67 – Hārūn ibn Sufyān narrated to us; a scholar told me that another man had informed him, saying:

“A man from the descendants of Anas ibn Mālik stayed with us, and I served him. When he was about to depart, he ordered that something be given to me, but I refused to accept it. He then said, ‘Shall I not teach you a supplication my grandfather used to offer, and by which, whenever I invoked Allah, He relieved me?’ I replied, ‘Indeed.’ He said:

‘Say: O Allah, my sins have left me with nothing but hope for Your pardon, and I have placed before me the very means of deprivation. Thus I ask You for what I do not deserve, I call upon You for what I have no right to, and I humble myself before You for what I am unworthy of. My state is never hidden from You, even if people are unaware of the true nature of my affairs.

O Allah, if my provision is in the heaven, bring it down; if it is in the earth, bring it forth; if it is far, draw it near; if it is near, make it easy; if it is scant, increase it; and bless it for me.’”