The Prophet (ﷺ) used to supplicate:
“O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your anger, I seek refuge in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in You from You.”
Aisha bint Abi Bakr (رضي الله عنها) reported:
“One night, I missed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) from the bed. When I began searching for him, my hand touched the soles of his feet while he was in prostration. His feet were raised, and he was saying:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ، وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ، لَا أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ، أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu biridhāka min sakhaṭika, wa bimuʿāfātika min ʿuqūbatika, wa aʿūdhu bika minka, lā uḥṣī thanā’an ʿalayka, anta kamā athnayta ʿalā nafsik.
“O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your anger, and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in You from You. I cannot enumerate Your praise; You are as You have praised Yourself.”
— Sahih Muslim
Explanation
Reflect upon how the Prophet (ﷺ) sought refuge in the attribute of pleasure from the attribute of anger, and in the attribute of forgiveness from that of punishment. He affirmed that all of these qualities belong solely to Allah.
In essence, he acknowledged that:
- What he fears — anger and punishment — occurs only by Allah’s will and decree.
- What he hopes for — pleasure and forgiveness — also occurs only by Allah’s will and decree.
If Allah wills to be pleased with and forgive His servant, it is by His grace and choice. If He wills to be angry with and punish, it is by His justice and wisdom.
Thus, protection from what is feared lies only in Him.
All good and all that is disliked occur by His decree. Therefore, one seeks refuge in His mercy, benevolence, and grace from what may occur by His justice and wisdom. None can grant protection from Him except Him.
“You alone are able — by Your will — to protect me from what occurs by Your will.”
The depth of tawḥīd (pure monotheism), knowledge, and servitude contained in these words can only be fully appreciated by those who truly know Allah and understand the reality of worship and dependence upon Him.
End quote.
— Adapted from the book Tawbah: Turning to Allah in Repentance by Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (رحمه الله).
The Enduring Good Deeds 