Question

Is this mashwarah du’a authentic?

اللَّهُمَّ أَلْهِمْنِي رُشْدِي، وَأَعِذْنِي مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي

 Allahumma alhimni rushdi wa a’idhni min shari nafsi

 O Allah! Inspire me with the correct guidance, and save me from the wiles of my own nafs.

Answer

The words of this du’a have been reported in a Hadith, however not specifically for mashwarah (consultation).

It is possible that someone recommended reading it at the time of mashwarah due to the meaning having a link to decision making. There is no harm in reading this du’a as long as one does not think it to be a masnun du’a for mashwarah.

(See Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3483)

 

Imam Hakim and Ibn Hibban (rahimahumallah) have also recorded a similar du’a with variations and additions in the wordings, These narrations also are general and not specific to mashwarah.

(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1 pg. 510 and Sahih ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 899)

 

Imam Hakim and ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahumallah) have declared the Hadith as authentic.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar