Book 9: Supplications

Al-Qa'qa' reported Ka‘b al-Ahbar as saying, “Were it not for some words which I say, the Jews would treat me as an ass.” (2) He was asked what they were and replied, “I seek refuge in God’s mighty Person than which nothing is mightier, in God’s perfect words which no one, whether pious or profligate, can go beyond and in God’s beautiful names, those which I know and those which I do not know, from the evil of what He has created, produced and brought into being.” 2. This might be translated “turn me into an ass.” If that is the correct translation it would suggest the use of magic. Malik transmitted it.

Muslim b. Abu Bakra said: My father used to say at the end of the prayer, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from infidelity, poverty and the punishment in the grave.” I used to say these words also, so he asked me, “From whom did you get this, sonny?” When I told him that I had got it from him, he said that God’s messenger used to say these words at the end of the prayer. Nasa'i and Tirmidhi transmitted it, but the latter did not mention "at the end of the prayer." Ahmad transmitted the wording of the tradition, but he had, "at the end of every prayer."

Abu Sa'id said he heard God’s messenger say, "I seek refuge in God from infidelity and debt." A man asked him whether he treated infidelity on a level with debt, and he replied that he did. A version has, "O God, I seek refuge in Thee from infidelity and poverty." A man asked whether they were equal, and replied that they were. Nasa’i transmitted it.