.بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِيْ لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ ، وَهُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ
(3x)
In the Name of Allah, with whose Name nothing can harm in the earth nor in the sky. He is The All-Hearing and All-Knowing.
Bismi-llāhi-lladhī lā yaḍurru maʿasmihi shay’un fi-l-arḍi wa lā fi-s-samā’, wa Huwa-s-Samīʿu-l-ʿAlīm.
Abān b. ʿUthmān narrated from ʿUthmān b. ʿAffān (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) who mentioned that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There is no servant who says [the above] three times every morning and evening, except that nothing will harm him.”
Abān himself had been afflicted with a form of paralysis, so the man began to look at him. Abān said to him: “Why do you look at me? The ḥadīth is as I have narrated it to you, except that I did not recite it one day, and Allah brought about His decree upon me.” (Tirmidhī 3388)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever says [the above] three times (in the evening), they will not be afflicted by a sudden calamity till the morning. And whoever says it three times in the morning, they will not be afflicted with a sudden calamity until the evening.” (Abū Dāwūd 5088)
Brief Commentary
• This duʿā’ begins by saying, “In the Name of Allah” but does not specify what we are saying it for.
• In Arabic there is always a verb implied with “bismillāh.” For example, when we say bismillāh before eating, it means “In the name of Allah, I begin eating.” Similarly, when we say bismillāh before reciting, it means “In the name of Allah, I begin reciting.” Each time we say bismillāh, there is a verb implied based on the context.
• In this duʿā’, we are implying, “In the name of Allah I seek refuge”.
• In this duʿā’, we are not seeking refuge or help from Allah directly, but we are seeking it with His Name. Such is the magnificence of Allah, that even His Name alone is sufficient for protection!
• With the protection of Allah’s Name, nothing in the earth can harm you, whether it is a human, jinn, animal, electronic device, or anything else.
• With the protection of Allah’s Name, nothing in the sky can harm you, whether it is rain, wind, hurricane, lightning, or anything else.
• Allah is ‘The All-Hearing’: He can hear all voices at the same time, no matter how low the voice is, and whatever language it is in. He hears it, understands it, and responds to it if it is calling Him. All these meanings are encompassed within this Name.
Allah is ‘The All-Knowing’: He knows everything, whether hidden or apparent; whether past, present, or future.
Action Points
• Allah’s Name is great, so utter it before you begin any matter (e.g. leaving/entering the house; before eating, before using the bathroom and doing wūḍū; before undressing etc.)
• When reciting this duʿā’, ensure your heart’s presence and its humility, whilst mentioning Allah’s most Beautiful Names. Be conscious of the Almighty’s greatness, so that you can truly benefit from this duʿā’.
• Contemplate over Allah’s names, for Allah is ‘The All-Hearing’, so He hears you whilst you recite this duʿā’, and He is ‘The All-Knowing’, so He knows your need when you are reciting this duʿā’.
• Imām al-Qurṭubī writes, “This is an authentic narration, and a true statement based upon textual evidence and experience. Since I heard it, I acted upon it so nothing harmed me until I left it. I was stung by a scorpion at night, and when I pondered over this, I realised I had forgotten to say this duʿā’ that night.”
