‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to supplicate with these words:
"O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the dominance of debt, the dominance of the enemy, and the gloat of the enemies."
Reported by An-Nasa’i (No. 5475, 5487, 5488) and Ahmad (No. 6329).
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sought refuge from several things, which are:
First: (O Allah, I seek refuge), shelter, and protection (with You) not with anyone else (from the dominance of debt), its subjugation, grief, and distress, and I ask You for support to repay and settle it.
Second: (The dominance of the enemy), his subjugation and overpowering, and I ask You to ward off his harm and grant me victory over him.
Third: (And the gloat of the enemies) and their rejoicing at what befalls Muslims of misfortunes and calamities.
Lessons
Encouraging the act of seeking refuge with Allah from everything that distracts one from obeying Him and causes concerns like debts and others.
There is nothing wrong with debts in general; however, the case is different for those who tend not to repay debts, which is the dominant debt.
Man has to avoid things that bring him gloat and criticism.
Pointing out the disbelievers' hostility towards the believers and how they rejoice at their misfortunes.
The enemies' expression of their delight at one's misfortune is harder for him than the misfortune itself.
Explanation in Arabic
اسْتَعاذَ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم من أمور:
الأول: (اللهم إني أعوذ) وألجأ وأَلُوْذُ (بك) لا بغيرِك، (من غلبة الدَّين) وقهره وهمِّه وكَرْبِه، وأسألك الإعانة على قضائه وسداده.
الثاني: (وغلبة العدو) وقهره وتَسَلُّطه، وأسألك كَفَّ أذاه، والانتصارَ عليه.
الثالث: (وشماتة الأعداء) وفَرَحِهم بما يُصيب المسلمين من بلاء ومصيبة.
الحث على التعوذ بالله من كلِّ ما يَشغل عن الطاعة ويَجلب الهموم كالدَّيْن وغيره.
مطلق الدَّيْن لا حَرَجَ فيه، إنما الحَرَجُ فيمَن ليس لديه وفاءٌ للدَّين، وهذا هو الدَّيْن الغالِب.
الإنسان عليه أنْ يَتَجنَّبَ الأمور التي يُشْمَتُ بها ويُعاب فيها.
بيان عداوة الكفار للمؤمنين وشماتهم بهم عند حلول المصائب.
إظهار الأعداء فرحَهم بِبَلِيَّة الإنسان يَشتدُّ على الإنسان من نفس البلية.