I just want to know the meaning of “the subjection of men” which is often said in the supplication; “Allaahumma inni A‘oothu bika min ghalabati Ad-Dayn wa Qahri-r-Rijaal (O Allaah I seek refuge in You from being overcome by debt and from the subjection of men.)” Does it mean to be oppressed by other men or to oppress other men and women? Is the word “men” here literally intended or does it mean people in general? Please advise. May Allaah Reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

This phrase is mentioned in a Hadeeth narrated in Sunan Abu Daawood on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, taught an Ansaari man a supplication that removes distress and causes debt to be paid off. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Say in the morning and evening, I seek refuge in You from sadness and grief, helplessness and slackness, and I seek refuge in You from cowardice and miserliness and I seek refuge in You from being overcome by debt and from the subjection of men.” [Al-Albaani: Dha‘eef]

“The subjection of men” means overpowering someone and seize him. Al-Mubaarakfoori said in his commentary on Sunan At-Tirmithi, “In some narrations, “The overpowering of men”, which means the hegemony of men and their tyranny such as the case of the lowly people spreading corruption and killing.”

Al-Munaawi said, “The burden of debt' and 'The subjection of men' always come together, for people overpowering others, if it was by due right, it would be through the burden of debt; and if was unjust, it would be by being put in subjection by men.”

The subjection of men is their haughtiness with others without a right, as in the case of wrongdoers and oppressors. The word “men” in this Hadeeth is to be understood literally.

Allaah Knows best.