O Allah, I seek refuge in
Thee from incapacity, from indolence, from cowardice, from
senility, from miserliness, and I seek refuge in Thee from
the torment of the grave and from trial of the life and
death."
Anas reported from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) (this suppli- cation) but with this variation that
these words are not found in that supplication:" From the
trial of life and death."
Anas b. Malik reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace
be upon him) used to seek refuge in Allah from such things
as mentioned in the above-mentioned hadith and from
'miserliness" too.
Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon
him) wed to make this supplication:" O Allah, I seek
refuge in Thee from miserliness, from sloth and from
decrepitude."
Chapter 15: SEEKING OF REFUGE IN ALLAH FROM THE
EVIL OF DESTINY AND FROM THE SEVERITY OF CALAMITY
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be
upon him) used to seek refuge (in Allah) from the evil of
destiny and from falling into the hand of calamity and
from the mockery of (triumphant) enemies and from the
hardship of misery. Abu Sufyan reported: I am in doubt
that I have made an addition of one word in this
supplication.
Khaula bint Hakim Sulamiyya reported: I heard Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When anyone
lands at a place, and then says:" I seek refuge in the
Perfect Word of Allah from the evil of what He has
created," nothing would harm him until he marches from
that stopping place.
Khaula bint Hakim Sulamiyya reported: I heard Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When any one
of you stays at a place, he should say:" I seek refuge in
the Perfect Word of Allah from the evil of that He
created." Nothing would then do him any harm until he
moves from that place. Abu Huraira reported that a person
came to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and
said:" Allah's Messenger, I was stung by a scorpion during
the night. Thereupon he said: Had you recited these words
in the evening:" I seek refuge in the Perfect Word of
Allah from the evil of what He created," it would not have
done any harm to you.
Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported that Allah's, Messenger (may
peace be upon said: When you go to bed, perform ablution
as is done for prayer; then lie down pn the right side and
recite:" O Allah, I turn my face towards Thee and entrust
my affair to Thee. I retreat unto Thee for protection with
hope in Thee and fear of Thee. There is no resort and no
deliverer (from hardship) but Thou only. I affirm my faith
in Thine books which Thou revealed and in Thine Apostles
whom Thou sent." Make this as the last word of yours (when
you go to sleep) and in case you die during that night,
you would die upon Fitra (upon Islam). And as I repeated
these words in order to commit them to memory, I said:" I
affirm my faith in Thy Messenger (Rasul) whom Thou sent."
He said: Say:" I affirm my faith in the Apostle (Nabi)
whom Thou sent."
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of
al-Bara' b. 'Azib with a slight variation of wording and
there is this addition in the hadith transmitted on the
authority of Husain:" In case you get up in the morning,
you will get up with bliss."
Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported that Allah's Messenger (in
may peace be upon him) commanded a person (in these
words): When you go to bed during night, you should say:"
O Allah, I surrender myself to Thee and entrust my affair
to Thee, with hope in Thee and fear of Thee. There is no
resort and no deliverer (from hardship but Thou). I affirm
my faith in the Book which Thou revealed and in the
Messengers whom Thou sent." If you die in this state you
would die on Fitra, and Ibn Bashshdr did not make a
mention of" night" in this hadith.
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of
al-Bara' b. 'Azib that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) said to a person: O, so and so, as you go to
your bed; the rest of the hadith is the same but with this
variation of wording that he said:" Thine Apostle whom
Thou sent." If you die that night you would die on Fitra
and if you get up in the morning you would get up with a
bliss.
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of
al-Bara' b. 'Azib that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) commanded a person (in these words) and there is
no mention of this:" if you get up in the morning you
would get up with a bliss."
Al-Bara' reported that whenever Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) went to bed, he said:" O Allah, it is
with Thine Name that I live and it is with Thine Name that
I die." And when he got up he used to say:" Praise is due
to Allah, Who gave us life after our death (sleep) and
unto Thee is resurrection."
Abdullah b. 'Umar commanded a person that as he went to
bed, he should say:" O Allah, Thou created my being and it
is for Thee to take it to its ultimate goal. And its death
and life is due to Thee, and if Thou givest it life,
safeguard it; and if Thou bringst death, grant it pardon.
O Allah, I beg of Thee safety." A person said to him: Did
you hear it from Umar? Thereupon he said: (I have heard
from one) who is better than Umar, viz. from Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him). Ibn Nafi, reported this
on the authority of Abdullah b. Harith but he did not make
mention of this" that he heard it himself".
