‘O ALLAH, I SEEK REFUGE IN YOU FROM…’
Last updated on October 9th, 2025 at 05:22 am
Reading Time: 4 minutes«مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح» (2/ 751):
بَابُ الدُّعَاءِ فِي التَّشَهُّدِ
الْفَصْلُ الْأَوَّلُ
939 – عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رضي الله عنها قَالَتْ: «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدْعُو فِي الصَّلَاةِ، – يَقُولُ:
” اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ،
وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ
وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَفِتْنَةِ الْمَمَاتِ،
اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْمَأْثَمِ وَمِنَ الْمَغْرَمِ “،
فَقَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ: مَا أَكْثَرَ تَسْتَعِيذُ مِنَ الْمَغْرَمِ! فَقَالَ: ” إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا غَرِمَ: حَدَّثَ فَكَذَبَ، وَوَعَدَ فَأَخْلَفَ» “، مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ.
It is a beautiful practice to seek understanding of the Du’as we recite in our Salaah, transforming our Du’as from mere ritual into a profound conversation with our Creator.
Here is the English translation and explanation (Sharah) of the Hadeeth provided.
English Translation
Source: Mirqaatul-Mafaateeh Sharh Mishkaatul-Masaabeeh (2/751)
[Chapter: Supplication in the Tashahhud] Section One
939 – It is narrated from Sayyiditina `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to supplicate in his prayer, saying:
‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave,
and I seek refuge in You from the trial of the False Messiah (Al-Masihud-Dajjaal),
and I seek refuge in You from the trials of life and the trials of death.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sin and from debt.’
A man said to him: ‘How often you seek refuge from debt!’
Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied: ‘Indeed, when a person is in debt, he speaks and lies, and he makes a promise and breaks it.'”
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Explanation (Sharah) – An Educational Study
This Hadith is a powerful gem from the Sunnah, taught to us by Nabi Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) himself. It’s a comprehensive prayer for protection from some of life’s greatest spiritual and worldly challenges. Let’s study it part by part.
- The Opening: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You…”
The phrase “I seek refuge” (A’uthu) is significant. It doesn’t just mean “I ask for protection.” It means “I seek shelter and sanctuary in You,” acknowledging that Allah Ta’ala is the only true source of safety and security. This sets the tone for a sincere and humble plea.
- The Pleas for Protection:
- a) “…from the punishment of the grave.”
- What it means: This is a plea for safety in the intermediate life after death, in the period between this world and the Hereafter (known as Barzakh). It is a time of reckoning where a person is questioned about their faith and deeds.
- Why it matters for us: This teaches us to be concerned not only with our worldly life but also with our ultimate destiny. It reminds us that our actions have consequences beyond what we see, motivating us to live righteously and seek Allah’s mercy constantly.
- b) “…from the trial of the False Messiah (Al-Masihud Dajjaal).”
- What it means: The Dajjaal is a major figure who will appear before the Day of Judgment, claiming to be God. He will possess extraordinary, but deceptive, powers to lead people astray.
- Why it matters for us: In a broader sense, this is a Du’a for protection from all forms of extreme misguidance and false ideologies. In today’s world of information overload, conflicting ideologies, and moral confusion, we ask Allah to keep our faith (Imaan) firm and protected from doubts and deviations.
- c) “…from the trials of life and the trials of death.”
- What it means: This is an all-encompassing plea.
- Trials of Life (Fitnatul-Mahya): This includes tests of wealth, poverty, health, family, society, temptations (such as the smartphone and sports), and distractions (such as world news) that can pull us away from the straight path.
- Trials of Death (Fitnatul-Mamāt): This refers to the difficulty of the moment of death and the potential for one’s Imaan to be shaken at that final, critical test.
- Why it matters for us: Life is a series of tests. This part of the Du’a is like saying, “O Allah, guide me through the challenges of my daily life—my work, my duties, my relationships—and grant me a peaceful, faithful end when my time comes.”
- d) “…from sin (Ma-tham) and from debt (Maghram).”
- What it means:
- Sin (Ma-tham): This refers to all types of wrongdoings, major and minor, that bring about Allah’s displeasure.
- Debt (Maghram): This refers to financial debt and the burden it places on a person.
- Why it matters for us: This is the part that even a Sahaabi (companion) of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) found noteworthy. Rasulullah’s (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) emphasis on seeking refuge from debt teaches us about its severe spiritual and social consequences.
- The Prophetic Wisdom: Why Debt is So Dangerous
The companion was curious: “Why so much focus on debt?” Rasulullah’s (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) answer is a masterclass in understanding human psychology and ethics:
“Indeed, when a person is in debt, he speaks and lies, and he makes a promise and breaks it.”
- “He speaks and lies”: Under the pressure of debt, a person might lie about his/her financial situation, make false excuses to creditors, or even lie to get out of paying.
- “He makes a promise and breaks it”: A debtor often makes promises to pay by a certain date but fails to keep them due to circumstances.
This shows that debt isn’t just a financial issue; it’s a major threat to one’s moral character. It can push an otherwise honest person towards dishonesty and breach of trust—two of the most condemned traits in Islam. Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) taught us to seek protection from a situation that could compromise our integrity.
Lessons to Remember
- Proactive Faith:This Du’a teaches us to be proactive (take the initiative – start moving forward) in our Imaan. Instead of waiting for a problem to hit us, we are taught to seek Allah’s protection from it in advance, especially in the sacred state of Salaah.
- Holistic Protection:The prayer covers the entire spectrum of a believer’s concerns: the afterlife (grave), faith (Dajjaal), life’s journey (trials of life/death), personal integrity (sin), and worldly burdens (debt).
- Financial Responsibility:The emphasis on debt is a powerful lesson in financial ethics. It encourages us to live within our means, avoid unnecessary debt, and understand that financial stability is linked to spiritual well-being.
- Integrity is Everything:The ultimate lesson is that our honesty and trustworthiness are among our most valuable assets. We should strive to protect them at all costs.
By reciting this Du’a with understanding in our Salaah after Tashahhud and Durood, we are essentially asking Allah Ta’ala for a safe passage in this life and the next, and for the strength to remain a person of integrity (honesty) through it all.
May Allah accept our Du’as and grant us the understanding to implement His guidance, Aameen!
(Khairun Nisa)