Du’aa’ in the final Tashahhud

Praise be to Allaah.

It was reported that Abu Hurayrah said: the Messenger of
Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you
recites the Tashahhud [according to one report: when any one of you finishes the final
Tashuhhud], let him seek refuge with Allaah from four things, let him say: ‘Allaahumma
inni ‘aoodhu bika min ‘adhaab Jahannam wa min ‘adhaab al-qabri wa min
fitnat il-mahyaa wa’l-mamaat wa min sharri fitnat il-maseekh id-dajjaal (O
Allaah, I seek refuge with You from the punishment of Hell and the punishment of the
grave, and from the trials of life and death and from the worst of the turmoil of the
Dajjaal (antichrist)).’” Saheeh Muslim, 588.

It was also narrated that in addition to seeking refuge
from these four, one should also seek refuge from sin and heavy debt. Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim narrated from ‘Aa’ishah the wife of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) used to say during his prayer: “Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika min
‘adhaab al-qabri wa a’oodhi bika min fitnat il-maseekh id-dajjaal wa
a’oodhi bika min fitnat il-mahyaa wa fitnat il-mamaat. Allaahumma inni a’oodhi
bika min al-ma’tham wa’l-maghram (O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from the
punishment of the grave and I seek refuge with You from the turmoil of the Dajjaal and I
seek refuge with You from the trials of life and the trials of death. O Allaah, I seek
refuge with You from sin and heavy debt).’” Someone said to him: “How often
you seek refuge from heavy debt!” He said: “When a man gets into debt, he speak
and tells lies, and he makes a promise and breaks it.” (al-Bukhaari, 833)

It was also narrated that the Prophet
(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq a du’aa’ which he
could recite during his Salaah, as was narrated by al-Bukhaari. Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq (may
Allaah be pleased with him) said to the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him), “Teach me a du’aa’ that I can recite during my
salaah.” He said: “Say: ‘Allaahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman katheeran
wa laa yaghfir ul-dhunoob illa anta, faghfir li maghfiratan min ‘indaka
warhamni, innaka anta al-Ghafoor al-Raheem (O Allaah, indeed I have wronged myself greatly, and there is none who forgives sins besides You. So grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy on me, for You are the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful).’” (790).
This du’aa’ may be recited in the final Tashahhud, after the prayers
seeking refuge referred to above.

It was also narrated that after reciting the prayers seeking refuge, a
person may recite any good du’aa’ he wishes, and may ask Allaah for anything he
wishes of the good things of this world and the next. Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased
with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“When any one of you recites the Tashahhud, let him seek refuge with Allaah from four
things – from the punishment of Hell, the punishment of the grave, the trials of life
and death, and the evils of the Dajjaal, then let him pray for himself for whatever he
wants.” (Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 1293).

And Allaah knows best.