Duas for Protection
The Sunnah formulas of refuge — recited morning, evening, before sleep and when arriving anywhere new — to seek Allah's protection from every category of harm.
Protection in Islam: The Refuge of the Believer
The Qur'an names Allah al-Hafiz — The Preserver — and al-Wakil — The Ultimate Trustee. The believer's first line of defence is never a lock, an alarm, or a weapon, but a sentence taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: "Whoever recites these words in the morning and evening, nothing will harm him" (Sunan Abu Dawud 5088, sahih). The Prophet ﷺ taught his Companions specific duas for protection from harm to the body, the family, the home, the wealth, and the heart — from human enemies, from jinn, from the evil eye, from satanic whispers, and from one's own self. The five core formulas below cover every category of harm a Muslim is taught to seek refuge from.
The Five Core Duas for Protection
1. Bismillah Alladhi La Yadurru — The Comprehensive Shield
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ، وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Transliteration: Bismi-Llahi-lladhi la yadurru ma'a-smihi shay'un fi-l-ardi wa la fi-s-sama'i, wa Huwa-s-Sami'u-l-'Alim. (Three times morning, three times evening.)
Translation: "In the Name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in the heavens can cause harm — and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing."
Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 5088 and Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3388 (sahih) — narrated by 'Uthman ibn 'Affan (RA). The Prophet ﷺ said whoever recites it three times morning and evening, nothing will harm him.
2. The Mu'awwidhat (al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, an-Nas)
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ... قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ... قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
Practice: Recite each Surah three times in the morning and three times in the evening. Also recite them after every fard prayer (once) and before sleep — blowing into the palms and wiping over the body, as 'A'ishah (RA) reported the Prophet ﷺ did.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 5082, Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3575 — the Prophet ﷺ said: "They will suffice you against everything." See our full Surah An-Nas commentary for the exegesis.
3. Ayatul Kursi — The Night-Long Protection
The Prophet ﷺ told Abu Hurayrah (RA): "When you go to your bed, recite Ayatul Kursi; an angel from Allah will remain with you, and no devil will come near you until morning" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311). Ayatul Kursi (Surah al-Baqarah 2:255) is also recommended after every fard prayer (Sunan al-Nasa'i 9928, sahih). Read it in full on our Ayatul Kursi page.
4. Refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
Transliteration: A'udhu bi-kalimati-Llahi-t-tammati min sharri ma khalaq. (Three times in the evening.)
Translation: "I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created."
Source: Sahih Muslim 2708 — the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever stops at a place and says this, nothing will harm him until he departs from that place." Especially recommended when travelling, camping, or arriving anywhere new. Pair with our travel duas.
5. The Two Verses at the End of Surah al-Baqarah
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever recites the last two verses of Surah al-Baqarah at night, they will be sufficient for him" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5008, Sahih Muslim 807). Sufficient against any harm of that night — a complete spiritual lock for the home. These verses (2:285–286) end with the dua "Rabbana la tu'akhidhna in nasina aw akhta'na" which is itself one of the most beloved supplications in the Qur'an.
Protection from the Evil Eye and the Whispering
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The evil eye is real" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5740). Protective practices include:
- Saying MashaAllah, TabarakAllah when admiring something or someone, to neutralise the eye.
- Reciting Surah al-Falaq, which explicitly mentions "the envier when he envies" (113:5).
- Self-ruqyah with al-Fatihah and the Mu'awwidhat after exposure to crowds.
- When struck by satanic whispers in salah, the Prophet ﷺ taught spitting lightly to the left three times and saying A'udhu billahi mina-sh-shaytani-r-rajim (Sahih Muslim 2203).
Common Questions
Do I need ta'wiz, amulets or "evil eye" pendants?
No — and the Sunnah forbids them. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever wears an amulet, Allah does not fulfil it for him" (Musnad Ahmad 17404, sahih). Protection in Islam is by recitation, not by objects.
Is it shirk to ask others for protection?
Asking a living person for help in something they can do (e.g. "please guard my house tonight") is not shirk. Believing that any created being independently controls harm or benefit is shirk. All ultimate protection is from Allah alone.
What if I am still harmed despite reciting these?
The Prophet ﷺ himself was wounded at Uhud. Harm that reaches a believer despite their du'a is decreed as expiation, elevation in rank, or a means of drawing closer to Allah — never as evidence that the du'a failed.