The Supplication in Tashahhud and Guidance for the Ummah
Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
❖ Question:
Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها reports that the Prophet ﷺ used to recite the following supplication in tashahhud:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ القَبْرِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ المَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ المَحْيَا وَفِتْنَةِ المَمَاتِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ المَأْثَمِ وَالمَغْرَمِ
O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, from the trial of al-Masīḥ al-Dajjāl, from the trials of life and death. O Allah! I seek refuge in You from sin and debt.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 832)
Since the Prophet ﷺ is infallible (maʿṣūm), why did he seek refuge from the trial of Dajjāl?
❖ Answer:
Indeed, the Prophet ﷺ is infallible, but his infallibility is by Allah’s protection. Allah never allowed him to commit sin. Moreover, the essence of servitude to Allah is to express humility and neediness before Him.
The Prophet ﷺ’s supplication also served as guidance for the Ummah: by seeking refuge from the trial of Dajjāl, he was teaching the believers that this is a great tribulation, and protection from it must be sought from Allah.
Conclusion:The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge not because he could be harmed by sin or the Dajjāl, but to show servitude, humility, and to educate his Ummah to regularly seek Allah’s protection from these severe trials.