Suhail reported that Abu Salih used to command us (in
these words): When any one of you intends to go to sleep,
he should lie on the bed on his right side and then say:"
O Allah. the Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of the Earth
and Lord of the Magnificent Throne, our Lord, and the Lord
of evervthina, the Splitter of the grain of corn and the
datestone (or fruit kernal), the Revealer of Torah and
Injil (Bible) and Criterion (the Holy Qur'an), I seek
refuge in Thee from the evil of every- thing Thou art to
sieze by the forelock (Thou hast perfect control over it).
O Allah, Thou art the First, there is naught before Thee,
and Thou art the Last and there is naught after Thee, and
Thou art Evident and there is nothing above Thee, and Thou
art Innermost and there is nothing beyond Thee. Remove the
burden of debt from us and relieve us from want." Abu
Salih used to narrate it from Abu Huraira who narrated it
from Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him).
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) used to command us that as we go to our bedo,
we should utter the words (as mention- ed above) and he
also said (these words):" From the evil of every animal,
Thou hast hold upon its forelock (Thou bast full control
over it)."
Abu Huraira reported that Fatima (the daughter of the
Holy Prophet) came to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon
him) and asked for a servant. He said to her: Say:" O
Allah, the Lord of the seven heavens" ; the rest of the
hadith is the same.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as say- ing: When any one of you goes to bed, he
should take hold of the hem of his lower garment and then
should clean (his bed) with the help of that and then
should recite the name of Allah for he himself does tiot
know what he left behind him on his bed, and when he
intends to lie on bed, he should lie on his right side and
utter these words:" Hallowed be Allah, my Lord. It is with
Thine (grace) that I place my side (upon the bed) and it
is with Thee that I take it up (after sleep), and in case
Thou withholdst my being (if thou causest me to die), then
grant pardon to my being, and if Thou keepst (this process
of breathing on), then protect it with that with which
Thou protected Thine pious servants."
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of
Ubaidullah b. Umar with the same chain of transmitters and
he said: Then utter:" My Lord. with Thine name I place my
side and if Thou keepest me alive have mercy upon myself"
Anas reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)
as saying: When you go to bed, say:" Praise is due to
Allab Who fed us, provided us drink, sufficed us and
provided us with shelter, for many a people there is none
to suffice and none to provide shelter."
Chapter 17: REFUGE FROM THE EVIL OF WHAT ONE HAS
DONE AND WHAT ONE HAS NOT DONE
Farwa' b. Naufal Ashja'i reported: I asked: 'A'isha, in
what words did Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)
supplicate Allah? She said that he used to utter:" I seek
refuge in Thee from the evil of what I did and from the
evil of what I did not."
Farwa' b. Naufal reported: I asked 'A'isha about the
supplication that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) made. She said that he used to say:" O Allah, I seek
refuge in Thee from the evil of what I have done and from
the evil of what I have not done."
Farwa' b. Naufal reported on the authority of 'A'isha
that Allah's Mes- senger (may peace be upon him) used to
supplicate (in these words):" O Allah, I seek refuge in
Thee from the evil of what I did and from the evil of what
I did not."
Ibn 'Abbas reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) used to say:" O Allah, it is unto Thee that I
surrender myself. I affirm my faith in Thee and repose my
trust in Thee and turn to Thee in repentance and with Thy
help fought my adversaries. O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee
with Thine Power; there is no god but Thou, lest Thou
leadest me astray. Thou art ever-living that dieth not,
while the Jinn and mankind die."
Abu Huraira reported that when Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) set out on a journey in the morning, he
used to say:" A listener listened to our praising Allah
(for) His goodly trial of us. Our Lord! acompany us, guard
us and bestow upon us Thy grace. I am seeker of refuge in
Allah from the Fire."
Abu Musa Ash'ari reported on the authority of his
father that Allahs Apostle (may peace be upon him) used to
supplicate in these words:" O Allah, forgive me my faults,
my ignorance, my immoderation in my concerns. And Thou art
better aware (of my affairs) than myself. O Allah, grant
me forgiveness (of the faults which I committed) seriously
or otherwise (and which I committed inadvertently and de-
liberately. All these (failings) are in me. O Allah, grant
me forgiveness from the fault which I did in haste or
deferred, which I committed in privacy or in public and
Thou art better aware of (them) than myself. Thou art the
First and the Last and over all things Thou art
Omnipotent."
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) used to supplicate (in these words):" O
Allah, set right for me my religion which is the safeguard
of my affairs. And set right for me the affairs of my
world wherein is my living. And set right for me my
Hereafter on which depends my after-life. And make the
life for me (a source) of abundance for every good and
make my death a source of comfort for me protecting me
against every evil."
Abdullah reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) used to supplicate (in these words):" O Allah. I
beg of Thee the right guidance, safeguard against evils,
chastity and freedom from want."
Zaid b. Alqam reported: I am not going to say anything
but only that which Allah's Messenger (may peace be upgn
him) used to say. He used to supplicate:" O Allah, I seek
refuge in Thee from incapacity, from sloth, from
cowardice, from miserliness, decrepitude and from torment
of the grave. O Allah, grant to my soul the sense of
righteousness and purify it, for Thou art the Best
Purifier thereof. Thou art the Protecting Friend thereof,
and Guardian thereof. O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from
the knowledge which does not benefit, from the heart that
does not entertain the fear (of Allah), from the soul that
does not feel contented and the supplication that is not
responded."
Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported that when it was evening
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to
supplicate:" We entered upon evening and the whole Kingdom
of Allah also entered upon evening and praise is due to
Allah. There is no god but Allah, the One Who has no
partner with Him." Hasan said that Zubaid reported to him
that he memorised it from Ibrahim in these very words."
His is the Sovereignty and Praise is due to Him, and He is
Potent over everything. O Allah, I beg of Thee the good of
this night and I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of this
night and the evil which follows it. O Allah, I seek
refuge in Thee from sloth, from the evil of vanity. O
Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from torment in the Hell-Fire
and from torment in the grave."
Abdullah reported that when it was evening Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to supplicate:" We
have entered upon evening and so, too, the whole Kingdom
of Allah has entered upon evening. Praise is due to Allah.
There is no god but Allah, the One having no partner with
Him." He (the narrator) said: I think that he also uttered
(in this supplication these words):" His is tne
Sovercignty and to Him is praise due and He is Potent over
everything. My Lord, I beg of Thee good that lies in this
night and good that follows it and I seek refuge in Thee
from the evil that lies in this night and from the evil of
that which follows it. My Lord, I seek refuge in Thee from
sloth, from the evil of vanity. My Lord, I seek refuge in
Thee from torment of the Hell-Fire and from torment of the
grave." And when it was morning he said like this:" We
entered upon morning and the whole Kingdom of Allah enter
ed upon morning."
Abdullah reported that when it was evening Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to supplicate:" We
have entered upon evening and so has the Kingdom of Allah
entere d upon evening; praise is due to Allah, there is no
god but Allah the One, and there is no partner with Him. O
Allah, I beg of Thee the blessing of this night and the
blessing of that which lies in it. I seek refuge in Thee
from the evil of it and what lies in it. O Allah, I seek
refuge in Thee from sloth, from decrepitude, from the evil
of vanity, from trial of the world, and from torment of
the grave." Zubaid, through another chain of transmitters,
has narrated on the authority of Abdullah directly this
addition:" There is no god but Allah, the One, there is no
partner with Him, His is the Sovereignty and to Him is
praise due and He is Potent over everything."
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of
Abu Huraira that Allah's Messenge; (may peace be upon him)
used to supplicate thus:" There is no god but Allah, the
One Who conferred upon His armies the honour of victory
and helped His servant rout the clans; there is nothing
after that."
'Ali reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) said to him: Say," O Allah, direct me to the right
path and make me adhere to the straight path," and when
you make a mention of right guidance, keep in mind the
right path and when you consider of the straight (path),
keep in mind the straightness of the arrow.
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Asim
b. Kulaib with the same chain of transmitters that Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: Say:" O
Allah, I beg of Thee righteousness and adhering to the
straight path."
Chapter 18: THE RECITING OF SUBHAN ALLAH IN THE
MORNING AND AT THE TIME OF SLEEPING
Juwairiya reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) came out from (her apartment) in the morning as
she was busy in observing her dawn prayer in her place of
worship. He came back in the forenoon and she was still
sitting there. He (the Holy Prophet) said to her: You have
been in the same seat since I left you. She said: Yes.
Thereupon Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: I
recited four words three times after I left you and if
these are to be weighed against what you have recited
since morning these would outweigh them and (these words)
are:" Hallowed be Allah and praise is due to Him according
to the number of His creation and according to the
pleasure of His Self and according to the weight of His
Throne and according to the ink (used in recording) words
(for His Praise)."
Juwairiya reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) happened to pass by her as she was observing her
dawn prayer; or after she had observed her dawn prayer.
The rest of the hadith is the same but with this variation
that he said:" Hallowed be Allah according to the number
of His creation, hallowed be Allah according to the
pleasure of His Self, hallowed be Allah according to the
weight of His Throne, hallowed be Allah according to the
ink used in recording His words."
It is reported on the authority of Ali that Fatima had
corns in her hand because of working at the hand-mill.
