14 supplications
Prophetic Duas Seeking Refuge (Isti‘adhah)
A large share of the Prophet’s duas begin with “A‘udhu bika”, I seek refuge in You. He sought refuge from inner weaknesses such as laziness and cowardice, from outward harms such as debt and illness, and from the great trials of the grave and the Dajjal, teaching that protection is asked for before it is needed.
Refuge from weakness and laziness
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْهَرَمِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-‘ajzi wal-kasal, wal-jubni wal-harami wal-bukhl, wa a‘udhu bika min ‘adhabil-qabr, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamat.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from incapacity and laziness, cowardice, old age and miserliness, and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave and the trials of life and death.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
The long du‘a of refuge
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكَسَلِ وَالْهَرَمِ، وَالْمَأْثَمِ وَالْمَغْرَمِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ النَّارِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْغِنَى، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْفَقْرِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْ عَنِّي خَطَايَايَ بِمَاءِ الثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّ قَلْبِي مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الْأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَبَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-kasali wal-haram, wal-ma’thami wal-maghram, wa min fitnatil-qabri wa ‘adhabil-qabr, wa min fitnatin-nari wa ‘adhabin-nar, wa min sharri fitnatil-ghina, wa a‘udhu bika min fitnatil-faqr, wa a‘udhu bika min fitnatil-masihid-dajjal. Allahummaghsil ‘anni khatayaya bi-ma’ith-thalji wal-barad, wa naqqi qalbi minal-khataya kama naqqaytath-thawbal-abyada minad-danas, wa ba‘id bayni wa bayna khatayaya kama ba‘adta baynal-mashriqi wal-maghrib.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from laziness and old age, from sin and debt, from the trial and punishment of the grave, the trial and punishment of the Fire, from the evil of the trial of wealth and the trial of poverty, and from the trial of the Dajjal. O Allah, wash away my sins with snow and hail water, cleanse my heart of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt, and put between me and my sins a distance like that between East and West.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Refuge from the worst of trials
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ جَهْدِ الْبَلَاءِ، وَدَرَكِ الشَّقَاءِ، وَسُوءِ الْقَضَاءِ، وَشَمَاتَةِ الْأَعْدَاءِ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min jahdil-bala’, wa darakish-shaqa’, wa su’il-qada’, wa shamatatil-a‘da’.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from overwhelming affliction, from being overtaken by misery, from an evil decree and from the gloating of enemies.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Refuge from the evil of my deeds
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَمِلْتُ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا لَمْ أَعْمَلْ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min sharri ma ‘amiltu, wa min sharri ma lam a‘mal.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done and the evil of what I have not done.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Refuge from the evil of my senses
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ سَمْعِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ بَصَرِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ لِسَانِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ قَلْبِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَنِيِّي
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min sharri sam‘i, wa min sharri basari, wa min sharri lisani, wa min sharri qalbi, wa min sharri maniyyi.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of my hearing, my sight, my tongue, my heart and my desire.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi; Sunan al-Nasa’i
Refuge from grave diseases
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبَرَصِ، وَالْجُنُونِ، وَالْجُذَامِ، وَمِنْ سَيِّئِ الْأَسْقَامِ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-baras, wal-junun, wal-judham, wa min sayyi’il-asqam.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from leprosy, madness, elephantiasis and all evil illnesses.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Sunan al-Nasa’i
Refuge from poverty and injustice
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْفَقْرِ، وَالْقِلَّةِ، وَالذِّلَّةِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أُظْلَمَ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-faqr, wal-qillah, wadh-dhillah, wa a‘udhu bika min an adhlima aw udhlam.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from poverty, scarcity and humiliation, and I seek refuge in You from wronging others or being wronged.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Sunan al-Nasa’i
Morning and evening refuge×3
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالْفَقْرِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-kufri wal-faqr, Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min ‘adhabil-qabr, la ilaha illa ant.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty; O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave; there is no god but You. Three times in the morning and evening.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Sunan al-Nasa’i
Refuge from crushing debt
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الْعَدُوِّ، وَشَمَاتَةِ الْأَعْدَاءِ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min ghalabatid-dayn, wa ghalabatil-‘aduww, wa shamatatil-a‘da’.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from being overcome by debt, overpowered by the enemy and from the gloating of enemies.
