night and from the evil that comes after it. My Lord, I seek refuge in You from lethargy and the evils of old age. My Lord, I seek refuge in You from punishment in the Fire and punishment in the grave.

When he entered the morning he would say the same, adding: “We have entered the morning and the dominion belongs to Allah.”

ʿAbd Allah ibn Khubayb said: “On a night of heavy rain and deep darkness we went out looking for the Prophet ﷺ so that he might lead us in prayer. When we found him he said, ‘Recite.’ I kept silent, so he said again, ‘Recite,’ and I again kept silent. A third time he said, ‘Recite.’ I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what shall I recite?’ He replied, ‘Recite Qul huwa Allahu ahad (Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ) and the two chapters of refuge (al-Falaq and an-Nās) three times every evening and every morning; they will suffice you against everything.’” Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasāʾī, and al-Tirmidhī recorded this, and al-Tirmidhī graded it “good and sound.”

Abū Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to teach his Companions: “When one of you reaches the morning let him say, ‘O Allah, by Your permission we have reached the morning, by Your permission we reach the evening, by Your permission we live, by Your permission we die, and to You is the resurrection.’ When evening comes let him say, ‘O Allah, by Your permission we have reached the evening, by Your permission we reach the morning, by Your permission we live, by Your permission we die, and to You is the final return.’” Al-Tirmidhī said: a good and sound hadith.

Shaddād ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The supreme formula of seeking forgiveness is: ‘O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no god but You. You created me and I am…’”