Highs and Lows
When Something You Dislike Happens #1
1x
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ حَالٍ
Transliteration
Al-ḥamdu li-llāhi ʿalā kulli ḥāl.
Translation
All praise is for Allah in every situation.
Virtue & source
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw anything which displeased him, he used to say [the above]. (Ibn Mājah 3803, Ibn al-Sunnī 378)
When Something You Dislike Happens #2
1x
قَدَّرَ اللّٰهُ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ
Transliteration
Qaddara-llāhu wa mā shā’a faʿal.
Translation
Allah has decreed and He does whatever He wills.
Virtue & source
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone. Be keen on what benefits you and seek help from Allah, and do not give up. If anything afflicts you, do not say: ‘If I had done (something else), such and such would have happened.’ But say [the above], for (the utterance) ‘If’ provides an opening for the deeds of the devil.” (Muslim 2664)
When One is in a Difficult Situation
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إِلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلًا ، وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلًا
Transliteration
Allāhumma lā sahla illā mā jaʿaltahū sahlā, wa anta tajʿalu-l-ḥazna idhā shi’ta sahlā.
Translation
O Allah, there is no ease except in that which You have made easy, and You make the difficulty easy when You wish.
Virtue & source
Anas b. Malik (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) ﷺ narrates that the Messenger of Allah said [the above]. (Ibn Hibbān 2427, Ibn al-Sunnī 351)
When Struck by a Calamity
1x
إِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ أْجُرْنِيْ فِيْ مُصِيْبَتِيْ ، وَأَخْلِفْ لِيْ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا
Transliteration
Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn, Allāhumma-‘jurnī fī muṣībatī, wa akhlif lī khayram-minha.
Translation
To Allah we belong and unto Him is our return. O Allah, recompense me for my affliction and replace it for me with something better.
Virtue & source
Umm Salamah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “There is no Muslim who is afflicted with a calamity, and then says what Allah has commanded him [the above supplication], except that Allah will recompense him with something better than it.” She says: “When Abū Salamah (her first husband) passed away, I said, ‘Which Muslim is better than Abū Salamah – the first household to migrate to the Messenger of Allah?’ I then said (the above duʿā’), and Allah recompensed me (by marrying me to) the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” (Muslim 918)
Grief & Anxiety #1
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ عَبْدُكَ ، وَابْنُ عَبْدِكَ ، وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ ، نَاصِيَتِيْ بِيَدِكَ ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ ، سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ ، أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِيْ كِتَابِكَ ، أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِيْ عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيْعَ قَلْبِيْ ، وَنُوْرَ صَدْرِيْ وَجَلَاءَ حُزْنِيْ ، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّيْ
Transliteration
Allāhumma innī ʿabduk, wa-bnu ʿabdik, wa-bnu amatik, nāṣiyatī bi-yadik, māḍin fiyya ḥukmuk, ʿadlun fiyya qaḍā’uk, as’aluka bi-kulli-smin huwa lak, sammayta bihi nafsak, aw ʿallamtahū aḥadam-min khalqik, aw anzaltahū fī Kitābik, awi-sta’tharta bihī fī ʿilmi-l-ghaybi ʿindak, an tajʿala-l-Qur’āna rabīʿa qalbī, wa nūra ṣadrī wa jalā’a ḥuznī, wa dhahāba hammī.
Translation
O Allah, I am Your slave and the son of Your male slave and the son of Your female slave. My forehead is in Your Hand (i.e. you have control over me). I am subject to Your judgement and Your decree concerning me is just. I ask You – by every name that is Yours, by which You have named Yourself, or taught any one of Your creation, or revealed in Your Book, or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You – to make the Qur’ān the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the banisher of my grief and the reliever of my anxiety.
