اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ سَمْعِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ بَصَرِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ لِسَانِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ قَلْبِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَنِيِّي.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of my hearing, and the evil of my sight, and the evil of my tongue, and the evil of my heart, and the evil of my private parts.
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min sharri sam'i, wa min sharri basari, wa min sharri lisani, wa min sharri qalbi, wa min sharri maniyyi.
When to Read
Recite this dua when you find yourself hearing or being subjected to backbiting and gossip, or when you feel overwhelmed by the negativity of others' speech. It's a powerful supplication for protection against the harmful effects of such talk, both on yourself and from becoming a participant. Consider reciting it before entering environments where such conversations are common, or as soon as you realize you've been exposed to them.
How to Read
This is a comprehensive supplication for seeking Allah's protection. Utter the Arabic words with sincerity and a focused heart. Understand the meaning of each part you are seeking refuge from – your hearing (what you listen to), your sight (what you see that might lead to sin), your tongue (what you speak), your heart (your intentions and thoughts), and your private parts (protecting your chastity). Raising your hands slightly while making dua is an established practice, though not always necessary for every dua. The key is the earnestness and focus on seeking Allah's shield.
Virtues & Benefits
This hadith, classified as Hasan by scholars like Al-Albani, teaches us to seek Allah's protection from the internal and external sources of sin and harm that stem from our senses and our being. By seeking refuge from the evil of our tongue, we are directly asking Allah to guard us against engaging in or being negatively affected by backbiting and gossip. Protecting our hearing means not listening to forbidden speech, and protecting our heart means safeguarding our intentions from envy or malice that fuels such talk. It's a holistic plea for purity and defense against a pervasive societal ill.
Source & Authentication
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud: The Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate: 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of my hearing, and the evil of my sight, and the evil of my tongue, and the evil of my heart, and the evil of my private parts.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 1550). Imam Al-Tirmidhi also narrated a similar hadith (Hadith 3492) where the Prophet ﷺ said it was a supplication he often made.