بِسْمِ اللَّهِ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَمَالِي وَأَهْلِي.
In the name of Allah, (I place myself, my wealth, and my family) under His protection.
Bismillahi 'ala nafsi wa mali wa ahli.
When to Read
This is a beautiful general dua for seeking Allah's protection over yourself, your family, and your belongings. You can recite it every morning and evening, as the Prophet ﷺ taught us this to ward off calamities. When you feel particularly worried about your children's future – their safety, their well-being, their path in life – this dua is a perfect way to transfer that burden to the One who truly holds their destinies.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and conviction. Visualize Allah's protection encompassing your children. It's best recited after Fajr and Asr prayers, or at any time you feel the need to invoke Allah's safeguarding presence. Place your hand on your heart or your forehead while making dua for yourself and your children, and then extend that feeling of trust to them, whether they are with you or away.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encapsulates the essence of tawakkul (trust in Allah). By reciting it, we acknowledge that true protection and the best future for our children come only from Allah. It helps alleviate parental anxiety by reminding us that our ultimate reliance should be on the Creator, who is All-Merciful and All-Powerful. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'When a person says this, it is said to him: 'You have been sufficed and protected.' And the Shaitan departs from him.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 5084). This indicates a powerful shield against harm and evil.
Source & Authentication
Narrated by Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever visits a sick person and says seven times: أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ يَشْفِيَكَ (I ask Allah the Magnificent, Lord of the Mighty Throne, to heal you), Allah will grant him health and safety from that sickness. And when he visited me, I was in pain and he made me repeat it seven times.' Also related from Thawban (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet ﷺ: 'When a man says when he goes to bed: 'O Allah, I surrender my face to You, and I entrust my affairs to You, and I turn my attention (in devotion) towards You with hope and with fear (of You). And I do not seek refuge with anyone besides You.' And he died that night, he will have died in a state of pure *fitrah* (natural disposition). Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: And when the Prophet ﷺ used to go to bed at night, he would say: 'O Allah, I keep my face to You, and I entrust all my affairs to You, and I turn my attention (in devotion) towards You with hope and with fear (of You). And I do not seek refuge with anyone besides You.' And he would say: 'And (recite) Your two feet... [referring to the recitation of the last verses of Surah Al-Baqarah].' This hadith is about general protection and entrusting affairs, and the specific wording 'Bismillahi 'ala nafsi wa mali wa ahli' is a powerful invocation for protection over oneself, wealth, and family. The context is seeking Allah's complete care and safeguard against all harm.