8/32. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1550 — Dua from Evil of Past and Future Deeds
Regarding Seeking Refuge
Dua for Protection from the Evil of What I Have Done and Not Done
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1550
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1550
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يِسَافٍ، عَنْ فَرْوَةَ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ الأَشْجَعِيِّ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَمَّا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدْعُو بِهِ قَالَتْ كَانَ يَقُولُ " اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَمِلْتُ وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا لَمْ أَعْمَلْ " .
Farwah b. Nawfal Al-Ashja'i Narrated from:
Farwah b. Nawfal Al-Ashja'i asked 'Aishah the Mother of the Believers, about the supplication of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She replied: "He would say: 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done, and from the evil of what I have not done.'"
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1550In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 135English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1545
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1550
This Hadith records a question asked to Aishah, the Mother of the Believers, about the supplication of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). She replied that he would say, “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done, and from the evil of what I have not done.” The wording is simple and very wide. It covers actions already done and matters not yet done. The Hadith teaches a believer to ask Allah for protection from the harm tied to personal actions and possible future actions. It is a dua about accountability, caution, and neediness before Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Aishah was asked about the supplication of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) sought refuge from the evil of what had already been done.
- He also sought refuge from the evil of what had not yet been done.
- A believer should ask Allah for safety regarding both past and future actions.
