اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلَالِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ
O Allah, suffice me with Your lawful against Your unlawful, and enrich me by Your favor from anyone other than You.
Allahummak-fini bihalalika 'an haramika, wa aghnini bifadlika 'amman siwak
When to Read
Imagine carrying a debt so heavy it feels like a physical burden, looming over you, threatening your freedom. This beautiful dua, taught by our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), is a powerful recourse when you find yourself in such dire financial straits, especially if debt has brought you to the brink of severe consequences like imprisonment. Recite this dua consistently, with full conviction, whenever you feel overwhelmed by your debts. There isn't a specific time of day prescribed, but the moments of sujud (prostration in prayer), after obligatory prayers, and during the last third of the night (Qiyam al-Layl) are particularly blessed times for dua. Make it a regular part of your supplications, pouring your heart out to Allah, seeking His abundant provision and relief.
How to Read
When you turn to Allah with this dua, approach Him with a sincere heart and unwavering trust in His infinite power. First, perform wudu. Then, begin with praise of Allah (Alhamdulillah) and salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ (Salawat). Recite this dua, understanding its profound meaning. You are asking Allah to make you self-sufficient through His lawful provisions, protecting you from resorting to forbidden means (haram) out of desperation. You are also asking Him to enrich you with His bounty, making you independent of needing anyone else besides Him. Combine your duas with practical effort. This isn't just a plea; it's a commitment to seeking lawful earnings and managing your finances responsibly. Continue striving, working, and planning to settle your debts, while fully relying on Allah to facilitate your path.
Virtues & Benefits
The sheer power of this dua is encapsulated in the Prophet's ﷺ promise to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): 'If you were to have debt upon you like the mountain of Sir, Allah would pay it off for you.' This imagery of a colossal mountain highlights the magnitude of the debt Allah can relieve. By reciting this dua, you invite Allah's direct intervention in your financial affairs. You gain peace of mind, knowing that you have turned to the All-Sufficient. It safeguards you from the temptation to acquire wealth through unlawful means (like interest, fraud, or begging unnecessarily) by asking Allah to 'suffice you with His lawful against His unlawful.' Ultimately, it fosters a profound sense of reliance on Allah alone for provision and independence.
Source & Authentication
Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: A mukatab (a slave who had an agreement with his master to pay a certain amount of money for his freedom) came to him and said: 'I am unable to pay off my mukatabah, so help me.' He said: 'Shall I not teach you some words which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught me? If you were to have debt upon you like the mountain of Sir, Allah would pay it off for you.' He said: 'Say: > **Arabic:** اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلَالِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ > > **Translation:** "O Allah, suffice me with Your lawful against Your unlawful, and enrich me by Your favor from anyone other than You." > > **Transliteration:** *Allahummak-fini bihalalika 'an haramika, wa aghnini bifadlika 'amman siwak.*' — Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3563