'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said, "When there is a ruler in charge of
you whose arrogance or injustice is feared, you should say, 'O Allah, Lord
of the Seven Heavens and Lord of the Immense Throne, be my Protector against
so-and-so, the son of so-and-so, and his followers among Your creatures
so that none of them exceeds the bounds towards me or oppresses me. Your
protection is mighty and Your praise is great. There is no god but You.'"
'Abdullah ibn 'Amr was heard to say, "Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased
with him, said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
'Teach me a supplication which I can use in my prayer.' He said, 'Say,
"O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly. Only You forgive wrong actions.
Forgive me with forgiveness directly from you. You are the Ever-Forgiving,
Most Merciful."'"
Ibn 'Abbas said, "When you go to an awesome ruler and fear that
he will attack you, say, 'Allah is greater. Allah is mightier than all
His creation and Allah is greater than all that is feared and all that
you are wary of. I seek refuge with Allah. There is no god but Him, the
One who keeps the seven heavens from falling onto the earth by nothing
except His permission, from the evil of your slave so-and-so and his armies
and followers and supporters, both among jinn and men. O Allah, be my protector
against their evil. Your praise is great and Your protection is immense,
Blessed is Your Name. There is no god but You' three times."
Anas said, "I was with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, when a man made supplication, saying, 'O Originator of the heavens!
O Living, Self-Subsistent! I ask of You.' He said, 'Do you know by what
he has made supplication? By the One in whose hand my soul is, he has asked
Allah by the Name that He answers when He is asked by it."
