Say: Allāhumma ikfini bihalālika ‘an harāmik waghnini bifadlika ‘amman siwāk (O Allah, suffice me with what You have made lawful against what You have made unlawful, and make me with Your bounty in no need of anyone besides You)
Narrator in the source: ‘Ali
‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a Mukātab (a slave who buys himself from his owner) came to him and said: Indeed, I have been unable to fulfill my Mukātabah (manumission) contract, so help me. He said: Shall I not teach you words that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught me? If you were burdened with a debt like the mountain of Sīr, Allah would pay it off on your behalf. He said: "Say: Allāhumma ikfini bihalālika ‘an harāmik waghnini bifadlika ‘amman siwāk (O Allah, suffice me with what You have made lawful against what You have made unlawful, and make me with Your bounty in no need of anyone besides You).".- Grade in the source
- Hasan
- Reported by
- Narrated by At-Tirmidhi
- Source entry
- HadeethEnc · 5884 ↗
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُ أَنَّ مُكَاتَبًا جَاءَهُ، فَقَالَ: إِنِّي قَدْ عَجَزْتُ عَنْ مُكَاتَبَتِي فَأَعِنِّي، قَالَ: أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ عَلَّمَنِيهِنَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، لَوْ كَانَ عَلَيْكَ مِثْلُ جَبَلِ صِيرٍ دَيْنًا أَدَّاهُ اللَّهُ عَنْكَ، قَالَ: «قُلْ: اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلاَلِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ، وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ».Understand this hadith
A man who was a slave came to the Commander of the Believers, ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him). He had entered into a contract with his master to buy himself and become free but did not have the money to fulfill the agreement. He said: Indeed, I have been unable to pay off what I owe, so help me settle it—either with money or by teaching and instruction. The Commander of the Believers said to him: Shall I not teach you words that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught me? Even if you had a debt as great as a mountain called Sīr, which belonged to the Tribe of Tayyi’, it would be repaid by Allah on your behalf, freeing you from its humiliation. He said: Say: (O Allah, suffice me), turn me away, and keep me distant (with what You have made lawful) so that I am content with it (against) falling into (what You have made unlawful). (And make me) and provide for me (with Your bounty) and generosity (in no need of anyone besides You) from among Your creation.
Lessons from the hadith
- Consulting and seeking the opinion of the people of knowledge and religion.
- It is incumbent upon scholars and callers to Allah to guide and direct those they invite to solutions that help them address the problems they face.
- Encouraging the act of helping the Mukātab slave.
- Encouraging learning this supplication and asking Allah with it.
- Lawful sustenance, even if small, is better than unlawful wealth, even if abundant.
- Reliance upon Allah without dependence on the creation.
- Encouraging a kind response to the requester if you have nothing to give him.
References (original Arabic)
سنن الترمذي (5/ 526) (3563). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 565). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (2/ 1013). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (17/ 456). فيض القدير شرح الجامع الصغير، للمناوي (3/ 111). النهاية في غريب الحديث والأثر (3/ 9).