Kindly inform me if this is a masnun/Sunnah du’a to recite at the time of elections?
O Allah! Do not give authority (to a leader) over us who doesn’t have mercy upon us
Answer
The words of this du’a are sourced from a Hadith. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would often recite these words [as part of a longer du’a] when gathered with the Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum).
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3502)
However, this du’a is not a Sunnah du’a to recite at the time elections. Since the meaning has a close link to elections and leadership, one may recite this du’a without deeming it a Sunnah du’a specific for elections.
Arabic text and transliteration
اللهم] لَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمُنَا]
[Allahumma] la tusallit ‘alayna mal la yarhamuna
O Allah! Do not give authority (to a leader) over us who doesn’t have mercy upon us
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar