What is the meaning of this supplication (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the severity of the trial, the onset of misery, the evil of the decree, and the gloating of enemies… etc.)?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
I often read books of supplications and find many supplications that I would like to use, because they are mentioned as being reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). But I do not understand their exact meaning. Could you, for example, explain to me the meaning of this hadith that I found attributed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? They said that among his supplications (peace and blessings be upon him) was the following: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the severity of the trial, the onset of misery, the evil of the decree, and the gloating of enemies. O Allah, make me the most devoted to You, the most humble. O Allah, wash away my great sins and remove the resentment from my heart.”
The Shaykh:
This is a great supplication. It is a supplication for safety from these calamities from which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sought refuge. Whoever supplicates with this supplication with certainty, turning to Allah, and observing the etiquettes of supplication, it is certain that Allah will answer him, because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:[Ghafir 40:60] [Al-Baqarah 2:186]. So the Muslim should supplicate to Allah with certainty of being answered, seek out the supplications found in the Book and the Sunnah, and ensure that his food and clothing are from what is lawful.
The presenter:
Yes. Because the one who eats what is forbidden will not have his supplication answered. Also, his supplication should not involve transgression, sin, or severing family ties. Yes. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
The questioner:
We hope for an explanation, Shaykh Salih. Should I mention the words and you kindly explain them, or do you explain them in a general way?
The Shaykh:
Yes, we will mention them.
The questioner:
The severity of the trial.
The Shaykh:
The severity of the trial. The trial is well known; it is the test by which Allah tests His servants.
The questioner:
Appointment.
The Shaykh:
With calamities and other things. And “severity” means hardship.
The questioner:
The onset of misery.
The Shaykh:
“Onset” means destruction.
The questioner:
Yes.
The Shaykh:
And “misery” is the opposite of happiness. Yes.
The questioner:
The evil of the decree.
The Shaykh:
We ask Allah to be gentle with us in His decree and destiny, and to decree good for us. Yes.
The questioner:
Seeking refuge from the gloating of enemies.
The Shaykh:
There is no doubt that gloating is evil. This is by a person avoiding the morals, words, and actions in which his enemies criticize him and rejoice over him. He avoids bad words, bad deeds, and bad actions. And if he is afflicted with any of that, let him conceal it and not show it to people, nor be open about the sin. Yes. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
The questioner:
O Allah, make me the most devoted to You.
The Shaykh:
“Most devoted” means turning to You and repenting. Yes.
The questioner:
The most humble.
The Shaykh:
Submissive and lowly before You. Yes.
The questioner:
O Allah, wash away my great sins.
The Shaykh:
The intended meaning is washing away the sin: “Forgive us our great sins, our transgressions.” “Great sin” is sin, and washing it away is its removal for the sake of forgiveness and repentance. Yes.
The questioner:
The resentment of the heart.
The Shaykh:
What is in the heart of rancor and hatred.
I often read books of supplications and find many supplications that I would like to use, because they are mentioned as being reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). But I do not understand their exact meaning. Could you, for example, explain to me the meaning of this hadith that I found attributed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? They said that among his supplications (peace and blessings be upon him) was the following: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the severity of the trial, the onset of misery, the evil of the decree, and the gloating of enemies. O Allah, make me the most devoted to You, the most humble. O Allah, wash away my great sins and remove the resentment from my heart.”
The Shaykh:
This is a great supplication. It is a supplication for safety from these calamities from which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sought refuge. Whoever supplicates with this supplication with certainty, turning to Allah, and observing the etiquettes of supplication, it is certain that Allah will answer him, because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you."
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْAnd when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِThe presenter:
Yes. Because the one who eats what is forbidden will not have his supplication answered. Also, his supplication should not involve transgression, sin, or severing family ties. Yes. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
The questioner:
We hope for an explanation, Shaykh Salih. Should I mention the words and you kindly explain them, or do you explain them in a general way?
The Shaykh:
Yes, we will mention them.
The questioner:
The severity of the trial.
The Shaykh:
The severity of the trial. The trial is well known; it is the test by which Allah tests His servants.
The questioner:
Appointment.
The Shaykh:
With calamities and other things. And “severity” means hardship.
The questioner:
The onset of misery.
The Shaykh:
“Onset” means destruction.
The questioner:
Yes.
The Shaykh:
And “misery” is the opposite of happiness. Yes.
The questioner:
The evil of the decree.
The Shaykh:
We ask Allah to be gentle with us in His decree and destiny, and to decree good for us. Yes.
The questioner:
Seeking refuge from the gloating of enemies.
The Shaykh:
There is no doubt that gloating is evil. This is by a person avoiding the morals, words, and actions in which his enemies criticize him and rejoice over him. He avoids bad words, bad deeds, and bad actions. And if he is afflicted with any of that, let him conceal it and not show it to people, nor be open about the sin. Yes. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
The questioner:
O Allah, make me the most devoted to You.
The Shaykh:
“Most devoted” means turning to You and repenting. Yes.
The questioner:
The most humble.
The Shaykh:
Submissive and lowly before You. Yes.
The questioner:
O Allah, wash away my great sins.
The Shaykh:
The intended meaning is washing away the sin: “Forgive us our great sins, our transgressions.” “Great sin” is sin, and washing it away is its removal for the sake of forgiveness and repentance. Yes.
The questioner:
The resentment of the heart.
The Shaykh:
What is in the heart of rancor and hatred.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما معنى هذا الدعاء (اللهم إني أعوذ بك من جهد البلاء، ودرك الشقاء، وسوء القضاء.. الخ)؟ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.