Riyad as-Salihin, 1486

'Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

A slave who had made a contract with his master to pay for his freedom, came to me and said: "I am unable to fulfill my obligation, so help me." He said to him: "Shall I not teach you a supplication which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught me? It will surely prove so effective that if you have a debt as large as a huge mountain, Allah will surely pay it for you. Say: 'Allahumm-akfini bihalalika 'an haramika, wa aghnini bifadlika 'amman siwaka (O Allah! Grant me enough of what You make lawful so that I may dispense with what You make unlawful, and enable me by Your Grace to dispense with all but You)." [At- Tirmidhi].

وعن علي، رضي الله عنه، أن مكاتبًا جاءه، فقال‏:‏ إني عجزت عن كتابتي‏.‏ فأعني‏.‏ قال‏:‏ ألا أعلمك كلمات علمنيهن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، لو كان عليك مثل جبل دينا أداه الله عنك‏؟‏ قل‏:‏ ‏

‏اللهم اكفني بحلالك عن حرامك، وأغنني بفضلك عمن سواك‏

‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه الترمذي وقال‏:‏ حديث حسن‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 16, Hadith 22

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) Whoever is in debt and has the intention to repay it, and he sought the help of his Lord, Exalted be He, Allah will definitely help him to pay it off. 2) Little lawful provision is better than abundant unlawful wealth. 3) One should expect no help from the creatures in fulfilling what Allah only is able to do. Words in the Hadith: Mukātab: a slave who had made a contract with his master to pay for his freedom.

Related hadiths1

Musnad Ahmad1319da’if