Dua When Afraid at Night

September 5, 2026

Gece Korkulduğunda Okunacak Dua Okunuşu ve Anlamı

Explanation

A dua of seeking refuge, recited when one feels fear at night. It asks for protection from the earth and from the harmful creatures upon it.

Dua Text

يَا أَرْضُ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكِ اللّٰهُ، أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنْ شَرِّكِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا فِيكِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَدُبُّ عَلَيْكِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنْ شَرِّ الْأَسَدِ وَالْأَسْوَدِ وَمِنَ الْحَيَّةِ وَالْعَقْرَبِ وَمِنْ سَاكِنِ الْبَلَدِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ وَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

Transliteration

Ya ardu, Rabbi wa Rabbukillah. A’udhu billahi min sharriki wa min sharri ma fiki wa min sharri ma yadubbu ‘alayki, wa a’udhu billahi min sharril-asadi wal-aswadi wa minal-hayyati wal-‘aqrabi wa min sakinil-baladi wa min sharri walidin wa ma walad.

Meaning

O earth! My Lord and your Lord is Allah. I seek refuge in Allah from your evil, from the evil of what is within you and from the evil of what walks upon you. I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of the lion, of black and white snakes, of the scorpion, of those who dwell in the town, and of parents and children.

What Is Asked in This Dua

In this dua, recited when one feels afraid at night, the servant first addresses the earth and reminds it that Allah is both its Lord and his own. This address stresses that the thing feared also belongs to Allah and is His servant, so the only true holder of power is Allah alone. Then the servant seeks refuge in Allah from the evil of the earth, from the evil of the beings that dwell within it, and from the evil of those that walk upon it.

The rest of the dua lists, one by one, the things from which refuge is sought: harmful animals such as the lion, black and white snakes and the scorpion; those who dwell in the town; and the evil of parents and children. In this way, harms that may come both from nature and from people are entrusted to Allah. Facing dangers that are unseen and unknown in the dark, the servant admits that his own strength is not enough and chooses Allah alone as his protector. The dua turns fear into a sense of refuge and security.

When and How to Recite

The source states that this dua is recited when one feels fear at night. It is fitting to recite it while traveling at night, when stopping at a deserted place, when left alone in the dark, or whenever fear enters the heart. The source mentions no specific number of recitations; it may be repeated until the fear passes. Wudu is not required. The essential thing is to recite it reflecting on its meaning and truly feeling that you are taking refuge in Allah; those who find the Arabic difficult can also seek refuge with its meaning in their own language.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the dua for fear at night recited?

It is recited when one feels afraid at night, when left alone in the dark, or when in a deserted place.

What does the dua for fear at night mean?

It expresses seeking refuge in Allah from the evil of the earth, of what is within it, of what walks upon it, of harmful animals and of people.

How many times should the dua for fear at night be recited?

The source mentions no specific number; it can be recited once, and there is no harm in repeating it until the fear passes.

Source

Abu Dawud, Jihad 75. Majmu'at al-Ahzab, vol. 1, p. 618.

The text on this page was prepared by Dua Kitaplığı based on the work cited above. The Arabic text has been transcribed from the original with its vowel marks, and the transliteration in Latin letters and the English meaning are given separately. No virtue or number that does not appear in the source is added to this page. How do we prepare our content?

Published: 5 September 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026