Allahumma Inni Auzu Bika An Ushrika Meaning & Arabic Text

This dua—”Allahumma Inni Auzu Bika An Ushrika”—is a powerful reminder of the importance of pure faith and humility in our relationship with Allah. It captures the heart of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and the constant self-awareness that every Muslim strives for.

Let’s explore the depth of this dua and understand why it’s meaningful to include it in our daily prayers and reflections.

Allahumma Inni Auzu Bika An Ushrika in Arabic Text

The dua is written in Arabic as:

الَّلهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ وأَنا أَعلَمُ وأَستَغفِرُكَ لما لا أَعلَمُ

Transliteration

The dua is transliterated as Allahumma inni audhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana alamu wa astaghfiruka lima la a`lamu.

Allahumma Inni A’uzu Bika An Ushrika Meaning in English

Allahumma inni a’uzu bika an ushrik means O Allah I seek refuge in You from knowingly associating partners with You, and I seek Your forgiveness for that which I do not know.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned us about minor shirk, which means associating partners with Allah, because he was worried that his followers might accidentally do it.

He said, “The thing I worry about most for you is minor shirk.” He also compared it to something very small and hard to notice, like the sound of an ant walking on a rock. He advised us on how to avoid it by saying a certain phrase:

Allahumma inni audhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana alamu wa astaghfiruka lima la a`lamu.

[Narrated by al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad p. 250, No. 716]

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This Hadeeth has a supporting narration in the Hadeeth of Abu Moosa al- Ash’aree (رضي الله عنه), who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed us that day and said:

“O People! Protect yourselves from this Shirk (associating partners with Allah, in that which is from His exclusive rights). Indeed, it is more hidden than the crawling of the ant.”

Then, one whom Allāh willed to speak to him, said: How can we protect ourselves from it when it is more hidden than the crawling of the ant, O Messenger of Allāh?

He (ﷺ) said: Say: “O Allāh! We seek refuge with You from associating anything with You knowingly, and we seek Your forgiveness for that which we do unknowingly.”[Reported by Ahmad in ‘al-Musnad, 4/403]

This Hadeeth includes the greatest evil from which refuge in Allah is sought. Indeed, Shirk (associating partners with Allāh, in that which is from His exclusive rights) is the most evil injustice and the most horrific sin.

Allah, the Most High, said:

And (remember) when Luqman said to his son, when he was advising him: O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily, joining others in worship with Allāh is a great Dhulm (injustice, wrong) indeed!’ [Soorah Luqmān, 31:13]

And Allāh, the Most High, said:

Verily, Allāh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives anything else less than that for whomever He wills. And whoever sets up partners with Allah (in worship), he has indeed invented a tremendous sin. [Soorah an-Nisaa, 4:48]

And Allah, the Most High, said:

Verily, Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills sins other than that. And whoever sets up partners with Allah (in worship), has indeed strayed far away. [Soorah an-Nisaa’, 4:116]

The Quran has many verses warning us about the danger of associating partners with Allah, which is called shirk, and how serious of a sin it is.

In the hadith mentioned earlier, it explains that shirk can be hidden and hard to notice, just like the quiet movements of an ant. Sometimes, people might fall into shirk without even realizing it because it’s so hidden.

Because of this, it’s really important to be very careful about shirk and to learn about it so we can avoid it completely. We should ask Allah to protect us from shirk, whether we know about it or not.

The Prophet Muhammad taught us a powerful prayer to seek refuge from knowingly or unknowingly associating anything with Allah. It’s a really important prayer for every worshiper to say.

We all need Allah’s protection from shirk, whether we’re aware of it or not. May Allah guide us to the right path and keep us away from shirk.

Why This Dua is Important

1. Guarding Our Faith
   The dua acts as a safeguard against shirk, the most serious transgression in Islam. Even though we may have a strong intention to avoid it, this dua reinforces our consciousness of how easily it can creep in. In a world where we’re constantly exposed to things that could subtly influence our beliefs, this dua helps keep our hearts focused on Allah alone.
2. Admitting Human Limitations
   By seeking forgiveness for the things we’re unaware of, we acknowledge that we’re not perfect. Islam encourages us to always strive to improve and to be mindful, but it also recognizes that humans are bound to make mistakes. By asking for forgiveness for our unknown errors, we’re reminding ourselves that Allah is the All-Knowing, and we rely on His mercy to cover what we cannot see.
3. Aligning with Tawhid (Oneness of Allah)
   Seeking protection from associating partners with Allah directly supports the principle of tawhid, which is the foundation of our faith. Making this dua shows that we’re committed to upholding the purity of our belief, ensuring that our hearts are focused solely on Allah, without distractions or attachments that could diminish our relationship with Him.

Practical Tips for Incorporating this Dua

• Recite it Regularly: Making this dua a habit, especially in moments of reflection, can help cultivate a mindset of caution and humility. Consider including it in your morning or evening prayers or during moments of self-reflection.
• Pause and Reflect on Its Meaning: Take a few moments to consider how this dua applies to your life. Are there attachments or habits that could unknowingly draw your heart away from Allah? This dua serves as a gentle reminder to refocus and realign.
• Be Open to Growth: This dua invites us to look deeper into our actions and intentions, helping us grow in faith and understanding. By acknowledging our unknown shortcomings, we create space for spiritual improvement and self-awareness.

Final Reflection

This dua beautifully balances awareness with humility. It reminds us to be vigilant in protecting our belief in Allah’s oneness while remaining humble about our limitations. By seeking Allah’s help in avoiding any form of shirk and asking for forgiveness for unknown mistakes, we show our commitment to maintaining a sincere, pure relationship with Him.

May Allah grant us sincerity in our faith, protect us from all forms of shirk, and forgive us for our shortcomings, both known and unknown. Ameen.