اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ سَمْعِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ بَصَرِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ لِسَانِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ قَلْبِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَنِيِّي
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of my hearing, and from the evil of my sight, and from the evil of my tongue, and from the evil of my heart, and from the evil of my semen.
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min sharri sam'i, wa min sharri basari, wa min sharri lisani, wa min sharri qalbi, wa min sharri maniyyi.
When to Read
This comprehensive dua can be recited at any time, especially when you feel a lack of control over your speech, or when you are in situations where idle talk and backbiting are prevalent. It's a good practice to make it part of your daily supplications, perhaps after Fajr or Asr prayers.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity, focusing on the meaning and the request for Allah's protection. Raising your hands slightly, as is customary for supplication, can be done. The intention is to seek Allah's help in guarding your tongue, recognizing that true control comes only from Him.
Virtues & Benefits
Restraining the tongue from idle talk is a cornerstone of good character in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6475). By seeking refuge from the evil of the tongue, we are asking Allah to help us avoid backbiting, slander, lying, gossip, and all forms of harmful speech. This protects our relationships, preserves our good deeds (as backbiting can transfer them to the one being slandered), and keeps our hearts pure. The Hadith above, though comprehensive, specifically asks for protection for the tongue, which is a powerful tool that can either lead us to Paradise or Hellfire.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say: 'Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min sharri sam'i, wa min sharri basari, wa min sharri lisani, wa min sharri qalbi, wa min sharri maniyyi.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 1554). The narrator 'Abdullah bin Ghannam said: 'I do not know what the 'maniyyi' refers to, but he said: and from the evil of my private parts.' (This latter part is a clarification from a narrator or within the chain, indicating the understanding of 'maniyyi' as semen/sexual fluid).