Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say the following supplication: "Allāuhumma inni a‘ūdhu bika min ‘adhāb al-qabr, wa min ‘adhāb an-nār, wa min fitnat al-mahya wa al-mamāt, wa min fitnat al-masīh ad-dajjāl (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave, the punishment of the Fire, the trials of life and death, and the trial of the Dajjāl (Antichrist)." A wording of Muslim reads: "When any of you completes the last Tashahhud, let him seek refuge with Allah from four things: the punishment of Hellfire, the punishment of the grave, the trials of life and death, and the evil of the Antichrist."
Reported by Muslim (No. 588b), Abu Dawud (No. 983), Ibn Majah (No. 909) and Ahmad (No. 6939).
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to seek refuge with Allah from four things after reciting the last Tashahhud and before ending the prayer, and he commanded us to do the same.
First: from the punishment of the grave.
Second: from the punishment of Hellfire on the Day of Judgment.
Third: from the trials of life, including its forbidden desires and its misleading doubts, and from the trials of death, i.e., the time of dying, including deviation from Islam or from the Sunnah, or the trial of the grave like the questioning of the two angels.
Fourth: from the trial of the Antichrist who will come at the end of time as an affliction from Allah to test His slaves. The Antichrist was mentioned in particular because of the gravity of his trial and misguidance.
Lessons
This form of Isti‘ādhah (seeking refuge with Allah) is among the most important and most comprehensive supplications as it includes seeking refuge from the evils of this worldly life and the Hereafter.
Affirmation of the punishment of the grave and that it is real.
The gravity of the trials and the importance of seeking Allah's help and supplicating Him to be saved from such trials.
Proving the emergence of the Dajjāl (Antichrist) and the severity of his trial.
It is recommended to recite this supplication after the last Tashahhud.
It is recommended to make Du‘ā’ (supplication) after performing a righteous deed.
Explanation in Arabic
كانَ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَستعيذُ بالله مِن أربع، بعد التشهد الأخير وقبل السلام في الصلاة، وأَمَرَنا أن نستعيذَ بالله منها،
الأولى: مِن عذاب القبر.
الثانية: مِن عذاب النار وذلك يوم القيامة.
الثالثة: مِن فتنة المَحيا مِن شَهَوات الدنيا المحرمة ومن شبهاتها المُضِلَّة، ومن فتنة المَمَات، أي ساعة الاحتضار، من الزيغ عن الإسلام أو السنة، أو فتنة القبر كسؤال المَلَكين.
الرابعة: فتنة المسيح الدَّجَّال الذي يَخْرُج في آخر الزمان، يَبتلي الله به عباده؛ وخَصَّه بالذكر لعظيم فتنته وإضلاله.
هذه الاستعاذة من مهمات الأدعية وجوامعها، لاشتمالها على الاستعاذة من شرور الدنيا والآخرة.
ثبوت عذاب القبر وأنه حق.
خطورة الفتن وأهمية الاستعانة بالله والدعاء للنجاة منها.
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'utإسناده صحيح على شرط مسلم — تخريج المسند لشعيب (7237)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'utإسناده صحيح. رجاله رجال الصحيح — تخريج صحيح ابن حبان (1967)
Abu Dawudسكت عنه [وقد قال في رسالته لأهل مكة كل ما سكت عنه فهو صالح — سنن أبي داود (983)
AuthenticIbn Hibbanأخرجه في صحيحه — صحيح ابن حبان (1967)
Al-Daraqutniرواه الأوزاعيُّ، عن حسَّانَ بنِ عطيَّةَ، عن مُحمَّدِ بنِ أبي عائِشةَ، عن أبي هُرَيرةَ مرفوعًا. وخالَفه عبدُ الرَّحمنِ بنُ ثابِتِ بنِ ثَوبانَ؛ رواه عن حسَّانَ، عن أبي هُرَيرةَ مُرسَلًا موقوفًا. وعند الأوزاعيِّ فيه إسنادٌ آخَرُ، عن يحيى بنِ أبي كثيرٍ، عن أب — علل الدارقطني (1875)
‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say the following supplications: “O Allah, verily I seek refuge in You from the trial of the Fire, the torment of the Fire, and from the evil of affluence and poverty.”
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I did not hear it from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) but Zayd ibn Thābit reported it to me, as he said: "We were with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in a garden belonging to Banu…