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, from the evil of my sight, from the evil of my tongue, from the evil of my heart, and from the evil of my desires/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 is perfect to recite in the morning after Fajr prayer as part of your remembrance of Allah (dhikr). It's also beneficial to say whenever you feel a particular need to protect yourself from harmful speech, thoughts, or desires, or if you've been struggling with the misuse of your senses.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a clear intention of seeking Allah's protection. Focus on the meaning of each phrase as you say it. The Prophet ﷺ taught us the importance of sincere supplication, so raising your hands slightly (as is the practice in du'a) can be a good way to physically express your reliance on Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
This beautiful dua encapsulates seeking refuge from the internal and external evils that can affect us. Specifically concerning the tongue, it protects us from lying, backbiting, slander, harsh words, and all forms of harmful speech. By seeking refuge in Allah from the evil of our tongue, we are essentially asking for His help to control our speech, to speak only that which is good, or to remain silent when silence is better. This practice aligns with the Quranic verse, 'And tell My servants to speak what is best...' (Al-Isra 17:53).
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to seek refuge in Allah from four things, saying: 'Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'adhabi jahannam wa min 'adhabi al-qabri wa min fitnati al-mahya wal-mawat wa min sharri fitnati al-masih ad-dajjal.' (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hellfire, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the False Messiah (Dajjal)). Another narration mentions him seeking refuge from: '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.' (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of my hearing, from the evil of my sight, from the evil of my tongue, from the evil of my heart, and from the evil of my desires/semen.)