Dua for Guidance and Protection from the Evil of the Self | Najam Institute

Najam Institute

Dua for Guidance and Protection from the Evil of the SelfThe Duaاللَّهُمَّ أَلْهِمْنِي رُشْدِي، وَأَعِذْنِي مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِيTransliteration: Allahumma alhimni rushdi wa a‘idhni min sharri nafsi.Translation: "O Allah, inspire me with my right guidance and protect me from the evil of my own self."Breakdown of the Dua1) اللهم (Allahumma) – "O Allah"What does this mean?Allahumma is a direct invocation of Allah.It expresses urgency, humility, and complete reliance on Allah in seeking divine guidance and protection.2) ألهمني (Alhimni) – "Inspire me"Why is the word "Ilhaam" used instead of "A‘ti" (Give) or "Irshid" (Guide)?Ilhaam (إلهام) comes from the root ل-ه-م (L-H-M), meaning to inspire, to place something in the heart, or to give an intuitive understanding.Ilhaam is a feeling. A sense that they just feel in their gut. The word Ilhaam suggests a deep, almost subconscious, inclination toward truth that Allah places within a believer.🔹 What can we learn?This part of the dua teaches us to ask for divine intuition—the ability to naturally recognize truth and goodness without hesitation.Ilhaam is more than just knowledge; it is a spiritual instinct that keeps a person on the right path effortlessly.3) رشدي (Rushdi) – "My right guidance" Why is "Rushd" used instead of "Hidayah" (Guidance)?Rushd (رُشْد) comes from the root ر-ش-د (R-Sh-D), meaning to be rightly guided, to have maturity, wisdom, and sound judgment.Hidayah (guidance) means being shown the way, but Rushd means understanding why it is the right wayRushd is what differentiates those who simply know the truth from those who live according to it. What can we learn?This dua is not just asking for guidance (hidayah), but for maturity and wisdom in applying that guidance.There is a world of a difference between a person just doing something because that is what he was told to And a person who does it because he is truly convinced it is the best When you have an understanding of “why”, doing the action becomes so much easier. It becomes second nature. 4) وأعذني (Wa A‘idhni) – "And protect me"What does "I‘aadhah" mean?A‘idhni (أعذني) comes from the root ع-و-ذ (A-W-Dh), meaning to seek refuge, protection, or shelter from harm.It is also used in the meaning of granting asylum. Think of how a person running from persecution, they come to a country (lets say the US) for asylum. If they are granted asylum, that means all the other countries know that they cannot touch that personI‘aadhah (إعاذة) is stronger than just asking for safety; when a person is granted asylum, everyone knows that they cannot mess with that person. They cannot even attempt something against him otherwise there will be retaliation So this dua is more than just asking allah to make sure nothing actually happens. It is asking Allah to make sure no one can even attempt to harm us. 5) من شر نفسي (Min Sharri Nafsi) – "From the evil of my own self" What does "Sharri Nafsi" mean?Shar (شرّ) means evil, harm, or something destructive.Nafs (نفس) means the self, the soul, or the inner self.This part of the dua acknowledges that the greatest source of harm to a person is their own self—their desires, ego, weaknesses, and inclinations toward wrongdoing. Why is "Sharri Nafsi" mentioned instead of "Sharri Shaytan" (The Evil of Shaytan)?While Shaytan is an external enemy, the nafs is an internal struggle.The nafs is the very thing that Shaytan manipulates—but even without him, a person’s own self has desires and tendencies that can lead them astray.If the nafs is tames and under control, there is nothing for shaytan to manipulate What can we learn?This dua teaches self-awareness—that our own worst enemy can be our unchecked desires, arrogance, and heedlessness.Seeking protection from one’s own self is a powerful acknowledgment of human weakness and the need for divine assistance.