Dua for protection from laziness

One of the major obstacles to success and well-being in life is laziness, inability to act and lack of enthusiasm. At times, despite having the ability, a person may be unable to start a task, while laziness may hold them back even when they have the desire to do good deeds.

Yet a believer’s life should be active, responsible and devoted to the obedience of Allah. Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) taught his followers an important supplication (dua) seeking protection from laziness, incapacity, cowardice, the weakness of old age, the trials of life and death, and the punishment of the grave. The supplication is:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْهَرَمِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ

Meaning: “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and the weakness of old age. I seek refuge in You from the trials of life and death, and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 6367; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2706)