أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَعِقَابِهِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ عِبَادِهِ، وَمِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ
I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger and His punishment, and from the evil of His servants, and from the whispers of devils and from their presence.
A'udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min ghadabihi wa 'iqabihi, wa min sharri 'ibadihi, wa min hamazatish-shayatin wa an yahdurun.
When to Read
This powerful supplication is best recited as dusk settles, after the Maghrib prayer, or before going to sleep. It's a shield against the anxieties, doubts, and intrusive thoughts that can creep in as the day ends and we prepare to rest.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere intention and a heart fully reliant on Allah. Utter the words clearly, contemplating their meaning. It is recommended to recite it three times, just as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us for seeking Allah's protection.
Virtues & Benefits
Reciting this dua provides a comprehensive shield from various forms of harm: Allah's displeasure, His punishment, the mischief of other creatures, and most importantly for this context, the insidious whispers and active presence of Shaytan. When evening descends, the mind can become more vulnerable to doubts and negative thoughts. This dua directly addresses these by invoking the infallible protection of Allah's perfect words.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Whoever says this at night, nothing will harm him, and he will not be surprised by anything until he wakes up. So he said it to him three times in the morning and three times in the evening.' (He narrated it with his chain of narration: 'Abdullah bin Ghannam al-Ma'ini told us, from [his father] Ghannam bin al-A'mar, from Yahya bin Hamzah, from al-Walid bin Muslim, from Ibrahim bin Abi 'Uthman, from Sa'id bin Abi Hind, from Ibn 'Abbas, from the Prophet ﷺ.)