Supplicating against our enemies
Fatwa No: 88200

Question

Can we supplicate against our enemies and what supplications should we make?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Many Ahadith have been reported about how to supplicate against the enemy.

It is reported in Saheeh Muslim and Bukhari that Abdullah Bin Abu Awfa () narrated that the Prophet () made a supplication against the enemy on the day of Al-Ahzab saying: “O, Allaah, Revealer of the Book, Swift at reckoning, defeat the confederates.  O, Allaah, defeat them and convulse them.”

It is reported as well in Saheeh Muslim and Bukhari that the Prophet () made a supplication in his prayer after raising up from Ruku’a saying: “O, Allaah, trample down heavily on Mudhar, and make it on them like the years of Prophet  Yousuf .”

It is reported also in Musnad Imam Ahmad that the Prophet () made a supplication saying: “O, Allaah, fight the Kuffar who disbelieve in Your Prophets and turn away from Your path, and inflict on them Your severe punishment.  O, Allah, fight the Kuffar to whom the Book has been revealed, O, Lord of the Truth.”

Al-Albani said in Saheeh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad that this is an authentic Hadith.

In addition to the above, it is reported in Saheeh Muslim in the Hadith of the young boy and the Magician that the boy made a supplication on the soldiers of the tyrant king saying: “O, Allah, protect me from them with whatever You choose.”

Furthermore, Ibn Al-Qayyim, (may Allaah have mercy on him) stated some of the supplications in the 19th chapter of his book Al-Wabil Al-Sayyib about the remembrance which should be said when meeting the enemy, or when fearing a ruler saying: ‘In Sunan Abu Dawud and Nasa’e, it is reported that Abu Mussa narrated that the Prophet () used to say when he fears a people, "O, Allaah, we place You before them and we take refuge in You from their evil.”  It is also reported that the Prophet () used to say when meeting the enemy, “O, Allaah, You are my supporter and You are my helper, and by You I battle.”

Once in a battle the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) made the following supplication: “O, Owner of the Day of Judgment, You, do we worship, and Your help, do we seek.”  Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said (after the Prophet - - made this supplication): “I saw men being knocked down by the angels every where.”

Moreover, Ibn Umar () narrated that the Prophet () said: “If you fear a ruler or anybody else say: “None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, The Forbearing, The Generous; Praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the seven Heavens and Lord of the Magnificent Throne.  There is no God but Allaah, indeed the people who get closer to You are beloved by You, Praise be to You, The Exalted.”

It is reported in Saheeh Bukhari that Ibn Abbas () said: “Allaah is sufficient for us, and how fine a trustee He is” is what Prophet Ibrahim said when he was thrown to the fire, and what the Prophet Muhammad () said when people told him: “Certainly people have gathered their army against you.”

Allah knows best.

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