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, from cowardice and old age, and from stinginess. I seek refuge in You from the torment 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 'adhab al-qabri, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mafati.
When to Read
This dua is particularly relevant when you feel the physical and mental drain of fasting, especially during voluntary fasts outside of Ramadan. Recite it at the beginning of your day or whenever you feel lethargy creeping in. It’s a powerful way to seek Allah's help to remain diligent in your worship and actions, even when your body feels tired.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and conviction, raising your hands as is customary when making supplication. Focus on the meaning of each phrase, internalizing the plea for protection against these specific debilitating traits. Understand that this is a request to Allah, the ultimate source of strength and motivation.
Virtues & Benefits
This profound dua, taught by our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, directly addresses the root causes of difficulty in fasting and other acts of worship: helplessness (the feeling of being unable to act) and laziness. By seeking refuge in Allah from these, you are asking for the internal strength and willpower to push through the discomfort and fulfill your commitments. It also encompasses seeking protection from other detrimental traits like cowardice, old age's frailty, and stinginess, showing the comprehensive nature of Islamic supplication. It reminds us that true strength and motivation come from Allah alone, especially when undertaking voluntary acts of worship like fasting.
Source & Authentication
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to invoke Allah frequently, saying: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done, from the evil of what I have not done, from the evil of what I have done secretly, from the evil of what I have done publicly. I seek refuge in You from helplessness and laziness, from cowardice and old age, from stinginess and from the evil of the Decree, and from the evil of the disbelievers." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, and the disbelievers?" He said: "If a Muslim is asked about his religion and he says: 'I do not know,' so he does not adhere to it, nor does he let it go, so that he does not know if he adheres to it or not, then that is the 'evil of the disbelievers'." A man said: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave." He said: "I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave."