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Is a Muslim considered an innovator (mubtadiʿ) if they commit daily to a specific dhikr at a specific time, knowing that this dhikr is derived from a weak hadith, such as the supplication "Allāhumma ajirnī min an-nār" (O Allah, protect me from the Fire) seven times after the Fajr and Maghrib prayers?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The aforementioned hadith was narrated by Ahmad and Abu Dawud, among others. The wording from Abu Dawud, reported by Muslim ibn al-Harith al-Tamimi from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, states that the Prophet secretly told him: "When you finish the Maghrib prayer, say: 'O Allah, protect me from the Fire' seven times. If you say that and then die that night, protection from it will be written for you. And if you pray Fajr, say the same, for if you die that day, protection from it will be written for you." This hadith was graded hasan (good) by Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar. Therefore, there is no harm in adhering to this dhikr and maintaining it, following those who affirmed its authenticity. However, if a hadith is weak by the consensus of the imams, then for it to be acted upon, it is stipulated that one must not believe in its authenticity, and it should not be adhered to and regularly practiced as one would regularly practice an authentic hadith, lest it lead to the belief in its authenticity, and there is a fear that it might become an additional innovation (bid'ah).

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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