Refuge from Satan’s Whisperings
رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ. رَبِّ، أَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ.
رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ
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“My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me.”
Form: A twofold seeking of refuge, “a‘udhu bika” (أَعُوذُ بِكَ). A canonical supplication for protection from doubts, anger, whisperings, and the presence of the devils.
Tafsir of Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Saadi
Sheikh al-Saadi writes: “The whisperings of the devils are their incitements to sins, anger, and doubts. The believer prays for protection from their stings and from their very presence in any affair.”
Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir
Ibn Kathir points out: “The Prophet Muhammad used to recite this supplication when entering the prayer, before sleep, and at outbursts of anger.”
Tafsir al-Baghawi
“…And say: ‘My Lord, I seek refuge in You…’” That is, I seek Your protection and ask You to protect me
“…from the promptings of the devils…” Ibn ‘Abbas said: From their influence. Al-Hasan said: From their promptings. Mujahid said: From their blowing and their spitting.
The scholars of meanings said: From their incitement, through deception, to disobey Allah. The root meaning of the word “hamz” is the force of a thrust.
“…and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they come to me!’…”—in any of my affairs. Here the word “come” is used because Satan’s prompting takes effect only when he is present nearby.
Then Allah, Exalted is He, informed us about these disbelievers, who deny the resurrection, that they will ask to return to earthly life when they see death.
In Sunan Abu Dawud (No. 3893) it is reported from ‘Amr ibn Shu‘ayb that the Prophet taught the Companions to recite these words for protection from fright during sleep.