Is there any du’a to read to find a lost item?
Answer
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would recite the following du’a when misplacing something:
اللهُمَّ رَادَّ الضَّالَّةِ، وَهَادِيَ الضَّلَالَةِ تَهْدِي مِنَ الضَّلَالَةِ، ارْدُدْ عَلَيَّ ضَالَّتِي بِقُدْرَتِكِ وَسُلْطَانِكَ، فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ عَطَائِكَ وَفَضْلِكَ
Allahumma raddad dallati wa hadiyad dalalati tahdi minad dalalati urdud ‘alayya dallati bi qudratika wa sultanika fa innaha min ‘ata-ika wa fadlika
(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 13289, Al Mu’jamul Awsat, Hadith: 4623 and Al Mu’jamus Saghir, Hadith: 660 with slight variation in the wording)
The narration is weak but suitable to quote and practice upon.
(Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10 pg. 131)
Translation
O Allah! The Returner of the lost and Guide of those astray, You are the Being who will show the right way out of misguidance, return my lost property to me with Your power and command because it is from Your gift and favour [to me].
Other recitals based on experience, not Hadith
‘Allamah Ibn ‘Allan (rahimahullah) has cited another du’a which through experience of the pious has proven to be effective. This du’a is not a Sunnah du’a, but there is no harm in reciting it:
يَا جَامِعَ النَّاسِ لِيَوم لَّا رَيبَ فِيهِ إِنَّ اللهَ لَا يُخلِفُ المِيعَاد
Ya Jami’an nasi liyawmil la rayba fihi innAllaha la yukhliful mi’ad
or you could recite the following version:
يَا جَامِعَ النَّاسِ لِيَوم لَّا رَيبَ فِيهِ أَجمِع عَلَيَّ ضَالَّتِي
Ya Jami’an nasi liyawmil la rayba fihi ajmi’ ‘alayya dallati
(Al Futuhatur Rabbaniyyah, vol. 5 pg. 151/152)
Translation
O the Gatherer of mankind on a Day of which there is no doubt, Certainly Allah does will not break his promise/return my lost item to me
These may be recited, without considering them to be Sunnah.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar,
Some have even found the recital of only the words: Ya Jami’u frequently to be effective in such cases.