50/4. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5444 — Dua to Guard Hearing and Sight
Seeking Refuge from the Evil of One's Hearing and Seeing
Dua to Protect Hearing, Sight, Tongue, Heart, and Desire
Sunan an-Nasai : 5444
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5444
أَخْبَرَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ أَوْسٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بِلاَلُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَنَّ شُتَيْرَ بْنَ شَكَلٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، شَكَلِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي تَعَوُّذًا أَتَعَوَّذُ بِهِ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي ثُمَّ قَالَ " قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ سَمْعِي وَشَرِّ بَصَرِي وَشَرِّ لِسَانِي وَشَرِّ قَلْبِي وَشَرِّ مَنِيِّي " . قَالَ حَتَّى حَفِظْتُهَا قَالَ سَعْدٌ وَالْمَنِيُّ مَاؤُهُ .
Shakal bin Humaid Narrated from:
I came to the Prophet [SAW] and said: 'O Prophet of Allah, teach me words by means of which I may seek refuge with Allah.' He took me by the hand and said: 'Say: A'udhu bika min sharri sam'i, wa sharri basari, wa sharri lisani, wa sharri qalbi, wa sharri mani (I seek refuge with You from the evil of my hearing, the evil of my seeing, the evil of my tongue, the evil of my heart, and the evil of my sperm).'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5444In-book reference : Book 50, Hadith 17English translation : Vol. 6, Book 50, Hadith 5446
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5444
This Hadith shows Shakal bin Humaid asking the Prophet [SAW] for words by which he could seek refuge with Allah. The Prophet [SAW] took him by the hand and taught him to say: “I seek refuge with You from the evil of my hearing, the evil of my seeing, the evil of my tongue, the evil of my heart, and the evil of my sperm.” The Hadith is very personal and practical. It teaches a dua to protect hearing and sight, but it does not stop there. It also mentions the tongue, the heart, and sexual desire. The message is that a believer asks Allah to guard the parts and inner drives that can lead a person toward harm.
What we learn from this hadith
- It is good to ask for words of dua that bring benefit.
- The Prophet [SAW] taught seeking refuge from the misuse of hearing and sight.
- The tongue and heart are included in this request for protection.
- The Hadith names desire as something that needs Allah's guarding.
