dua asking for refuge from shaitan

رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ

Rabbi a’oozu bika min hamazaatish Shayaateen Wa a’oozu bika Rabbi ai-yahduroon
“My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils, And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me.”
Surah Muminun 97-98

Background context of this Du’a:

Surah Mu’minun is the 23rd chapter of the Qur’an and is titled “the believer” as it describes the qualities among those “Who will inherit al-Firdaus.” (23:11)

We have likely heard the idiom “to know thyself”, but to me this is abstract. What does that even mean? Where does one even begin? I think it’s more constructive to view the self as a person we create day by day, decision after decision, habit after habit.

You get in life what you tolerate within yourself, it’s the standard you either consciously or unconsciously have subscribed to. It’s empowering to know at any moment you can shape into the person you want to become. It’s like a sculptor who slowly chisels away at a marble block to form his masterpiece, adding what is useful and discarding what is not.

The question is who do you want to become?

The answer that question lies within the Qur’an as it has a very clear description about the qualities of a believers that will inherit Jannat Al-Firdaus. We don’t have to look any further than the first 10 ayat of Surah Mu’minun where it describes those people as…

…humbly submissive in their prayer
…turn away from ill speech (avoid backbiting, insulting, bearing false witness, using the tongue for evil)
…observant of Zakah (donating to charity, giving back from the wealth one has accumulated throughout the year)
…guarding their private parts (abstinence, avoiding zina)

Second half of Surah Mu’minun

In the second half of this Surah it describes the one emotion that will course through our bodies on the day of reckoning.

This is the feeling of regret.

Both the righteous and the disbelievers will have this gnawing feeling in their gut saying, “I could’ve done more”. This is a natural feeling, perfection is something that can never be attained by us. We strive to get as close as we possibly can but despite our efforts, we know that we’ll fall short of this goal.

Among us there will be many who enter Jannah but, in their hearts, they know they had more to give.

Don’t leave this earth unused, be present, give yourself fully in everything you do. It’s an investment you are making in yourself and inshallah it’ll will be rewarded on the judgement day with the highest level of Jannah. Heed the warning Surah Mu’minun gives of a disbeliever who realizes this too late,

“My Lord, send me back That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind.” No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected. So when the Horn is blown, no relationship will there be among them that Day, nor will they ask about one another. And those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds] – it is they who are the successful.” (23:99-100)

In the previous ayat before this warning we are given the du’a Allah commanded Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to recite which can help us avoid this fate, Rabbi a’oozu bika min hamazaatish Shayaateen Wa a’oozu bika Rabbi ai-yahduroon meaning, “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils, And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me.”