Importance of asking Allaah for well-being (العافية)

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

1. On the authority of `Abdullaah ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما that he said: O Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم! What should I ask from Allaah? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

سل الله العفو والعافية

“Ask Allaah for al-`Afwa (pardon) and al-`Aafiyah (well-being)”

He asked again: What should I ask Allaah (next)? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

سل الله العفو والعافية

“Ask Allaah for al-`Afwa (pardon) and al-`Aafiyah (well-being)” [Saheeh al-Mawaarid (2052) and graded as “Saheeh li ghairihee” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

2. It was narrated that Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما said: “The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم never abandoned these supplications, every morning and evening:

اللهم إني أسألك العفو والعافية في الدنيا والآخرة اللهم إني أسألك العفو والعافية في ديني ودنياي وأهلي ومالي اللهم استر عوراتي وآمن روعاتي واحفظني من بين يدي ومن خلفي وعن يميني وعن شمالي ومن فوقي وأعوذ بك أن أغتال من تحتي

(Allaahumma innee as-aluka al-`afwa wal-`aafiyah fee ad-dunya wal-aakhirah. Allaahumma inni as-aluka al-`afwa wal-`aafiyah fee deenee wa dunyaai wa ahlee wa maalee. Allaahumma astur `awraatee, wa aamin raw`aaitee wahfadhnee min bayni yadayya, wa min khalfee wa `an yameenee wa `an shimaalee, wa min fawqee, wa a`oodhu bika an ughtaala min tahtee)

“O Allaah! I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in this world and in the Hereafter. O Allaah! I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in my religious and my worldly affairs. O Allaah! Conceal my faults, calm my fears, and protect me from before me and behind me, from my right and my left, and from above me, and I seek refuge in You from being taken unaware from beneath me” [Sunan Abu Dawood (5074), Ibn Maajah (3871) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

3. On the authority of `Aaishah رضي الله عنها that she said: Whenever I came to know that it is the night of Laylat al-Qadr, the most I would supplicate is by asking Allaah for al-`Afwa (pardon) and al-`Aafiyah (well-being).” [al-Nasaa’ee in Sunan al-Kubraa, and graded as “Thaabit” (proven) by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (7/1011)]

4. Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq رضي الله عنه climbed the mimber (pulpit) and then wept and said: In the first year (of Hijra), the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم climber the mimber and wept and said: “Ask Allaah for al-`Afwa (pardon) and al-`Aafiyah (well-being), for no one is granted, after certainty (i.e. Islaam), anything better than al-`Aafiyah (well-being).” [al-Tirmidhee (3558) and graded as “Hasan Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

5. Hasan bin `Alee رضي الله عنهما said: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم taught me some words to say in Witr in Qunoot:

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ

“O Allaah, guide me along with those whom You have guided, protect me (from evil and harm) along with those whom You have protected, be an ally to me along with those whom You are an ally to and bless for me that which You have bestowed. Protect me from the evil You have decreed for verily You decree and none can decree over You. For surety, he whom You show allegiance to is never abased and he whom You take as an enemy is never honored and mighty. O our Lord, Blessed and Exalted are You.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (1425) and the wordings are his, and Sunan al-Tirmidhee (464), Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (1745) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

6. It was narrated that `Aasim bin Humaid said: I asked `Aaishah رضي الله عنها with what did he - meaning the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم - start Qiyaam Al-Lail (the night prayers)? She said: You have asked me something which no one before you has asked. The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say the Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar) ten times, the Tahmeed (Al-Hamdulillaah) ten times, the Tasbeeh (Subhaan-Allaah) ten times and the Tahleel (Laa ilaaha illallaah) ten times and the Istighfaar (pray for forgiveness) ten times and say:

اللهم اغفر لي واهدني وارزقني وعافني ، أعوذ بالله من ضيق المقام يوم القيامة

(Allaahumma-ghfirlee, wa-hdinee, wa-rzuqnee, wa-`aafinee, A`oodhu billaahi min dheeqil-maqaami yawmal-qiyaamah.)

“O Allaah! Forgive me, guide me, grant me provision and good health. I seek refuge with Allaah from the difficulty of standing on the Day of Resurrection.)” [Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (1616) and the wordings are his, Sunan Abu Dawood (766) and Sunan Ibn Maajah (1123) and graded as “Hasan Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

7. Narrated `Abdullaah ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say (in the prayer) between the two prostrations:

اللهم اغفر لي وارحمني وعافني واهدني وارزقني

“O Allaah! Forgive me, have mercy on me, heal me, guide me, and provide for me.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (850) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

8. Narated Shakal bin Humaid رضي الله عنه:  I said: O Messenger of Allaah! Teach me a supplication from which I may benefit. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Say:

اللهم عافني من شر سمعي وبصري ، ولساني وقلبي ، وشر منيي

(Allaahumma `aafinee min sharri sam`ee, wa basaree wa lisaanee, wa qalbee, wa min sharri maniy)

“O Allaah! Protect me from the evil of my hearing, my seeing, my tongue and my heart, and from the evil of my sperm.” – (meaning sexual organ).

[Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (5456, 5484), and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

9. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever comes across a person suffering a calamity and says:

الحمد لله الذي عافاني مما ابتلاك به ، وفضلني على كثير ممن خلق تفضيلا

‘All praise is for Allah Who saved me from that which He tested you with and Who most certainly favored me over much of His creation.’ He will be kept safe from that calamity” [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3431, 3432) on the authority of Abu Hurairah and `Umar رضي الله عنهما, and Sunan Ibn Maajah (3892) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]