1362 – ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say, ‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from being overwhelmed by debt, from being overpowered by the enemy, and from the gloating of foes.’ ” Reported by al-Nasā’ī, and al-Ḥākim declared it authentic. (1)
Hadith grading:
Al-Ḥākim said, “Authentic according to Muslim’s criteria,” and al-Dhahabī agreed. Al-Ḥāfiẓ Zayn al-Dīn al-ʿIrāqī, in the margin of his commentary on “Iḥyāʾ,” added: “It was recorded by al-Nasā’ī and al-Ḥākim through the narration of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar, and al-Ḥākim judged it authentic on Muslim’s conditions.”
Vocabulary of the hadith:
• ghalabah (overpowering): One says ghalabahu yaghlibuhu ghalban; ghalabahu means he subdued him and prevailed over him.
• shamātah (gloating): One says shamita bi-ʿaduwihi yashmitu shamātatan – he rejoiced at his enemy’s misfortune; such a person is shāmit (one who gloats).
Lessons drawn from the two hadiths:
- These two narrations contain noble Prophetic supplications. Supplications taught by the Prophet are the most exalted of prayers, for they encompass lofty meanings and high aspirations, and they are marked by noble diction that condenses abundant meanings into a few concise phrases.
- His words, “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the withdrawal of Your favor,” affirm that every affair lies in Allah’s hand: He is the Giver and the Withholder, and none can repel His decree. Hence seeking refuge and protection from the loss of blessings is most fitting, for one is asking the Bestower not to remove them. Blessings are generally taken away because of sins, so in effect he is also asking to be safeguarded from the sins that cause blessings to disappear.