How to Seek Protection Against Sudden Calamities

Introduction

Alhamdulillah… All perfect thanks and praises are due to the Almighty Allah. I send perfect peace and blessings upon the best teacher of all-time, Sayyindinā Muḥammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path till end of time.

I believe, for more than once, you've heard of, or read about a person, who has lost his entire family or his entire physical wealth to a sudden calamity in an overnight incident. Sudden calamities and tribulations strike without warning. They strike when they are least expected. Their effects may last for a long time. Sometimes, their effects can be permanent and lifetime.

This article guides us to seeking protection against sudden calamities, trials and tribulations. In situations when they, inevitably, have to strike, we are assured of emotional and spiritual strength to overcome their effects.

Imagine with Me

A man went to sleep, and woke up without the ability to see anymore. He’s lost his sight! A brother who was riding a motor bicycle was unexpectedly knocked down by a lorry. No one believed the dramatic incident could cost our friend his right arm. It had to be amputated. A strong man was very proud of his physical strength. He only realized his human weakness when he was run over by a camel. He was paralyzed and remained bedridden till his death.

A man lost his wife and his only child, who bid him a farewell going for shopping for a few hours. They met with an accident. It was unexpected. And he never saw them alive after that. A millionaire lost his wife, all his children and his entire multi-million wealth, when a sudden calamity of war stroke his country.

One or more situations like these has happened to someone in the past. It may be happening to another as you’re reading these lines. It may happen in the future to someone we know or don’t know. Although they are evidently real, no one wishes it happens to him or any of his loved ones. In fact, it's unusual for one to wish it for his enemy. Humanity prevails, right?

It’s Inevitable in Normal Situations

As humans, we can move on with life without possessing some of our desired needs. Such needs are, but not exclusively, spouse, wealth, knowledge, fame and power. Yes, these are the very needs everyone is chasing after in life. But the psychological devastation of not having them is less than losing them after possessing them, even for a short while. Imagine one’s emptiness when he was single, compared to his loneliness after experiencing a divorce. Imagine his state of misery before owning a multi-million-dollar business, compared to that of his bankruptcy after the strike of a financial crisis stroke.

Since it happens, it may happen to anyone. Since it happens to others, it may happen to us. The scary part of it is, it happens without warning. In fact, it strikes when we have taken things for granted and least expect it coming. And that makes it a trauma. In some cases, it leads to suicide. In many cases it leads to madness (lost of mind).

If this is its nature, how do we seek protection against sudden calamities and tribulations?

Seeking Protection Against Sudden Calamities

No doubt, we live in a trying life. Therefore, we constantly seek refuge in Allah from tests (burdens) we can’t endure. And if a test is destined to befall us, we seek that we’re given the emotional, psychological and spiritual strength that it takes to endure it. To do that, let’s visit the Prophet Muhammad ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam and see what guidance he has in stock for us.

The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to recite a very beautiful supplication (du‘a), which earns its reciter protection against sudden calamities and tribulations. The du‘a is a one sentence kind. It reads:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ زَوَالِ نِعْمَتِكَ، وَتَحَوُّلِ عَافِيَتِكَ، وَفُجَاءَةِ نِقْمَتِكَ، وَجَمِيعِ سَخَطِكَ

It means:

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the demise of Your blessing, from the change of the good health [You granted me], from the sudden revenge of You, and from all Your wrath.

In the case that you have to recite this du‘a in a group, i.e., with your family, friends or congregation, you may need to change two words from singular form to plural form. And the Arabic text changes to the following:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ زَوَالِ نِعْمَتِكَ، وَتَحَوُّلِ عَافِيَتِكَ، وَفُجَاءَةِ نِقْمَتِكَ، وَجَمِيعِ سَخَطِكَ

I have included this du‘a my article, 7 Du‘as You Should Know by All Means. There, I mentioned that, the implication of sticking to this du‘a is that you are likely to recover from any sickness, test, calamity or tribulation. With it, no calamity leaves a permanent misery on you. Instead, any form of calamity that may befall you brings you closer to Him. This is so, if what befalls us is a test and not a punishment.

Beyond Seeking Protection is Acknowledging His Favours

In addition to that, upon reciting the du‘a,  one acknowledges Allah’s blessings and bestowals upon him. Such bestowals include good health, His pleasure, and His acceptance. That’s’ why we seek that they are not taken away from us. Allah loves it from us, when we gratefully acknowledge and appreciate his bounties upon us. When we do that, he will certainly increase us more of His bestowals and favours.

It’s worth emphasizing, that seeking protection against sudden calamities and tribulations does not necessarily mean one may not undergo such kind of a test. It rather means, if after constantly reciting this du‘a, one is still tested with a tragedy of such nature, he will be given the spiritual and emotional strength to withstand it, inshā Allah. This is true if you believe that, truly, du‘a is the weapon of the believer.

The importance of this kind of du‘as is that, they are beyond human strategies and planning. Yes, one must take all precautions, that may ensure his safety. But that remains within human capacity. The du’a involves the divine intervention for your favour. Therefore, one shouldn’t just relax, and retire from putting in the human effort as required, simply to rely on du‘a. Allah’s protection is granted to those who put in some effort to protect themselves. Protecting yourself is a prerequisite for entitlement for protection against sudden calamities granted by Allah.

The Best Time for this Supplication

This du‘a is not restricted to be recited in a a particular time or event. Every moment in the  life of the Muslim is suitable for supplication. And this du‘a is one of those that fit any situation and circumstance. Having said that, it’s important to indicate that du’as are more likely to be accepted after carrying out righteousness. The best forms of righteousness are those prescribed by Allah and His Prophet. I’m referring to the obligatory deeds prescribed upon Muslims.

On top of the list of these –after developing a proper faith– is (1) prayers (ṣalāh), (2) showing kindness to our parents and kinship, (3) rejecting corruption and injustice, (4) paying our duly prescribed zakāt, and (5) fasting in the month of ramaḍān. These are followed by all sorts of supererogatory deeds, i.e., tahajjud or qiyāmullayl, giving charity voluntarily.

Du‘as are also likely accepted, if they fulfil the requirements of acceptance, when it rains, between adhān and iqāmah, in the time that follows obligatory prayers, after drinking zamzam water, when we hear the crowing of roosters, some certain times on Friday, and in the night of laylatul-qadr.

O Allah, we seek from You to grant us protection against any sorts of sudden calamities and tribulations. O Allah, grant us Your love, and the love of anyone whose love will benefit us in Your Sight.

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Allah knows best.
Allāhu Ḥāfiẓ 🙂