Whoever says three times: 'In the name of Allah, with Whose name nothing in the earth or the heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing' will not suffer sudden affliction until the morning
Authenticعَنْ أَبَانَ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عُثْمَانَ ابْنِ عَفَّانَ رضي الله عنه يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ، فِي الْأَرْضِ، وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ، وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ، ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، لَمْ تُصِبْهُ فَجْأَةُ بَلَاءٍ، حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ، وَمَنْ قَالَهَا حِينَ يُصْبِحُ ثَلَاثُ مَرَّاتٍ، لَمْ تُصِبْهُ فَجْأَةُ بَلَاءٍ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ»، قَالَ: فَأَصَابَ أَبَانَ بْنَ عُثْمَانَ الْفَالِجُ، فَجَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي سَمِعَ مِنْهُ الْحَدِيثَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: مَا لَكَ تَنْظُرُ إِلَيَّ؟ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا كَذَبْتُ عَلَى عُثْمَانَ، وَلَا كَذَبَ عُثْمَانُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَلَكِنَّ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي أَصَابَنِي فِيهِ مَا أَصَابَنِي غَضِبْتُ فَنَسِيتُ أَنْ أَقُولَهَا.
Abān ibn ‘Uthmān reported: I heard ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him) say: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Whoever says three times: 'In the name of Allah, with Whose name nothing in the earth or the heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing' will not suffer sudden affliction until the morning; and whoever says it in the morning three times will not suffer sudden affliction until the evening." He said: Abān ibn ‘Uthmān was struck with paralysis, and the man who heard the Hadīth from him started looking at him, so, he said to him: Why are you looking at me? By Allah, I did not tell a lie about 'Uthmān, nor did ‘Uthmān tell a lie about the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), but the day I was afflicted with this, I got angry and forgot to say it.
Explanation
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that whoever says three times every morning, after the break of dawn, and every evening, before sunset: (In the name of Allah with Whose name) I seek help and protection against whatever is harmful that can cause no harm no matter how great it is along with mentioning His name, (in the earth) and the afflictions coming thereof (and the heaven) and the afflictions descending therefrom, (and He is the All-Hearing) of what we say (the All-Knowing) of our conditions. Whoever says it in the evening will not be overtaken by calamity until the morning comes, and whoever says it in the morning will not be overtaken by calamity until the evening comes. The Hadīth narrator, Abān ibn ‘Uthmān, was then afflicted with paralysis, i.e., loss of control over one half of the body, so the man who heard the Hadīth from him kept looking at Abān in wonder. Thereupon, Abān said to the man: Why are you looking at me?! By Allah, I did not tell a lie about 'Uthmān, nor did ‘Uthmān tell a lie about the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). However, that day when I was afflicted by this, Allah did not decree for me to say it; I got angry, and I forgot to say the aforementioned words.
Benefits
- It is recommended for one to recite this Dhikr (regular supplication) in the morning and the evening to enjoy protection, by the permission of Allah Almighty, against being overtaken by affliction, harm, calamity, etc.
- The early predecessors' firm belief in Allah and their belief in what the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reported.
- Among the benefits of prescribing Dhikr in the morning and the evening is to prevent a Muslim from being heedless and help him continuously recall the fact that he is a slave of Allah Almighty.
- The fulfillment of the effect of Dhikr depends on the degree of faith of the one who remembers Allah, his submissiveness, the presence of his heart along with sincerity and certitude.
Source · Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasā’i in Al-Kubra and by Ibn Mājah and Ahmad
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).