Virtue & source
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is no one amongst you who, when he is stricken with grief and anxiety, says [the above] except that Allah will remove his grief and anxiety, and will give him joy instead.” The companions said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, should we not learn these words?’ He ﷺ replied, ‘Of course! One who hears it should learn it.’” (Ahmad 3712)
Grief & Anxiety #2
1x
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْعَظِيْمُ الْحَلِيْمُ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيْمِ
Transliteration
Lā ilāha illā-llāhu-l-ʿĀẓīmu-l-Ḥalīm, lā ilāha illā-llāhu Rabbu-l-ʿĀrshi-l-ʿAẓīm, lā ilāha illā-llāhu Rabbu-s-samāwāti wa Rabbu-l-arḍi wa Rabbu-l-ʿĀrshi-l-karīm.
Translation
There is no god but Allah, the Supreme, The Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of the Noble Throne.
Virtue & source
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would invoke Allah at the time of distress with [the above]. (Bukhārī 6345, Muslim 2730)
When One is Afraid of People #1
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ اكْفِنِيْهِمْ بِمَا شِئْتَ
Transliteration
Allāhumma-kfinīhim bimā shi’ta.
Translation
O Allah, suffice me from them, with what You choose.
Virtue & source
Muslim 3005
When One is Afraid of People #2
1x
حَسْبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ
Transliteration
Ḥasbunallāhu wa niʿmal Wakīl.
Translation
Allah is enough for us and He is the Best Protector.
Virtue & source
Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) narrated: “[the above] was said by Ibrāhīm (‘alayhis-salām) when he was thrown into the fire; and it was said by Muhammad ﷺ when they (i.e. the hypocrites) said, “A great army is gathering against you, therefore, fear them,” but it only increased their faith and they said: “Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer (of affairs, for us).” (3.173) (Bukhārī 4563)
When One is Afraid of People #3
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَجْعَلُكَ فِيْ نُحُوْرِهِمْ ، وَنَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شُرُوْرِهِمْ
Transliteration
Allāhumma innā najʿaluka fī nuḥūrihim, wa naʿūdhu bika min shurūrihim.
Translation
O Allah, we make You our shield against them and we seek refuge in You from their evil.
Virtue & source
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was apprehensive of [a group] of people, he would say: [the above]. (Abū Dāwūd 1537)
When One is Afraid of People #4
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ أنْتَ عَضُدِيْ وَأَنْتَ نَصِيْرِيْ ، بِكَ أَحُوْلُ ، وبِكَ أصُوْلُ ، وَبِكَ أُقَاتِلُ
Transliteration
Allāhumma Anta Aḍudī wa Anta Naṣīrī, Bika aḥūlu, wa bika aṣūlu, wa bika uqātil.
Translation
O Allah, You are my aid and helper; by You I move, by You I attack, and by You I fight.
Virtue & source
Anas b. Mālik (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went on an expedition, he said [the above].” (Abū Dāwūd 2632)
When One is Afraid of People #5
1x
اَللّٰهُ اَللّٰهُ رَبِّيْ ، لاَ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا
Transliteration
Allāhu Allāhu Rabbī, lā ushriku bihi shay’ā.
Translation
Allah, Allah is my Lord, I do not assign anything as a partner to Him.
Virtue & source
Asmā bint ʿUmays (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to her: “Shall I not teach you words for you to say in times of distress?” or “when in distress?”. He then said [the above]. (Abū Dāwūd 1525)
When One is Afraid of People #6
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ اسْتُرْ عَوْرَاتِنَا وَاٰمِنْ رَوْعَاتِنَا
Transliteration
Allāhumma-stur ‘awrātinā wa āmin raw‘ātinā.
Translation
O Allah, conceal our faults and assuage my fears.
Virtue & source
Abū Sa‘īd al-Khuḍrī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “We (the Companions) said on the Day of Khandaq (Trenches): ‘O Messenger of Allah, is there anything we can say? For the hearts have reached the throats (out of fear).’ He ﷺ replied: ‘Yes! (Say) [the above].’ Abū Sa‘īd al-Khuḍrī says: ‘Allah, Mighty and Majestic destroyed the faces of the enemy with wind and Allah made them face defeat through wind.’” (Ahmad 10613)
When Meeting the Enemy
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ ، ومُجْرِيَ السَّحَابِ ، وهَازِمَ الْأحْزَابِ ، اهْزِمْهُمْ وانْصُرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ
Transliteration
Allāhumma munzila-l-kitāb, wa mujriya-s-saḥāb, wa hāzima-l-aḥzāb, ihzimhum wa-n-ṣurnā ʿalayhim.
Translation
O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Mover of the clouds, Defeater of the tribes, defeat them and grant us victory over them.
Virtue & source
ʿAbdullāh b. Abī Awfā (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, on one of the days that he met the enemy, waited until the sun rose, the stood among the people and said: “O people, do not look forward to meeting the enemy, but ask Allah for well-being. When you meet them, be steadfast. And know that Paradise is under the shadow of swords.” Then he said [the above]. (Bukhārī 3025)
When One Feels Frightened
1x
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ
Transliteration
Lā ilāha illā-llāh.
Translation
There is no god but Allah.
Virtue & source
Zaynab bint Jaḥsh (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once came to her in a state of fear and said, [the above] Woe unto the Arabs from a danger that has come near. An opening has been made in the wall of Yājūj and Mājūj like this, making a circle with his thumb and index finger. Zaynab bint Jaḥsh said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Shall we be destroyed even though there are pious persons among us?” He said, “Yes, when evil (people) will increase.” (Bukhārī 3346)
When One Fears a Ruler
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمٰـوٰتِ السَّبْعِ ، وَرَبَّ العَرْشِ العَظِيْمِ ، كُنْ لِيْ جَارًا مِنْ فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ ، وَأَحْزَابِهِ مِنْ خَلَائِقِكَ ؛ أنْ يَّفْرُطَ عَلَىَّ أحَدٌ مِنهُمْ أوْ يَطْغٰى ، عَزَّ جَارُكَ ، وَجَلَّ ثَنَاؤُكَ ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Transliteration
Allāhumma Rabb-as-samāwāti-s-sabiʿ, wa Rabba-l-ʿArshi-l-ʿaẓīm, kun lī jāran min fulāni-bni-fulān, wa aḥzābihi min khalāiqiqa; ay-yafruṭa ʿalayya aḥadun minhum aw yaṭgā, ʿazza jāruk, wa jalla thanā’uk, wa lā ilāha illā Ant.
Translation
O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens, Lord of the Magnificent Throne, be for me a support against [such and such a person] and his helpers from among your creatures, lest any of them abuse me or do me wrong. Mighty is Your patronage, and glorious are Your praises. There is none worthy of worship but You.
Virtue & source
ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “When one of you fears a ruler, they should say [the above].” (Ṭabarānī in Muʿjam al-Kabīr)
When Overwhelmed With Difficulties
1x
حَسْبِيَ اللّٰهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيْلُ
Transliteration
Ḥasbiyallāhu wa niʿmal Wakīl.
Translation
Allah is enough for me and He is the Best Protector.
Virtue & source
Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā) said: “The last utterance of Ibrāhīm n when he was thrown into the fire was [the above].” (Bukhārī 4564)
When Difficulties Make You Yearn for Death
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ أَحْيِنِيْ مَا كَانَتِ الْحَيَاةُ خَيْرًا لِّيْ ، وَتَوَفَّنِيْ إِذَا كَانَتِ الْوَفَاةُ خَيْرًا لِّيْ
Transliteration
Allāhumma aḥyinī mā kānati-l-ḥayātu khayral-lī, wa tawaffanī idhā kānati-l-wafātu khayral-lī.
Translation
O Allah, let me live as long as life is better for me; and give me death when death is better for me.
Virtue & source
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “None of you should wish for death because of a difficulty that befalls him. Rather he should say [the above].” (Bukhārī 5671, Muslim 2680)
For Difficult Times: All Your Prayers Answered
1x
لَآ إِلٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّيْ كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِيْنَ
Transliteration
Lā ilāha illā Anta subḥānaka innī kuntu mina-ẓ-ẓālimīn.
Translation
There is no god worthy of worship except You; You are free from all imperfection. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers. (21:87)
Virtue & source
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The supplication of Dhun-Nūn (Prophet Yūnus) when he supplicated, while in the belly of the whale was: [the above]. ”No Muslim man ever supplicates with [the above] except that Allah answers his supplication.” (Tirmidhī 3505)
When One is Distressed
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُوْ فَلَا تَكِلْنِيْ إِلٰى نَفْسِيْ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ ، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِيْ كُلَّهُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Transliteration
Allāhumma raḥmataka arjū fa-lā takilnī ilā nafsī ṭarfata ʿayn, wa aṣliḥ lī sha’nī kullah lā ilāha illā Ant.
