Dua Asking for Refuge from Shaitan
رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ
Transliteration
Rabbi a’oozu bika min hamazaatish Shayaateen Wa a’oozu bika Rabbi ai-yahduroon
Translation
“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.”
Surah Muminun 97-98
Key Takeaways
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The self is shaped by daily decisions and habits—we become what we tolerate within ourselves. We have the power to sculpt our character by embracing useful traits and discarding harmful ones, and the Qur’an clearly outlines the qualities of believers who will inherit Jannat Al-Firdaus (the Highest Paradise).
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Regret will be a universal emotion on the Day of Reckoning for both the righteous and disbelievers, as we will all recognize we could have done more. While perfection is unattainable, we must strive to give our all in every endeavor—this is an investment in our spiritual well-being, and Allah will reward it with the highest levels of Jannah (Paradise) if He wills.
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The du’a for refuge from Shaitan is a divine guide to avoid the regret of unfulfilled good deeds. It reminds us to seek Allah’s protection from Satan’s incitements, which can distract us from righteous actions and lead to missed opportunities for spiritual growth.
Background Context of This Du’a
Surah Mu’minun (the 23rd chapter of the Qur’an) is titled “The Believer,” as it describes the qualities of those “Who will inherit al-Firdaus.” (23:11)
The idiom “know thyself” is often abstract, but a more constructive perspective is that the self is created through daily decisions and habits. What we tolerate within ourselves defines our standards (conscious or unconscious), and we have the power to shape ourselves into the person we want to be—like a sculptor chiseling a marble block, adding what is useful and discarding what is not. The question then becomes: Who do you want to become?
The Qur’an provides a clear answer by outlining the qualities of believers who will inherit Jannat Al-Firdaus. We need look no further than the first 10 ayat of Surah Mu’minun, which describe these believers as:
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Humbly submissive in their prayer;
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Turning away from ill speech (avoiding backbiting, insults, false witness, and using the tongue for evil);
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Observant of Zakah (donating to charity from the wealth accumulated throughout the year);
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Guarding their private parts (practicing abstinence and avoiding zina).
The Second Half of Surah Mu’minun
The second half of Surah Mu’minun describes a universal emotion that will overwhelm everyone on the Day of Reckoning: regret.
Both the righteous and disbelievers will feel a gnawing regret, thinking, “I could’ve done more.” This is natural—perfection is unattainable for humans. We strive to draw as close to it as possible, yet we will inevitably fall short. Many who enter Jannah will still know in their hearts they had more to give.
Do not leave this earth unutilized: be present and give your all in everything you do. This is an investment in yourself, and Allah willing, it will be rewarded with the highest level of Jannah on the Day of Judgment. Heed the warning in Surah Mu’minun about a disbeliever who realizes this too late:
“My Lord, send me back That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind.” No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected. So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another. And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] – it is they who are the successful.” (23:99-100)
In the ayat preceding this warning, Allah commanded Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to recite the du’a that helps us avoid this fate: “Rabbi a’oozu bika min hamazaatish Shayaateen Wa a’oozu bika Rabbi ai-yahduroon” (“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”).
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