the one who shows us mercy will never harm us; the real danger lies in Allah empowering over us someone who has no mercy for us. We therefore ask Allah not to place over us anyone who is devoid of mercy toward us.

Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sat in a gathering, he would recite this supplication. As noted earlier, however, it is not obligatory; the point is simply that he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say it often.

835 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No people rise from a gathering in which they did not remember Allah except that they rise as though they had been sitting by the carcass of a donkey, and it will be a cause of regret for them.” Reported by Abu Dawud with a sound chain.

836 – He also reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “No people sit in a gathering in which they neither remember Allah nor send blessings upon their Prophet except that it becomes a liability against them; if He wills, He will punish them, and if He wills, He will forgive them.” Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who graded it ḥasan (good).

837 – He further reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): “Whoever sits in a place and fails to remember Allah incurs a liability from Allah, and whoever lies down…"