عن أبي مالك عن أبيه أنه سمع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأتاه رجل فقال: يا رسول الله كيف أقول حين أسأل ربي قال: قل: اللهم اغفر لي وارحمني وعافني وارزقني ويجمع أصابعه إلا الإبهام فإن هؤلاء تجمع لك دنياك وآخرتك (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 2697)
The father of Hazrat Abu Maalik Ashja’ee (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) [whose name is Hazrat Taariq bin Ashyam (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)], reports that he was once with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) when a Sahaabi came to him and enquired, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! When I am making du‘aa to my Rabb, then what words should I use in my du‘aa (and what should I ask for)?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “When making du‘aa, then say the following (begging Allah Ta‘ala for the following four bounties):
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَارْحَمْنِيْ وَعَافِنْيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ
O Allah! Forgive me, shower Your special mercy upon me, bless me with ease, and provide me with sustenance!”
(As Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned each bounty,) he closed one finger, until four of his fingers were closed, besides his thumb. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, “These (four) bounties are so great that they encompass for you (the entire goodness of) your dunya (worldly life) and your Aakhirah.”
Note:
Hazrat Taariq bin Ashyam (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports in another Hadith that when a person would accept Islam, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would first teach him to perform salaah. Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would instruct him to recite the following du‘aa:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَارْحَمْنِيْ وَاهْدِنْيْ وَعَافِنِيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ
O Allah! Forgive me, shower Your special mercy upon me, guide me, bless me with ease and provide me with sustenance!
If we examine the du‘aa mentioned in this Hadith, then it is the same as the first du‘aa, except that it has the addition of “وَاهْدِنْيْ” – the du‘aa asking for guidance.
In the Hadith of Sunan Abu Dawood (#850), it is reported that when performing nafl salaah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would recite the following du‘aa in the jalsah posture between the two sajdahs:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَارْحَمْنِيْ وَعَافِنِيْ وَاهْدِنْيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ
O Allah! Forgive me, shower Your special mercy upon me, bless me with ease, guide me and provide me with sustenance!
