8/32. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1551 — Dua to Guard Hearing, Sight, Tongue, Heart
Regarding Seeking Refuge
Dua for Guarding the Hearing, Sight, Tongue, Heart, and Desires
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1551
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1551
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، - الْمَعْنَى - عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ، عَنْ بِلاَلٍ الْعَبْسِيِّ، عَنْ شُتَيْرِ بْنِ شَكَلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، فِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي أَحْمَدَ شَكَلِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ - قَالَ - قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي دُعَاءً قَالَ " قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ سَمْعِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ بَصَرِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ لِسَانِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ قَلْبِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَنِيِّي " .
Shakal bin Humaid Narrated from:
I said: Messenger of Allah, teach me a supplication. He said: Say: "O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of what I hear, from the evil of what I see, from the evil of what I speak, from the evil of what I think, and from the evil of my semen" (i.e. sexual passion).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1551In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 136English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1546
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1551
This Hadith begins with a request: Shakl ibn Humayd asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to teach him a supplication. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught him to seek refuge in Allah from the evil of what he hears, sees, speaks, thinks, and from the evil of his semen, explained in the translation as sexual passion. The dua is very personal. It names the senses, speech, heart or thought, and desire. It teaches that a believer needs Allah’s help to use these gifts safely. The Hadith does not list examples of sins, so the explanation should remain close to the text: ask Allah to protect every inner and outer part of the self from evil.
What we learn from this hadith
- A companion asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to teach him a supplication.
- The dua asks protection from the evil connected to hearing and seeing.
- It also asks protection from harmful speech and inner thoughts.
- The wording includes protection from sexual passion.
