His words, “in hope of You and fear of You,” mean: I say all the foregoing while filled with both hope and fear—that is, hoping with the fullest hope for Your boundless bounty and immense favor, and fearing You and everything that incurs Your displeasure. This is the way of the prophets and the righteous servants of Allah: they combine hope and fear in their supplications. Allah Most High says, “Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were humbly submissive to Us.” 1.

Then the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said in this supplication, “There is no refuge or deliverance from You except in You.” This means that there is no shelter, escape, or deliverance from Your punishment except by fleeing to You and relying upon You. As Allah Most High says, “So flee to Allah.” 2. He also says, “No indeed! There will be no refuge. That Day, the destination will be to your Lord.” 3.

Then he said, “I believe in Your Book which You have sent down and in Your Prophet whom You have sent.” This means: I believe in Your magnificent Book, the Noble Quran, which falsehood cannot approach from before it or from behind it—a revelation from One All-Wise, Praiseworthy. I believe and affirm that it is Your revelation, sent down to Your servant and Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—and that it contains truth, guidance, and light. I likewise believe in Your Prophet whom You sent: Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—Allah’s servant and Messenger, His chosen one from among His creation, who was sent as a mercy to all the worlds. I believe in him and in everything he brought, for he—peace and blessings be upon him—does not speak from his own desire; it is nothing but revelation revealed. Thus, everything he brought is true and certain.