What is the meaning of “being overcome by men” in the du‘aa’: “Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika min al-hammi wa’l-hazani wa’l-‘ajzi wa’l-kasali wa’l-jubni wa’l-bukhli wa ghalabat il-dayn wa qahri al-rijaal (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from worry, grief, incapacity, laziness, cowardice and miserliness, being heavily in debt and being overcome by men)?
The phrase “being overcome by men” is mentioned in the hadith of Abu Sa‘eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) entered the mosque one day and saw an Ansaari man whose name was Abu Umaamah. He said: “O Abu Umaamah, why do I see you sitting in the mosque when it is not the time for prayer? He said: Worries and debts, O Messenger of Allah. He said: “Shall I not teach you some words which, if you say them, Allah will take away your worries and pay off your debts?” He said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He said:
“Say, morning and evening, ‘“Allaahumma inni a‘oodhu bika min al-hammi wa’l-hazani, wa a’oodhi bika min al-‘ajzi wa’l-kasali, wa a’oodhu bika min al-jubni wa’l-bukhli, wa a’oodhi bika min ghalabat il-dayn wa qahri al-rijaal (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, and I seek refuge with You from incapacity and laziness, and I seek refuge with You from cowardice and miserliness, and I seek refuge with You from being heavily in debt and from being overcome by men).”
He said; I did that, and Allah took away my worry and paid off my debt.
Narrated by Abu Dawood (1555). . Classed as da‘eef by al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him) in Saheeh wa Da‘eef Sunan Abi Dawood.
The phrase “being overcome” that is mentioned in this hadith is explained by the report which is proven in Saheeh al-Bukhaari (6369) from the hadith of Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to say: “Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika min al-hammi wa’l-hazani wa’l-‘ajzi wa’l-kasali wa’l-jubni wa’l-bukhli wa dal‘ il-dayn wa ghalabat al-rijaal (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from worry, grief, incapacity, laziness, cowardice, miserliness, the heavy burden of debt and from being overcome by men).”
When a person feels that he is overcome by men and feels that they are mistreating him, whether lawfully or otherwise, that causes him to feel distressed, overwhelmed and defeated.
Shaykh Muhammad Shams al-Haqq al-‘Azeemabaadi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “from being heavily in debt” means because of debts being so numerous and burdensome, and “being overcome by men” means being defeated by them
End quote from ‘Awn al-Ma‘bood Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood (4/289)
He (may Allah have mercy on him) also said:
“Being overcome by men” means being defeated and dominated by them. What is meant by men here is the wrongdoers or creditors. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sought refuge with Allah from being overcome by men, because of what that causes of distress in the heart.
End quote from ‘Awn al-Ma‘bood Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood (4/281)
And Allah knows best.