اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْهَرَمِ، وَالْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from helplessness and laziness, cowardice and old age, and stinginess. I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, and from the trials of life and death.
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-'ajzi wal-kasali, wal-jubni wal-harami, wal-bukhli, wa a'udhu bika min 'adhabal-qabri, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mawati.
When to Read
This powerful dua is particularly relevant on Friday mornings. As you prepare for Jumu'ah, or even in the quiet moments before the day truly begins, it’s a perfect time to seek Allah’s protection. Friday is a blessed day, and invoking Allah’s help against these specific ailments – weakness, laziness, fear, decrepitude, and miserliness – sets a positive intention for the entire week ahead. Imagine waking up on Friday, feeling that familiar drag, and turning to this dua to ask Allah to lift that burden and empower you.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere intention and conviction, raising your hands if possible, as is the practice when making dua. Visualize Allah’s protection enveloping you from these negative traits. It's best recited in the morning, ideally after Fajr prayer, or anytime before Jumu'ah prayer. Repeat it with a humble heart, focusing on each word and its meaning. Trust that Allah, the Most Merciful, will hear your plea and grant you strength.
Virtues & Benefits
Seeking refuge in Allah from these specific qualities is crucial for spiritual and personal growth. Laziness can prevent us from fulfilling our religious duties, like praying on time or attending Jumu'ah, and from achieving our worldly goals. Cowardice can hold us back from speaking truth or standing for justice. Helplessness can lead to despair. By making this dua, we actively ask Allah to inoculate us against these debilitating traits, enabling us to live a more productive, courageous, and fulfilling life in His service. It also safeguards us from the trials of the grave and the Day of Judgment.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to seek refuge in Allah from the hardship of facing the enemy and the misfortune of a plague, and from the evil of what is in the wealth, and from the evil of what is in the family, and from the evil of what is in the mosque. He used to seek refuge in Allah from helplessness and laziness, cowardice and old age, and stinginess. And I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, and from the trials of life and death. (Sahih Muslim 2706)