the Quran, saying: O Allah, we seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, from the trial of the Antichrist, and from the trials of life and death.”1

Likewise, in a hadith narrated by Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh—may Allah be pleased with him and his father—in *Sahīh al-Bukhārī, he said: “The Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—used to teach us the supplication of istikhāra (seeking Allah’s guidance) just as he would teach us a surah of the Quran.”2

Ibn Abī Jamra said: “The comparison lies in the care taken to preserve its exact wording and the order of its words, allowing no addition or omission, as well as in studying and safeguarding it. It may also refer to the importance accorded to it, recognition of its blessedness, and the respect shown to it. Alternatively, it may refer to the fact that both are knowledge received through revelation.”3 End quote.

Another indication of this is that the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—would come to him and ask him to teach them a supplication with which they could pray, even though they were people of knowledge and eloquence. An example is the report narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim from Abū Bakr al-Siddīq—may Allah be pleased with him—who said to the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him: “Teach me a supplication that I may recite in my prayer.” He replied: “Say: ‘O Allah, I have greatly wronged myself, and none forgives sins but You. So grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy upon me. Indeed, You are the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’”4 Al-Hāfiz said in al-Fath: “Another lesson contained in this hadith is that it is recommended to seek instruction