بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي وَمِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا، إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
In the name of Allah, I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of my soul and from the evil of every creature that You are seizing by its forelock. Indeed, my Lord is on a straight path.
Bismillah, a'udhu billahi min sharri nafsi wa min sharri kulli dabbatin anta akhidhun binasiyatiha, inna rabbi 'ala siratin mustaqim.
When to Read
This powerful dua is for times when you feel your good intentions, your sincere efforts, or your spiritual growth are being undermined. It's particularly relevant when you sense the presence of envy or the evil eye (hasad) affecting your inner state or your outward actions. Recite it before embarking on a significant project, before or after seeking knowledge, or whenever you notice a dip in your motivation or purity of intention that feels externally influenced. It's a shield for the unseen battles happening within your heart.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere reliance on Allah. Begin with 'Bismillah' (In the name of Allah) to invoke His blessing. Picture yourself placing your soul and all your affairs under Allah's protection. Understand that 'nafsi' refers to one's own shortcomings and temptations, while 'sharri kulli dabbatin' encompasses all creation that could potentially cause harm, seen or unseen. Believe in Allah's ultimate control over all matters, as stated in the last part of the dua. Repeating it can reinforce the sense of seeking divine safeguard.
Virtues & Benefits
This supplication directly addresses the internal and external threats to our purity of intention. By seeking refuge in Allah from the 'evil of my soul', we acknowledge our own weaknesses that envy can exploit. Seeking refuge from 'every creature' extends protection to the unseen forces and the harmful effects of the evil eye (hasad). It reaffirms Allah's sovereignty over all things, assuring us that true protection comes only from Him. This dua helps maintain the sincerity (ikhlas) and clarity of our intentions, which is the foundation of accepting deeds.
Source & Authentication
Yahya related to me from Malik, from Abu az-Zinad, from al-A'raj, from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say: ‘Bismillah, a'udhu billahi min sharri nafsi wa min sharri kulli dabbatin anta akhidhun binasiyatiha, inna rabbi 'ala siratin mustaqim.’ (In the name of Allah, I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of my soul and from the evil of every creature that You are seizing by its forelock. Indeed, my Lord is on a straight path.)