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What is the meaning of "qahr al-rijāl" (the overpowering of men), and do women say "qahr al-nisāʾ" (the overpowering of women) in the supplication "And I seek refuge in You from cowardice and stinginess, and I seek refuge in You from the overwhelming burden of debt and the overpowering of men"?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The meaning of "qahr al-rijal" (the oppression/subjugation of men) is their being overpowered and unjustly dominated. Some supplications mentioned in the Sunnah have been cited, among them the supplication of the Prophet, peace be upon him: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from overwhelming debt and overwhelming enemies," and a supplication the Prophet taught Aisha: "O Allah, I ask You for the best of what Your servant and Prophet asked You for, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of what Your servant and Prophet sought refuge from."

As for the supplication that includes "qahr al-rijal," it is: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, and I seek refuge in You from inability and laziness, and I seek refuge in You from cowardice and miserliness, and I seek refuge in You from overwhelming debt and the oppression of men." This hadith was narrated by Abu Dawud and declared weak by Al-Albani.

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

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