Question
Kindly answer the following questions regarding the incident of Abu Mi’laq Al Ansari (radiyallahu ‘anhu) and the thief:
1) Is it authentic and suitable to quote?
2) Can this be read with the intention of gaining the protection of Allah Ta’ala and is there any particular procedure to adopt?
3) Please provide the full Arabic text and translation.
Answer
1) Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abid Dunya (rahimahullah) has recorded this incident. The incident is corroborated and suitable to quote.
(Kitabu Mujabid Da’wah: 23. Refer: Usdul Ghabah, vol. 6 pg. 289. See further details here)
2) Yes, this can certainly be practised upon with the intention of alleviating distress. At the end of the narration, Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “Whoever performs wudu, then offers four rak’ahs, and makes the du’a [found in the narration], his call will be heard regardless of whether he is in distress or not.”
This should however, not be deemed a Sunnah du’a or practice.
3) The full narration is as follows:
عن أنس قال: كان رجل من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من الأنصار يكنى: أبا معلق، وكان تاجرا يتجر بمال له ولغيره، يضرب به في الآفاق، وكان ناسكا ورعا، فخرج مرة فلقيه لص مقنع في السلاح، فقال له: ضع ما معك فإني قاتلك قال: ما تريد إلى دمي؟ شأنك بالمال، قال: أما المال فلي، ولست أريد إلا دمك قال: أما إذا أبيت، فذرني أصلي أربع ركعات، قال: صل ما بدا لك فتوضأ ثم صلى أربع ركعات، فكان من دعائه في آخر سجدة أن قال: يا ودود، يا ذا العرش المجيد، يا فعالا لما يريد، أسألك بعزك الذي لا يرام، وملكك الذي لا يضام، وبنورك الذي ملأ أركان عرشك، أن تكفيني شر هذا اللص، يا مغيث أغثني، يا مغيث أغثني , ثلاث مرات قال: دعا بها ثلاث مرات، فإذا هو بفارس قد أقبل بيده حربة واضعها بين أذني فرسه، فلما بصر به اللص أقبل نحوه، فطعنه، فقتله ثم أقبل إليه، فقال: قم قال: من أنت بأبي أنت وأمي؟ فقد أغاثني الله بك اليوم، قال: أنا ملك من أهل السماء الرابعة، دعوت بدعائك الأول، فسمعت لأبواب السماء قعقعة، ثم دعوت بدعائك الثاني، فسمعت لأهل السماء ضجة، ثم دعوت بدعائك الثالث، فقيل لي: دعاء مكروب، فسألت الله تعالى أن يوليني قتله.
قال أنس: فاعلم أنه من توضأ، وصلى أربع ركعات، ودعا بهذا الدعاء، استجيب له مكروبا كان أو غير مكروب
Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported: There was once an Ansari Sahabi of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) who was given the agnomen ‘Abu Mi’laq’. He was a merchant who traded with his own wealth as well as on behalf of others and he would travel all over. He was a pious ascetic.
On one occasion, he went out and was encountered by an armed thief who said to him: ‘Place down [and give me what you have] for I will kill you.’ He replied: ‘You do not need [to kill me] all you want is the wealth.’ The thief said: ‘The wealth is already mine, all I want is your blood.’ Sayyiduna Abu Mi’laq (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: ‘If you insist, then let me offer four rak’ahs [of Salah]. The thief said: ‘Offer as much of Salah as you want.’
So, Abu Mi’laq performed wudu, offered four rak’ahs, and among the words that he said in du’a in the last sajdah were the following:
يَا وَدُودُ، يَا ذَا الْعَرْشِ الْمَجِيدِ، يَا فَعَّالا لَمَّا يُرِيدُ، أَسْأَلُكُ بِعِزِّكَ الَّذِي لَا يُرَامُ، وَمُلْكِكَ الَّذِي لَا يُضَامُ، وَبِنُورِكَ الَّذِي مَلَأَ أَرْكَانَ عَرْشِكَ، أَنْ تَكْفِيَنِي شَرَّ هَذَا اللِّصِّ، يَا مُغِيثُ أَغِثْنِي، يَا مُغِيثُ أَغِثْنِي- ثلاث مرات
Ya Wadudu, Ya Dhal ‘Arshil Majid, Ya Fa’alal lima yurid, as-aluka bi ‘Izzikal ladhi la yuramu wa mulkikal ladhi la yudamu wa bi nurikal ladhi mala-a arkana ‘arshika an takfiyani sharra hadhal lissi, ya Mughithu aghithni ya Mughitu agithni [ya Mughitu agithni]
“O Most Loving, O Owner of the majestic Throne, O the One does whatever He wills. I ask You by Your Power which can never be overpowered and through Your Kingdom which can never be harmed and through Your celestial light which fills the pillars of Your ‘Arsh that you suffice me against the harm of this thief. O Helper help me, -thrice-
He made this du’a thrice and suddenly saw a horseman who was holding a spear between the ears of his horse. When the thief saw him, he advanced. [This person] stabbed him and killed him, then he turned to [Abu Mi’laq] and said: ‘Get up.’ He asked: ‘Who are you, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you? Allah has assisted me through you today.’ This person replied, ‘I am an angel from the fourth heaven. When you supplicated the first time, I heard the gates of heaven clatter, then when you supplicated the second time I heard a noise from the people of heaven and when you made your du’a for the third time it was said to me, ‘[This is] the du’a of one who is in distress, and I asked Allah to allow me to kill him.’”
Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “Know that whoever performs wudu, then offers four rak’ahs, and makes this du’a, his call will be heard regardless of whether he is in distress or not.”
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar