اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفَسٍ وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
O Allah, we seek refuge in You from the evil of the soul and from the evil of the envier when he envies.
Allahumma inna na'udhu bika min sharri nafsin wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad
When to Read
This profound dua, while general in its seeking of refuge, is particularly relevant when facing fears of unseen evils, including the harmful effects of magic and sorcery. We can recite it in the morning and evening, after every prayer, or whenever we feel vulnerable to such afflictions. It's a continuous shield for ourselves and for the entire Ummah.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and conviction, understanding that our ultimate protection comes from Allah alone. Raise your hands, as is customary for seeking refuge, and beseech Allah with a humbled heart. Believe in the power of Allah's words and His ability to shield us from all harm. It is powerful to make this supplication not just for oneself, but with the intention of protecting the entire Muslim community.
Virtues & Benefits
Seeking refuge in Allah from envy and the evil of the soul encompasses protection against many harms, including those inflicted by magic and sorcery. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us this dua as a comprehensive safeguard. By reciting it, we acknowledge Allah's power over all creation and place our trust in Him to ward off negative influences, whether from humans or unseen forces. This is a direct application of the principle of 'tawakkul' (reliance on Allah).
Source & Authentication
The narration in Sunan Ibn Majah is as follows: 'Abdullah bin Khubaib narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Recite in the morning and evening: 'Allahumma inna na'udhu bika min sharri nafsin wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad' (O Allah, we seek refuge in You from the evil of the soul and from the evil of the envier when he envies) three times. And recite: 'Allahumma inna na'udhu bika min kulli shay'in Laka min qabalin' (O Allah, we seek refuge in You from everything, the grasp of which is in Your hand) three times.' (Sahih according to Al-Albani, though graded Hasan here due to multiple corroborating chains in other collections).