There had fallen to the lot of Allah's Apostle (may peace
be upon him) some prisoners of war. She (Fatima) came to
the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) but she did not
find him (in the house). She met A'isha and informed her
(about her hardship). When Allah's Apostle (may peace be
upon him) came, she ( A'isha) informed him about the visit
of Fatima. ABah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) came
to them (Fitima and her family). They had gone to their
beds. 'Ali further (reported): We tried to stand up (as a
mark of respect) but Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) said: Keep to your beds, and he sat amongst us and I
felt coldness of his feet upon my chest. He then said: May
I not direct you to something better than what you have
asked for? When you go to your bed, you should recite
Takbir (Allah-o-Akbar) thirty-four times and Tasbih
(Subhdn Allah) thirty-three times and Tahmid (al-Hamdu
li-Allah) thirty-three times, and that is better than the
servant for you.
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of
Ibn Abi Laili but with this addition:" Ali said: Ever
since I heard this (supplication) from Allah's Apostle
(may peace be upon him), I never abandoned it. It was said
to him, Not even in the night of Siffin (battle of
Siffin)? He sad: Yes, not even in the night of Siffin,"
Abu Huraira reported that Fatima came to Allah's
Apostle (may peace be upon him) and asked for a servant
and told him of the hardship of household work. He said:
You would not be able to get a servant from us. May I not
direct you to what is better than the servant for you?
Recite Subhaana Allah thirty-three times, al- Hamdu
li-Allah thirty-three times and Allah-o-Akbar thirty-four
times as you go to bed. This hadith has been narrated on
the authority of Suhail with the same chain of
transmitters.
Chapter 19: THE EXCELLENCE OF SUPPLICATING AT THE
TIME OF THE CROWING OF THE COCK IN THE MORNING
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as say- ing. When you listen to the crowing of
the cock, ask Allah for His favour as it sees Angels and
when you listen to the braying of the donkey, seek refuge
in Allah from the Satan for it sees Satan.
Chapter 20: SUPPLICATION DURING THE TIME OF
TROUBLE
Ibn 'Abbas reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be
upon him) used to supplicate during the time of trouble
(in these words):" There is no god but Allah, the Great,
the Tolerant, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the
Magnificent Throne There is no god but Allah, the Lord of
the Heaven and the earth, the Lord of the Edifying
Throne."
Ibn Abbas reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) used to supplicate (with these words) and he
(uttered these words) at the time of trouble; the rest of
the hadith is the same except with this difference that
insted of saying:" The Lord of heaven and the earth," he
said:" The Lord of the heaven and that of the earth."
Abu Dharr reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) was asked as to which words were the best. He
said: Those for which Allah made a choice for His Angels
and His servants (and the words are):" Hallowed be Allah
and praise is due to Him."
Abu Dharr reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) said: Should I not inform you about the words
liked most by Allah? I said: Allah's Mes- senger, do
inform me about the words liked most by Allah. He said:
Verily, the words liked most by Allah are:" hallowed be
Allah and praise is due to Him."
Chapter 22: EXCELLENCE OF SUPPLICATING FOR THE
MUSLIMS BEHIND THEIR BACK (IN THEIR ABSENCE)
Abu Dharr reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) said: There is no believing servant who
supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his
absence) that the Angels do not say: The same be for you
too.
Umm Darda' reported: My husband reported that he heard
Allah's Mes- senger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He
who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his
absence), the Angel commissioned (for carrying
supplication to his Lord) says: Amen, and it is for you
also.
Safwan (and he was Ibn 'Abdullah b. Safwan, and he had
been married to Umm Darda') reported: I visited Abu
Darda's house in Syria. I did not find him there but Umm
Darda' (was present at the house). She said: Do you intend
to perform Hajj during this year? I said: Yes. She said:
Do supplicate Allah for blessings upon us, for Allah's
Apostle (may peace be upon hiin) used to say: The
supplication of a Muslim for his brother at his back (in
his absence) is responded so long as he makes a supplica-
tion for blessings for his brother and the commissioned
Angel says: Amen, and says: May it be for you too I I went
to the bazar and met Abfi Dardi' and he narrated like this
from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him).
Anas b. Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) said: Allah is pleased with His servant
who says: Al-Hamdu lillah While taking a morsel of food
tnd while drinking.
Chapter 24: SUPPLICATION IS GRANTED IF THE
SUPPLICANT DOES NOT SHOW IMPATIENCE
Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) said: The supplication of every one of you is
granted if he does not grow impatient and says: I
supplicated but it was not granted.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: The supplication of one of you is
granted if he does not grow impatient and say- I
supplicated my Lord but it was not granted.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: The supplication of the servant is
granted in case he does not supplicate for sin or for
severing the ties of blood, or he does not become
impatient. It was said: Allah's Messenger, what does:" If
he does not grow impatient" imply? He said: That he should
say like this: I supplicated and I supplicated but I did
not find it being responded. and theu he becomes
frustrated and abandons supplication.