—whereupon the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) corrected him and said, “Rather say: ‘and Your Prophet whom You have sent,’ and do not say: ‘and Your Messenger whom You have sent.’

The scholars explain that the word “messenger” can apply to a human being or to an angel. Allah says about Gabriel: “Indeed, this is the word brought by a noble messenger, endowed with power and held in honor by the Lord of the Throne” (At-Takwīr 81:19-20). By contrast, the title “prophet,” when referring to the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him), can pertain only to a human being. Therefore, if one says, “and Your Messenger whom You have sent,” the wording could, in principle, refer to Gabriel (upon him be peace); whereas the phrase, “and Your Prophet whom You have sent,” is restricted solely to Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him).

There is a second consideration: saying “Your Messenger whom You have sent” points to the Prophet’s status only by necessary implication, whereas saying “Your Prophet” states it explicitly. And an explicit indication is stronger than a merely implicit one.

The passages of this hadith that concern us are his words, “I entrust my affair to You,” and, “There is no refuge and no escape from You except to You.” Tawakkul—reliance upon Allah—means consigning one’s affairs to one’s Lord and realizing that no refuge or deliverance from Allah can be sought except with Allah Himself. If Allah wills harm for a people, no one can repel it; and when He decrees something for a person, none can avert it but Allah—that is, unless the person seeks safety with his Lord, glorified and exalted, by turning back to Him.

Accordingly, when a person wishes to sleep, he should lie on his right side, recite this supplication, and make it the last words he utters. Allah alone grants success.