Dua of Week #3

Allahumma inni authu bika min suil-qadaa, wa shamatatil-adaa, wa darakish-shaqaa, wa jehdil-balaa

Abu Hurayrah said that the prophet (sAws) would regularly seek protection with Allah from:

1- Suil-Qadaa = bad decree  

2- Shamatatil-Adaa = misfortunes pleasing to the enemy

3- Darakish-Shaqaa = afflicted by misery and harm

4- Jehdil-Balaa = Overwhelmed by problems

The prophet (sAws) would seek refuge with Allah (swt) in these 4 points on a regular basis.  The first is bad decree. 

Bad decree in all the major needs of life starting with our iman and Islam, on to health, family, wealth; namely all

that is critical for our happiness in this life and the next.

The second deals with the reality of being human; namely we will all have to suffer misfortunes of different sorts

from time to time.  However, we should seek that Allah (swt) doesn’t allow them to be of the magnitude and

importance  that will make our enemies celebrate with happiness.

The third seeks complete protection form an illness that is destructive if it ever sets hold in the mind and heart of

a person.  As Muslims we should be less prone to feeling, believing and ever becoming wretched and miserable

because of the wonderful and healthy paradigms Islam teaches us.  However, due to different factors, aspects

of depression, helplessness and misery can afflict us, so we seek preventive help with this dua.

And lastly, we should seek protection with Allah (swt) from being overwhelming by life’s problems because

they can generate a sense of being crushed –having the weight of the world on your head- and despair that

opens up to the third point mentioned; depression and misery.

Undoubtedly, all 4 of these points are interconnected and very serious, serious enough to draw the prophet’s (sAws)

attention.  It is for this reason that he would regularly seek protection with Allah (swt), the Only One who can help

and protect against these and all things.  And it is for these reasons why we Muslims should also learn this dua and

incorporate it into our arsenal of supplications, understand it and teach it to our family and others.