8 supplications
Seeking Refuge in the Qur’an: the Isti‘adhah of the Prophets
Seeking refuge (isti‘adhah) is turning to Allah for protection from what one cannot repel alone. The Qur’an records how the prophets and the righteous said “I seek refuge in Allah” before temptation, threat, ignorance and the whispers of devils.
Seeking refuge before reciting
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ السَّمِيعِ الْعَلِيمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ، مِنْ هَمْزِهِ وَنَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثِهِ
A‘udhu billahis-sami‘il-‘alimi minash-shaytanir-rajim, min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafthih.
I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the accursed Satan, from his madness, his pride and his poetry.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
Refuge from the prompting of devils
رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ
Rabbi a‘udhu bika min hamazatish-shayatin, wa a‘udhu bika rabbi an yahdurun.
My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the promptings of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they come near me.
Source: Qur’an 23:97-98
After asking for what he did not know
رَبِّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Rabbi inni a‘udhu bika an as’alaka ma laysa li bihi ‘ilm, wa illa taghfir li wa tarhamni akun minal-khasirin.
My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking You for that of which I have no knowledge. Unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers.
Source: Qur’an 11:47
Maryam seeks refuge
إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّا
Inni a‘udhu bir-rahmani minka in kunta taqiyya.
Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, if you fear Allah.
Source: Qur’an 19:18
Musa’s refuge from the arrogant
إِنِّي عُذْتُ بِرَبِّي وَرَبِّكُم مِّن كُلِّ مُتَكَبِّرٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِيَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ
Inni ‘udhtu bi-rabbi wa rabbikum min kulli mutakabbiril-la yu’minu bi-yawmil-hisab.
Indeed, I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Account.
Source: Qur’an 40:27
Refuge from ignorance
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
A‘udhu billahi an akuna minal-jahilin.
I seek refuge in Allah from being among the ignorant.
Source: Qur’an 2:67
Yusuf before temptation
مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ رَبِّي أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَايَ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ
Ma‘adhallah, innahu rabbi ahsana mathwaya, innahu la yuflihudh-dhalimun.
I seek refuge in Allah! He is my lord, who has made my stay good. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed.
Source: Qur’an 12:23
The three Quls×3
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ — قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ … — قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ …
Qul huwallahu ahad … Qul a‘udhu bi-rabbil-falaq … Qul a‘udhu bi-rabbin-nas …
Surat al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and al-Nas, three times each. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Recite them in the evening and the morning three times; they will suffice you against everything.”
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
The meaning of isti‘adhah
To say “a‘udhu billah” is to run to Allah for shelter. The Qur’an commands it before recitation (16:98), when Satan prompts (7:200) and against every evil in the last two surahs. The prophets used it at the decisive moments of their lives: Yusuf said “Ma‘adhallah” when he was tempted, and Maryam sought refuge in the Most Merciful when a stranger appeared to her.
Musa sought refuge from being among the ignorant when his people thought he was mocking them (2:67), showing that mockery and ignorance are among the things a believer flees from.
Seeking Refuge in the Qur’an: the Isti‘adhah of the Prophets: questions and answers
What is the shortest form of seeking refuge?
“A‘udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim”. When angry, the Prophet ﷺ advised it and said it removes anger (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
Are the last two surahs the best refuge?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said: “No one has sought refuge with anything like them” (an-Nasa’i).
Related duas
- Duas for Protection
- Duas against Waswas and Intrusive Thoughts
- All the Rabbana Duas of the Qur’an, with Meaning
- Rabbi Duas: Supplications Beginning with “My Lord” in the Qur’an
- Praising Allah in the Words of the Qur’an: Tasbih and Tahmid
- Verses of Tawhid and the Names of Allah for Remembrance
- Qur’anic Verses of Tawakkul: Words of Reliance on Allah
- Verses of Hope and Comfort for Hard Times