The Prophet (peace be upon him)’s Supplications Against Evil and Calamity
According to the narration of Ziyad ibn Ilaqa, his uncle Kutba ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite this supplication:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ مُنْكَرَاتِ الْأَخْلَاقِ، وَالْأَعْمَالِ، وَالْأَهْوَاءِ
“Allâhümme innî eûzü bike min münkerâti’l-ahlâki ve’l-a‘mâli ve’l-ehvâ”
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from bad character traits, evil deeds, and misguided desires.” (Tirmidhi, Du’a 126)
Explanation of the Hadith
In this honorable hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) seeks refuge in Allah from three important things.
- Bad Character Traits: These are behaviors that religion strictly forbids and which everyone with reason acknowledges as evil, such as arrogance, envy, self-admiration, and injustice towards others.
- Evil Deeds: These include drinking alcohol, buying and selling what Allah has forbidden, and committing adultery.
- Misguided Beliefs: These are beliefs not found in the religion of Islam as conveyed by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which do not adhere to the views of Ahl al-Sunnah, and are fabricated later on.
Each of these three aspects is a mannerism, action, and thought that every Muslim should avoid using their reason to reject. However, by seeking refuge from them, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) reminds people of the importance of striving to stay away from evil through personal effort while also asking for help from Allah. For without His grace and favor, it is not possible to protect oneself from evil.
Lessons Learned from the Hadith
- A believer should stay away from bad character traits, evil behaviors, and corrupt beliefs.
- At the same time, one should seek help from Allah to grant good character and behavior and to protect against evil.