From the Secrets of the Prophetic Supplication

Occasion: Transcription of a Fajr khatira delivered on 8 June 2025 Source: A transcription of a video khatira by Dr. Ahmed Abouseif — Watch the original video on YouTube

In this khatira Dr. Ahmed Abouseif continued what he had begun on the art of remembrance and supplication, or the secrets of the prophetic supplication, under the title: Is supplication one of the ordinary means?

The Supplication of Noah, Peace Be Upon Him

He cited the words of Allah, the Exalted, concerning Noah, peace be upon him: ﴿فَكَذَّبُوا عَبْدَنَا وَقَالُوا مَجْنُونٌ وَازْدُجِرَ * فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَغْلُوبٌ فَانتَصِرْ * فَفَتَحْنَا أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ﴾.^[1]

(They denied Our servant and said, "A madman," and he was rebuked. So he called upon his Lord, "I am overcome, so help me." So We opened the gates of heaven.)

Supplication and Placing the Hand on the Place of Pain

He mentioned that one of the Companions said to the Prophet ﷺ: O Messenger of Allah, I feel a pain. So he ﷺ said to him: «ضع يدك، وقل: بسم الله، ثلاثًا، وقل سبع مرات: أعوذ بعزة الله وقدرته من شر ما أجد وأحاذر».^[2]

(Place your hand, and say: In the name of Allah, three times; and say seven times: I seek refuge in the might of Allah and His power from the evil of what I feel and fear.)

Supplication Does Not Negate Seeking Treatment

He pointed out that we do not disown seeking treatment or recovery, and that part of his ﷺ guidance is, in meaning, that Allah did not create any disease except that He created a cure for it.

Blowing and the Muʿawwidhāt at Bedtime

He mentioned his ﷺ practice when he went to his bed every night: he would join his palms together, then blow into them, and recite the Muʿawwidhāt: ﴿قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ * مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ * وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ * وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ * وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ﴾، ثم ﴿قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ﴾.^[3]

(Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of what He has created, and from the evil of darkness when it settles, and from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies," then: "Say, 'I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind.'")

The Companions and the Ruqyah with al-Fātiḥa

He again related the story of the Companions who stopped with a people who did not host them, so they stipulated, for reciting ruqyah over their chief, a flock of sheep, and one of them recited al-Fātiḥa: «الحمد لله رب العالمين، الرحمن الرحيم، مالك يوم الدين»; and it was as though he had been released from a shackle. He said that the expression "as though released from a shackle" is difficult to convey into English.

(All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement.)

Closing Supplication

He concluded by saying: O Allah, we ask You for a swift and near relief for our people in Palestine. O Allah, keep them firm in what they are in, recompense them in all their affliction; O Allah, we ask You for them help, steadfastness, support and victory from You, O Most Merciful of the merciful. And may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and Companions, and grant them abundant peace.

--- ^[1]: Editor's documentation: Sūrat al-Qamar, verses 9–11, and the text here is limited to the portion that appeared in the transcript. ^[2]: Editor's documentation: The ḥadīth is in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim from the ḥadīth of ʿUthmān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ (may Allah be pleased with him), and in it is «ضع يدك على الذي تألم من جسدك» (place your hand on the part of your body that pains you); this addition did not appear in the transcript. ^[3]: Editor's documentation: Sūrat al-Falaq, verses 1–5, and the beginning of Sūrat al-Nās (verse 1); the speaker began with «أعوذ» without «قل», and the verse has been set down here in the wording of the muṣḥaf. The ḥadīth is in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī from the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her).