يَا أَرْضُ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكِ اللَّهُ، أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّكِ وَشَرِّ مَا فِيكِ وَشَرِّ مَا خُلِقَ فِيكِ وَشَرِّ مَا يَدِبُّ عَلَيْكِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ أَسَدٍ وَأَسْوَدَ، وَمِنَ الْحَيَّةِ وَالْعَقْرَبِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ سَوَارِحِ اللَّيْلِ، وَسَاكِنِ اللَّيْلِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ وَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ.
O earth, my Lord and your Lord is Allah. I seek refuge in Allah from your evil, the evil of what is in you, the evil of what was created in you, and the evil of what crawls upon you. I seek refuge in Allah from every lion and black creature, from every serpent and scorpion, from the evil of the night walkers and the inhabitants of the night, and from the evil of the father and what He has begotten.
Yā arḍu rabbī wa rabbuki-llāh, a'ūdhu billāhi min sharriki wa sharri mā fīki wa sharri mā khuliqa fīki wa sharri mā yadibbu 'alayki, wa a'ūdhu billāhi min asadin wa aswada, wa mina al-ḥayyati wa-l-'aqrabi, wa min sharri sawāriḥi-l-layli wa sākinil-layli, wa min sharri wālidin wa mā walad.
When to Read
This powerful dua is recommended when embarking on a journey, especially at night. Imagine setting out after sunset, the world quieting down, but with it, unseen dangers can emerge. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us this supplication to invoke Allah's protection for the duration of our travel, offering peace of mind as we navigate through darkness.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere conviction and a clear intention of seeking Allah's protection. It's best recited as you begin your journey, perhaps when you first mount your transport or step out into the night. Visualize Allah's shield surrounding you and your fellow travelers. Remember to maintain Wudu (ablution) if possible, as it is a beautiful practice for seeking closeness to Allah in all our endeavors.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is a comprehensive shield granted by Allah. By reciting it, you are actively seeking refuge from a wide spectrum of potential harms: the dangers of the land itself, creatures that roam in the night (both seen and unseen), and even more abstract evils. The Prophet's ﷺ inclusion of specific examples like lions and serpents, alongside general terms like 'night walkers,' shows the breadth of protection this invocation offers. It’s a profound reminder that Allah is the ultimate guardian against all forms of evil, especially when we acknowledge our vulnerability and turn to Him.
Source & Authentication
The narration is from Khawlah bint Hakim (may Allah be pleased with her) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: 'He who lodges at a place and then says: 'أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ' (A'udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq – 'I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created'), nothing will harm him until he moves from that lodging place.' Khawlah added: 'So I came to the Prophet ﷺ and found him prescribing it (this invocation) for the matters he encountered.' Another narration attributed to Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) states: The Prophet ﷺ used to teach them this invocation for (protection against) the heat of the day and the heat of the sun. But when night came, he would teach them this invocation: 'يَا أَرْضُ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكِ اللَّهُ، أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّكِ وَشَرِّ مَا فِيكِ وَشَرِّ مَا خُلِقَ فِيكِ وَشَرِّ مَا يَدِبُّ عَلَيْكِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ أَسَدٍ وَأَسْوَدَ، وَمِنَ الْحَيَّةِ وَالْعَقْرَبِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ سَوَارِحِ اللَّيْلِ، وَسَاكِنِ اللَّيْلِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ وَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ.' (Yā arḍu rabbī wa rabbuki-llāh, a'ūdhu billāhi min sharriki wa sharri mā fīki wa sharri mā khuliqa fīki wa sharri mā yadibbu 'alayki, wa a'ūdhu billāhi min asadin wa aswada, wa mina al-ḥayyati wa-l-'aqrabi, wa min sharri sawāriḥi-l-layli wa sākinil-layli, wa min sharri wālidin wa mā walad.) — Sahih Muslim 2713