Source: Sunan al-Nasa’i
Refuge from hunger and betrayal
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُوعِ، فَإِنَّهُ بِئْسَ الضَّجِيعُ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخِيَانَةِ، فَإِنَّهَا بِئْسَتِ الْبِطَانَةُ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-ju‘, fa-innahu bi’sad-daji‘, wa a‘udhu bika minal-khiyanah, fa-innaha bi’satil-bitanah.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from hunger, for it is an evil bedfellow, and from betrayal, for it is an evil companion.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Sunan al-Nasa’i; Sunan Ibn Majah
Refuge from sudden and evil deaths
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَدْمِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ التَّرَدِّي، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْغَرَقِ وَالْحَرَقِ وَالْهَرَمِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ يَتَخَبَّطَنِي الشَّيْطَانُ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَمُوتَ فِي سَبِيلِكَ مُدْبِرًا، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَمُوتَ لَدِيغًا
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-hadm, wa a‘udhu bika minat-taraddi, wa a‘udhu bika minal-gharaqi wal-haraqi wal-haram, wa a‘udhu bika an yatakhabbatanish-shaytanu ‘indal-mawt, wa a‘udhu bika an amuta fi sabilika mudbira, wa a‘udhu bika an amuta ladigha.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from being crushed, from falling, from drowning, burning and decrepitude; I seek refuge in You from Satan touching me at death, from dying in Your path while fleeing, and from dying of a sting.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Sunan al-Nasa’i
Refuge from bad days and bad company
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ يَوْمِ السُّوءِ، وَمِنْ لَيْلَةِ السُّوءِ، وَمِنْ سَاعَةِ السُّوءِ، وَمِنْ صَاحِبِ السُّوءِ، وَمِنْ جَارِ السُّوءِ فِي دَارِ الْمُقَامَةِ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min yawmis-su’, wa min laylatis-su’, wa min sa‘atis-su’, wa min sahibis-su’, wa min jaris-su’i fi daril-muqamah.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from an evil day, an evil night, an evil hour, an evil companion and an evil neighbour in the land of residence.
Source: al-Mu‘jam of at-Tabarani
Refuge from open and hidden trials
نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الْفِتَنِ، مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ
Na‘udhu billahi minal-fitan, ma dhahara minha wa ma batan.
We seek refuge in Allah from trials, the apparent and the hidden.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Against the loss of blessings
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ زَوَالِ نِعْمَتِكَ، وَتَحَوُّلِ عَافِيَتِكَ، وَفُجَاءَةِ نِقْمَتِكَ، وَجَمِيعِ سَخَطِكَ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min zawali ni‘matik, wa tahawwuli ‘afiyatik, wa fuja’ati niqmatik, wa jami‘i sakhatik.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the loss of Your blessing, the change of Your protection, the suddenness of Your punishment and all that displeases You.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Refuge before need
The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge daily from things that had not yet happened: debt he had not taken, illness he did not have, trials yet to come. This teaches that du‘a is prevention as well as cure. He ended every prayer with refuge from four things: the punishment of Hell, the punishment of the grave, the trials of life and death and the Dajjal (Muslim).
Seeking refuge from laziness and cowardice shows that weaknesses of character are also dangers to be brought to Allah, not only external harms.
Prophetic Duas Seeking Refuge (Isti‘adhah): questions and answers
What does “the trial of wealth” mean?
Being distracted, arrogant or miserly because of wealth, just as poverty can lead to despair or sin. The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge from both.
Is seeking refuge from debt a sign of weak trust?
No. It is asking Allah for protection from a burden the Prophet ﷺ himself feared, while still taking lawful means.