A man who fears the ruler: what supplication does he make?

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "When a ruler (imam) is placed over one of you and the man fears his arrogance and oppression, let him say: 'O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Mighty Throne, be my protector against so-and-so, his armies and his supporters, lest they transgress against me or act rebelliously. Honoured is the one under Your protection, great is Your praise, and there is no one worthy of worship besides You.'"

However, Abu Mu'awiyah added to it: Al-A'mash said: I mentioned this hadith to Ibrahim, and he too narrated the like of it from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), but Ibrahim added this phrase: "from the evil of the jinn and mankind."

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "When you come before a fearsome king and you fear that he will treat you harshly, say three times: 'Allah is the Greatest. Allah is mightier than all His creation. Allah is mightier than what I fear and dread. I seek refuge with Allah, besides whom there is no one worthy of worship, who holds back the seven heavens from falling upon the earth except by His permission, from the evil of Your servant so-and-so, and the evil of his armies, his followers and his supporters, whether from the jinn or from mankind. O Allah, be my protector against their evil. Exalted is Your praise, honoured is the one under Your protection, blessed is Your name, and there is no one worthy of worship besides You.'"

Amir said: I was sitting with Ziyad bin Abi Sufyan when a man was brought, carried, and we had no doubt that he would be killed. Amir said: I saw his lips moving slightly, and I did not know what he was saying. Amir said: Then Ziyad set him free. One of the people turned to him and said: "You were brought here and we had no doubt that you would be killed. Then I saw your lips moving because of something, and we do not know what it was." The man said: "And then Ziyad set you free!" That person said: "I recited this supplication: 'O Allah, Lord of Ibrahim, Lord of Ishaq and Lord of Ya'qub, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil, and Revealer of the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms and the Mighty Qur'an, remove from me the evil of Ziyad.'"

Al-Hasan bin al-Hasan said: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) married off his daughter, then took her aside and gave her this advice: "Whenever death comes upon you, or some grievous matter of this world befalls you, meet it with these words: 'There is no one worthy of worship except Allah, the Forbearing, the Generous. Allah, the Lord of the Mighty Throne, is free of every defect. All praise is for Allah, who is the Lord of all the worlds.'"

Al-Hasan bin al-Hasan said: Then al-Hajjaj sent for me, and I said these words. When I stood before him, he said: "I sent for you intending to strike off your neck, and now there is no one of your household more honoured in my sight than you. Ask me for what you need."

Alqamah bin Marthad said: When a man became one of the close associates of Imam al-Sha'bi, he would tell him this supplication: "O Allah, the One worshipped by Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil, and the One worshipped by Ibrahim, Isma'il and Ishaq, grant me well-being, and do not set over me anyone of Your creation whom I do not have the strength to withstand."

And he mentioned that a man came to a governor and said these words, so the governor let him go.

Abu Mijlaz said: Whoever fears the oppression of an official, let him say these words: "I am pleased with Allah as Lord, with Islam as religion, with Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as Prophet, and with the Qur'an as judge and leader." Then Allah will save him from his fear.