An Important Du’a

The Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم used to make the following Du’a (i.e. supplication, invocation) as reported by at-Tabaraanee in his book 'ad-Du’a' on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي اللّه عنـه:

اللهمَّ إني أعوذُ بكَ...من خليلٍ ماكر عينَه تراني، وقلبُه يرعاني؛ إن رأى حسنة دفنها، وإذا رأى سيّئةً أذاعها)

"O Allaah! I seek refuge in you from a companion who plots (against me); his eyes observe me and his heart spies on me; if he sees any good (from me) he conceals it and if he sees any bad (from me) he exposes it."

The above hadeeth has been authenticated by al-Imaam al-Albani رحمه الله as found in his book as-Silsilatu as-Saheehah (3137). He رحمه الله used to end some of his works of research with this Du’a.