اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دُعَاءٍ لَا يُسْمَعُ
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not fear (You), from a soul that is never satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered.
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa', wa min qalbin la yakhsha', wa min nafsin la tashba', wa min du'a'in la yusma'
When to Read
Recite this dua during your daily prayers, especially after the obligatory prayers, or at any time you feel overwhelmed by anxieties. It's particularly beneficial when you're contemplating your life's purpose or feeling a lack of accomplishment. You can also make it a part of your morning and evening remembrance (Adhkar).
How to Read
Raise your hands slightly, as you would when making personal supplication (dua). Focus your heart and mind on Allah, acknowledging His power to protect you from all forms of harm and unfulfillment. Recite with sincerity and conviction, truly feeling the need for Allah's assistance. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us to seek refuge in specific ways, and this dua is a powerful example.
Virtues & Benefits
This profound dua shields you from several spiritual and worldly ailments. Seeking refuge from 'knowledge that does not benefit' protects you from accumulating information without wisdom or application, which can lead to arrogance or a sense of empty intellectualism rather than true understanding. Protection from 'a heart that does not fear' safeguards you from becoming desensitized to Allah's greatness, leading to a lack of reverence and obedience. Protection from 'a soul that is never satisfied' is crucial for contentment; an insatiable soul constantly craves more, leading to dissatisfaction and anxiety. Lastly, seeking refuge from 'a supplication that is not answered' isn't about questioning Allah's wisdom, but rather seeking to align our desires with His perfect plan and ensuring our duas are accepted. Together, these seekings guard against a life that feels unfulfilled because it lacks beneficial knowledge, true fear of Allah, contentment, and accepted prayers.
Source & Authentication
Narrated by Yahya ibn Yahya, who said: Malik informed us, from Ibn Shihab, from Abu Salamah ibn 'Abdur-Rahman, from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say: 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the Hellfire, and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, and I seek refuge in You from the trial of the Dajjal, and I seek refuge in You from the trial of life and the trial of death. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sin and debt.' A man said: 'O Messenger of Allah, how often you seek refuge from debt!' He said: 'Indeed, a man when he is in debt, he speaks, and he lies, and he promises, and he breaks his promises.' And he (Abu Hurairah) said: 'And I seek refuge in You from a heart that does not have mercy, and from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a heart that does not fear, and from a supplication that is not heard.' He (Ibn Shihab) said: 'And I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit.' And he said: 'And I seek refuge in You from the evil of the Antichrist.'