Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.
This du`a is not proven from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Something similar was narrated by Ibn Abi’l-Dunya in al-Faraj ba’d al-Shiddah, via al-Khaleel ibn Murrah from the faqeeh of the people of Jordan, who said “we heard that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)…” It was classed as da’eef by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah, 4173; and Da’eef al-Jaami’, 4348
Since it has not been proven in any saheeh report that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said this, no attention should be paid to it.
There are du`as which have been narrated in saheeh ahadith which are sufficient, and we have no need for the du`as narrated in weak reports. These du`as protect the Muslim, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) always used to recite them, such as the dhikrs for morning and evening, and other saheeh ahadith. For example:
1 – Reciting the last two verses of Soorat al-Baqarah every night. It was narrated that Abu Mas’ood al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The last two verses of Soorat al-Baqarah, whoever recites them at night, they will be sufficient for him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4008; Muslim, 807. al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “With regard to the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ‘they will be sufficient for him,’ it was said that it means they will suffice instead of praying qiyaam al-layl; and it was said, they will suffice him against the Shaytaan, or against harm. It may be understood as meaning all of these things.’”
2 – Du`a al-karb (prayer at times of stress). It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say at times of stress:
“Laa ilaaha ill-Allah ul-‘azeem al-haleem, laa ilaaha ill-Allah Rabb il-‘arsh il’azeem, laa ilaaha ill-Allah Rabb ul-samawaati wa rabb ul-ard wa rabb ul-‘arsh il-kareem (There is no god but Allah, the Almighty, the Forbearing; there is no god but Allah, Lord of the Mighty Throne; there is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the noble Throne).” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6346; Muslim, 2730.
Reciting Soorat al-Ikhlaas, Soorat al-Falaq and Soorat al-Naas. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite them when going to sleep, and he would blow into his hands and then wipe them over whatever he could reach of his body. It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that every night when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went to bed, he would cup his hands together, blow into them then recite into them Qul Huwa Allahu ahad, Qul a’oodhu bi Rabb il-falaq and Qul ‘aoodhu bi Rabb il-naas, then he would wipe as much as he could reach of his body, starting with his head and face and the front of his body. And he would do that three times. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5018.
And it was narrated that ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Have you not seen the verses that were revealed tonight, the like of which has never been seen? Qul a’oodhu bi Rabb il-falaq and Qul ‘aoodhu bi Rabb il-naas. Narrated by Muslim, 814.
And Allah knows best.
