Sayyiduna Anas bin Maalik (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned, “When a man leaves his home and recites:
بِسْمِ اللهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللهِ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِالله
Transliteration: Bismillahi tawakkaltu ‘alallah, laa howla walaa quwwata illaa billah
Translation: (I leave) in the name of Allah. I place my reliance upon Allah. There is no ability (to refrain from sin) and no power (to carry out good deeds) except with (the help of) Allah,
then he is (addressed by an angel and) told, ‘You have been (Divinely) guided, you have been sufficed (from your Deeni and worldly needs and concerns), and you have been (Divinely) protected.’ Thereafter, the shaitaan (which intends to misguide him) moves away from him, and another shaitaan says (to the shaitaan that moved away), ‘How will you gain control over a man who has been (Divinely guided), sufficed and protected?’” (Sunan Abi Dawood #5095)
One of the greatest benefits of reciting the masnoon du‘aas is that one practices upon the blessed sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and these masnoon du‘aas remind a person of Allah Ta‘ala and connect his heart with Allah Ta‘ala. Nevertheless, over and above this benefit, many of the masnoon du‘aas also have other benefits and virtues which will be acquired by the one reciting them. Such is the great kindness of Allah Ta‘ala and the beauty of Islam that the majority of these du‘aas take not even a minute to recite, yet the reciter reaps and receives immense rewards and tremendous benefits.
In regard to the abovementioned du‘aa, we find that it consists of three parts. The first part is “bismillah”, the second part is “tawakkaltu ‘alallah”, and the third part is “laa howla walaa quwwata illaa billah.” Similarly, we find that reciting this du‘aa contains three benefits. The three benefits are (1) receiving hidaayat (Divine guidance), (2) being sufficed of Deeni and worldly needs and concerns, and (3) Divine protection.
‘Allaamah Teebi (rahimahullah), a renowned Muhaddith, has explained that each one of the three benefits mentioned in this hadeeth is linked to one portion of the du‘aa. When a person takes the most pure name of Allah Ta‘ala and recites “bismillah”, then Allah Ta‘ala blesses him with Divine guidance. When he places his trust and reliance upon Allah Ta‘ala and recites “tawakkaltu ‘alallah” then Allah Ta‘ala suffices him for his Deeni and worldly need and concerns, and when he recites “laa howla walaa quwwata illaa billah” then Allah Ta‘ala grants him Divine protection. (Mirqaat vol. 5, pg. 297)
In one hadeeth, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) taught the Ummah that during times of fitnah (Deeni challenges), one of the means of remaining safe and secure is to remain at home. (Sunan Abi Dawood #4343) We thus understand that when a person leaves the safety of his home, he is at greater risk of falling into fitnah and being misled by shaitaan who will continue to try and involve him in disputes, make him misuse his gaze, listen to music, get involved with non-mahrams, etc. Hence, by reciting this du‘aa when leaving the home, one gains Divine security from the evil influence of shaitaan as well. (Bazlul Majhood)
This security is so effective that after one recites this du‘aa and the shaitaan is forced to move away, another shaitaan comes to him and says, “How can you hope to mislead this person when he has recited this du‘aa and acquired such powerful protection and guidance from Allah Ta‘ala?”
May Allah Ta‘ala grant us all the taufeeq (ability) to remain in His remembrance and obedience and to recite this du‘aa punctually, aameen.