اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لاَ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, 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 yash-sha', wa min nafsin la tash-ba', wa min da'watin la yustajabu laha.
When to Read
This is a powerful supplication the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us to recite regularly. It's especially relevant when embarking on seeking knowledge, or whenever we feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available. We can make it a part of our daily remembrance (dhikr), perhaps after our obligatory prayers, or at any time we feel a need to re-center our intentions and seek Allah's protection against the pitfalls of misapplied or harmful knowledge.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and full awareness of its meaning. Focus on each phrase, internalizing the request for protection. Raising your hands slightly, as taught for general supplication, can enhance the feeling of seeking help from Allah. It's a personal appeal, so heartfelt recitation is key. Making it a habit, perhaps after Salah, reinforces its importance in our lives.
Virtues & Benefits
This comprehensive dua protects us from several dangers: 1. **Knowledge that doesn't benefit:** This refers to knowledge that doesn't bring us closer to Allah, doesn't improve our character, or doesn't lead to righteous action. It can be superficial, misleading, or even harmful. 2. **A heart that doesn't feel humble:** A heart lacking khushu' (humility and devotion) is one that is hardened and less receptive to Allah's guidance. It becomes arrogant and distant from its Creator. 3. **A soul that is never satisfied:** This points to excessive greed, ambition, or desire that distracts us from our spiritual purpose and leads to constant discontent. 4. **A supplication that is not answered:** This highlights the importance of having our duas accepted, which is often linked to the purity of our intentions, the righteousness of our actions, and the overall state of our hearts and knowledge. By reciting this, we ask Allah to purify our intentions in seeking knowledge, ensure it leads to beneficial outcomes, and protect us from the spiritual diseases associated with misapplied intellect and worldly desires. It’s a holistic request for spiritual well-being.
Source & Authentication
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ سَعْدٍ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَزْمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدْعُو: " اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لاَ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا " . *Translation: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate: 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, from a soul that is never satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered.' (Sahih Muslim 2722)*