Dua for Protection from Calamity, Bad Fate and Hardship

There is a short hadith that lists four things the Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge from. They are things every one of us worries about: a heavy trial, misery, a bad outcome, and people rejoicing when we fall. It is a simple dua for protection from calamity that we can all add to our daily duas. Let’s take a look at the hadith together.

The hadith

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

The same hadith is also in Sahih al-Bukhari, which makes it even stronger. In one narration, Abu Hurairah describes the Prophet ﷺ doing it (Sahih al-Bukhari 6347). In another, the Prophet ﷺ tells us to do it too:

The four things, explained simply

Here are the four phrases from the hadith, with their meaning in plain English. The meanings follow the Sunnah.com translations above.

1. Jahd al-balā’ (جَهْدِ الْبَلاَءِ): the difficult moment of a calamity. A trial so heavy that it wears you out.
2. Darak ash-shaqā’ (دَرَكِ الشَّقَاءِ): being overtaken by misery or destruction. Being caught by wretchedness, in this life or the next.
3. Sū’ al-qaḍā’ (سُوءِ الْقَضَاءِ): an evil decree, or a bad end. Something decreed for us that turns out badly.
4. Shamātat al-a’dā’ (شَمَاتَةِ الأَعْدَاءِ): the malicious joy of enemies. People rejoicing when we suffer.

Reflection: I find it comforting that even the Prophet ﷺ, the most beloved to Allah, sought refuge from these things. Seeking refuge does not mean trials will never come. It means that before anything else, we turn to Allah and ask Him to protect us, to make our trials light, and to give us a good ending.

You may wonder whether asking to be saved from a bad decree goes against believing in qaḍā’ and qadar. It does not. The Prophet ﷺ himself taught us to ask for this, and making dua is part of how a believer turns to Allah.

How to practice this dua for protection from calamity

• Say it in your own duas. The hadith does not give a fixed dua, so you can seek refuge from these four things in your own words, in any language.
• Or use the words of the hadith. Many people say the command in Sahih al-Bukhari 6616 in the first person: A’ūdhu billāhi min jahdil-balā’, wa darakish-shaqā’, wa sū’il-qaḍā’, wa shamātatil-a’dā’ (I seek refuge in Allah from the difficult moment of a calamity, from being overtaken by misery, from an evil decree, and from the malicious joy of enemies).
• Make it part of your routine. For example, add it to the duas you make after your prayers, or when you hear about someone going through a hard time.
• Be the opposite of shamātah. When someone you dislike is going through hardship, don’t rejoice. Make dua for them, and help if you can.
• Teach it to your children. The four phrases are short, and children pick them up quickly.

Key lessons

• The Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge from four things, and told us to do the same (Sahih al-Bukhari 6347, 6616).
• The four are: a heavy trial, being overtaken by misery, an evil decree, and enemies rejoicing at our misfortune.
• There is no fixed wording, so we can ask in our own words or use the phrases of the hadith.
• Seeking refuge from a bad decree does not contradict belief in qadar; it is part of turning to Allah.

Questions people ask

I hope this short dua becomes part of your daily routine. May Allah protect us all from heavy trials, misery, a bad end and the gloating of enemies. Ameen.

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