Question

Kindly provide the reference for the following du’a of Imam Shafi’i (rahimahullah) as well as the incident behind the du’a.

شهد الله أنه لا إله إلا هو الآية… اللهم إني أعوذ بنور قدسك، وببركة طهارتك، وبعظمة جلالك، من كل عاهة وآفة، وطارق الجن والإنس، إلا طارقاً يطرق بخير منك يا رحمن. اللهم بك ملاذي فيك ألوذ. وبك غياثي فيك أغوث يا من ذلت له رقاب الفراعنة، وخضعت له مغاليظ الجبابرة، ذكرك شعاري وثناؤك دثاري، أنا في سرادقات حفظك، وقني واغنني بخير منك يا رحمن

Answer

This du’a has been recorded by Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) in his book: Manaqibush Shafi’i, vol. 1, pg. 139-141.
Some chains report this from Rasulullah (sallallahu ’alayhi wa sallam). However, Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has ruled that version as false.
The correct is that this is a du’a of Imam Shafi’i (rahimahullah) as mentioned in your query.
Imam Shafi’i (rahimahullah) had recited this for protection when he was summoned by the Khalifah. He later taught it to someone else who said that whenever he recited this du’a he was saved from the wrath of the Khalifah.

(Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 9, pg. 87-89)

The translation of this du’a can be found here.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar