Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 186
186 When husband and wife come together: “O Allah, safeguard us against all evil and keep all evil away from the issue with which Thou mightst bless us. ” As soon as a child is born, the Call to Prayer is recited into its right ear and then into its left ear. Thus the child is exposed to the moral and spiritual call from the very moment of its inception. Before taking a final decision on any grave or serious matter it is customary to pray ⎯ if possible, for seven days in succession, and over a more extended period if time permits ⎯ immediately before going to bed, in the following words taught by the Prophet: “O Allah, I seek good from Thee out of Thy Knowledge and seek power from Thee out of Thy Power and beg of Thee out of Thy boundless Grace, for Thou hast Power and I have no power, Thou hast Knowledge and I have no knowledge, and Thy Knowledge encompasses all that is unseen. O Allah, if it be within Thy Knowledge that this particular matter is good for me in the matter of my faith and in the matter of my worldly affairs and in respect of my ultimate end, then make it possible for me and make it easy for me and bless it for me, but if it be within Thy Knowledge that it is harmful for me, then cause it to move away from me and cause me to move away from it and enable me to attain good wherever it may be and then make my heart pleased with it. ”