5 supplications
Duas When Fearing Enemies and Oppression
The believer facing injustice does not answer with injustice; he turns to Allah, takes lawful means and remains patient. The Prophet ﷺ and the prophets before him faced enemies with short duas full of trust, and Allah sufficed them.
When fearing a group of people
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَجْعَلُكَ فِي نُحُورِهِمْ، وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شُرُورِهِمْ
Allahumma inna naj‘aluka fi nuhurihim, wa na‘udhu bika min shururihim.
O Allah, we place You before them and seek refuge in You from their evil.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud
Against those who intend harm
اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِيهِمْ بِمَا شِئْتَ
Allahummakfinihim bima shi’t.
O Allah, suffice me against them however You will.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Against the aggressors
اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ، سَرِيعَ الْحِسَابِ، اهْزِمِ الْأَحْزَابَ، اللَّهُمَّ اهْزِمْهُمْ وَزَلْزِلْهُمْ
Allahumma munzilal-kitab, sari‘al-hisab, ihzimil-ahzab, Allahummahzimhum wa zalzilhum.
O Allah, Revealer of the Book, swift in reckoning, defeat the confederates. O Allah, defeat them and shake them.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Allah is sufficient for us
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Hasbunallahu wa ni‘mal-wakil.
Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs. Said by Ibrahim when thrown into the fire, and by the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions when told that people had gathered against them.
Source: Qur’an 3:173; Sahih al-Bukhari
When fleeing injustice
رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
Rabbi najjini minal-qawmidh-dhalimin.
My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.
Source: Qur’an 28:21
Trust in Allah against fear
“Hasbunallahu wa ni‘mal-wakil” was said by Ibrahim when thrown into the fire and by the Companions when told that people had gathered against them (al-Bukhari); they returned with blessing and no harm touched them (3:173-174). The du‘a “Allahumma inna naj‘aluka fi nuhurihim” was said by the Prophet ﷺ when he feared a group of people (Abu Dawud).
The young believer in the story of the boy and the king said “Allahummakfinihim bima shi’t” when soldiers were sent to kill him, and Allah saved him twice (Muslim). These duas show that protection belongs to Allah, whatever the strength of the enemy.
Facing injustice without becoming unjust
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Beware the du‘a of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah” (al-Bukhari, Muslim). The oppressed may pray against injustice, but should not exceed the limits, and should take lawful means: seeking help, justice and protection. Forgiveness, when possible, is nobler and rewarded by Allah (42:40).
Further guidance
Among the means of protection from enemies is guarding the limits of Allah: the Prophet ﷺ told Ibn ‘Abbas, “Guard Allah and He will guard you… and know that if the whole community gathered to harm you, they could only harm you with something Allah had already written for you” (at-Tirmidhi). Patience and piety also protect: “If you are patient and fear Allah, their plotting will not harm you at all” (3:120). And wisdom often turns enemies into friends: “Repel evil with what is better, and the one with whom there was enmity will become like a devoted friend” (41:34).
Practical tips
- Say “Hasbunallahu wa ni‘mal-wakil” whenever fear rises.
- Keep the morning and evening adhkar for protection.
- Take lawful means: report, seek help, document injustice.
- Do not answer insult with insult.
- Pray for the guidance of opponents when possible.
Duas When Fearing Enemies and Oppression: questions and answers
What to say when afraid of someone?
“Allahumma inna naj‘aluka fi nuhurihim wa na‘udhu bika min shururihim” (Abu Dawud) and “Hasbunallahu wa ni‘mal-wakil” (3:173).
Is it allowed to pray against an oppressor?
Yes, within limits: one may ask Allah to stop the injustice and take one’s right, without wishing harm beyond it.