1367 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say:

“O Allah, set right for me my religion, which is the safeguard of my affairs; set right for me my worldly life, wherein lies my livelihood; set right for me my Hereafter, to which I am destined to return. Make life an increase for me in every form of good, and make death a relief for me from every sort of evil.” Related by Muslim (1).

Vocabulary of the ḥadith:
• aṣliḥ lī dīnī (set right for me my religion): by granting me success to observe its etiquettes in the most perfect manner.
• ʿiṣmatu amrī (the safeguard of my affairs): ʿiṣmah means prevention and protection—that by which I seek refuge in all my concerns.
• maʿāshī (my livelihood): the place and period of my life, through Your granting me sufficiency.
• maʿādī (my ultimate return): the time when I am brought back, with Your gentleness and Your enabling me to worship with sincerity.
• rāḥah lī min kulli sharr (a relief for me from every evil): relief from trials, tribulations, and the ordeals of sin and heedlessness.

In sum, the closing plea of this supplication is: Make the span of my life spent in what You love, and spare me from what You dislike.