Translation
O Allah! Your Mercy is what I hope for so do not entrust me to myself for the blink of an eye, rectify all of my affairs. There is no god worthy of worship but You.
Virtue & source
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The supplications for the one who is distressed are [the above].” (Abu Dāwud 5090)
When Something Pleases You #1
1x
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ
Transliteration
Al-ḥamdu li-llāh-ladhī bi-niʿmatihī tattimmu-ṣ-ṣāliḥāt.
Translation
All praise is for Allah through whose blessing righteous actions are accomplished.
Virtue & source
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw anything which pleased him, he used to say [the above]. (Ibn Mājah 3803, Ibn al-Sunnī 378)
When Something Pleases You #2
1x
لَبَّيْكَ ، إِنَّ الْعَيْشَ عَيْشُ الْآخِرَةِ
Transliteration
Labbayk, inna-l-‘aysha ‘ayshu-l-ākhirah.
Translation
At Your service (O Allah!), the real life is the life of the Hereafter.
Virtue & source
Anas b. Mālik (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out towards the Khandaq (Trench) and saw the Muhajirīn (Emigrants) and the Ansar (Helpers) digging the trench in the cold morning. They had no slaves to do that (work) for them. When the Prophet ﷺ saw their hardship and hunger, he said, ‘O Allah! The real life is the life of the Hereafter, so please forgive Ansar (Helpers) and the Muhajirīn (Emigrants).” They said in reply to him, “We are those who have given the Pledge of allegiances to Muhammad to observe Jihād as long as we live.” (Bukhārī 4099, Muslim 1805)
Ibn ‘Abbās (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhumā) narrated that the Messenger of Allah stood on (the plains of) Arafat and when he said: “Labbayk Allahumma labbayk (At Your service, O Allah, at Your service)”, he said: “Labbayk, innama-l-khayru khayru-l-ākhirah (At Your service (O Allah!), the real goodness is the goodness of the Hereafter).” (Ibn Khuzaymah 4/260)
When Thinking of Something to be a Bad Omen
1x
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا طَيْرَ إِلَّا طَيْرُكَ ، وَلَا خَيْرَ إِلَّا خَيْرُكَ ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Transliteration
Allāhumma lā ṭayra illā ṭayruk, wa lā khayra illā khayruk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk.
Translation
O Allah, there is no bad omen except what You bring and no good except what You bring. There is no deity other than You.
Virtue & source
‘Abdullāh b. ‘Umar (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhumā) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Verily, the one who refrains from doing something because of an evil omen has practised shirk (polytheism).” The people asked him, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the expiation of that?” He answered, “It is that one of you says, [the above]'” (Ahmad 2/220)
Anas b. Mālik (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is no ʿadwā (contagion) and no ṭiyarah (omen-seeking), but I like al-fa’l.” They asked, “What is al-fa’l?” He replied, “A good word.” (Bukhārī 5776, Muslim 2224)
In another narration: “It is a good word that one of you may (over)hear” (Muslim 2223)
Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is no ʿadwā (contagion), no ṭiyarah (omen-seeking), no hāmah (seeking omens in birds), and no ṣafar (the belief that the month of Ṣafar is a bad omen for marriages, etc.), and run from the leper like you would from a lion. (Bukhārī, Muslim 2220)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is no truth in omens [lā ṭiyarah] and the best of it is al-fa’l (feeling of optimism upon hearing a good word).” (Bukhārī)
‘Abdullah b. ‘Abbas (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was optimistic and he did not see evil omens and he would become pleased by a good name.” (Ahmad 2328)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “An evil omen (tiyarah) is that which causes you to carry out an affair or that which turns you back from doing it.” (Ahmad 1824)
Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard a word, and he liked it, he said: We took your omen from your mouth. (Abu Dawud 3917)
