The Difference Between Seeking Refuge and Taking Refuge, and some forgotten Sunnan concerning Taking Refuge

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah Amma-ba'd The Difference Between Seeking Refuge and Taking Refuge, and some forgotten Sunnan concerning Taking Refuge Imam Ibnul-Qayyim (rahimahullaah) gave a beautiful explanation of taking refuge (a'oodhu), and from that long explanation, he said: "Its essential meaning is to flee from that which you fear will harm you to that which will safeguard you from it." ...The meaning of a'oodhu is: "I take refuge, guard myself and take precaution." Also, Ibnul-Qayyim explained the difference between seeking refuge (asta'idhu) and taking refuge (a'oodhu): "If it is asked: When one is commanded to take refuge with Allaah, why does the form of the command carry a "seen" and "ta"? For example in His saying: فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ ...Seek refuge with Allaah from Shaitaan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one). (An-Nahl, ayah 98) Yet one says: I take refuge (a'oodhu) and 'I took refuge' (ta'awwadhtu) without including the "seen" and "ta"? The reply is: The "seen" and "ta" are grammatically used to denote a person's seeking something. Therefore when one says, 'Asta'idhu with Allaah,' he is saying, 'I seek refuge with Him.' When he says, 'Astaghfirullaah,' he is saying, ''I seek the forgiveness of Allaah." However, when the person says, 'I take refuge (a'oodhu) with Allaah,' he is actually implementing and realizing what he seeks, because he sought refuge and protection with Allaah. There is a clear difference between actually taking refuge and seeking refuge. Therefore, because the one who is taking refuge is actually recoursing to Allaah, and holding firmly to Him, he says the verb that denotes this rather than saying the verb that denotes that he only seeks this. The opposite is true for the saying, 'Astaghfirullaah' (I seek the forgiveness of Allaah), for in this case the person is asking Allaah to forgive him. Therefore, when he says, 'Astaghfirullaah,' he is implementing what he desires because the meaning of this statement is, 'I ask Allaah that He forgive me.' This then is the best way of seeking refuge, and it was for this reason that the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to say: "I take refuge with Allaah from the accursed Shaytaan," and "I take refuge with Allaah's perfect words," and '"I take refuge with the Might and Power of Allaah,' saying, 'a'oodhu' rather than 'asta'idhu.' Indeed, this is what Allaah taught him to say with His words: قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ Say: "I take refuge with (Allaah) the Lord of the daybreak, (Al-Falaq, ayah 1) قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ Say: "I take refuge with (Allaah) the Lord of mankind, (An-Nas, ayah 1) Employing the word 'a'oodhu' rather than 'asta'idhu.' (Ibnul al-Qayyim, Bada`i al-Fawa`id, vol. 1, pg. 439-441; Tafsir al-Qayyim, pp. 538-541) _____________________________________________________ Forgotten Sunnan regarding Taking refuge in Allaah Aboo Dawood recorded on the authority of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree (radiallaahu 'anhu) that: When the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) stood at night [for salat, he would commence the salat] by saying the takbeer and then saying, 'Subhanak Allaahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'aala jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghayruk.' Then he would say, 'La illaaha il Allaah' three times, and then he would say 'Allaahu akbar' three times, and then he would say, 'Aoodhubillaahi As-Samee' al-'Aleem min ash-shaytaani r-rajeem - min hamzihee wa nafkhihee wa nafthihee.' Aboo Dawood [English Translation. 1/198, #774] and at-Tirmidhee #242. It was declared "saheeh" by al-Albanee, al-Irwa' #341. Subhanak Allaahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'aala jadduka, wa la ilaaha ghayruk means -----> You are glorified (free from any imperfection) O Allaah, and praised! Your Name is blessed; Your Majesty is Exalted, and there is no True Deity except you. La illaaha il Allaah means -----> None is worthy of worship except Allaah. Allaahu akbar means -----> Allaah is The Greatest, very great. Aoodhubillaahi As-Samee' al-'Aleem min ash-shaytani r-rajeem - min hamzihee wa nafkhihee wa nafthihee means -----> I take refuge in Allaah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing from the accursed Shaytan: from his madness, arrogance and poetry. __________________________________________________ Also mentioned is that some of the scholars held that taking refuge in Allaah before reciting the Qur`an to be legislated in every rak'ah, due to the generality of Allaah's statement: فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ So when you want to recite the Qur`aan, seek refuge with Allaah from Shaitaan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one). (An-Nahl, ayah 98) Refer to an-Nawawee, al-Majmu', vol. 3, pg. 270; al-Albanee, Tamaam al-Minnah, pp. 176-177. Source: The Spiritual Cure, An Explanation to Soorah al-Faatihah Subhanak Allaahuma wa bihamdika ash-hadu anlaa illaaha illa anta astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk If I said anything correct, then it is from Allaah (subhanahu wa taa'ala), and if I erred, then that is from me and shaytan.