5 supplications
Duas for Paradise and Protection from Hell
Paradise is the final goal of the believer, and asking for it is part of worship. The Prophet ﷺ said: “When you ask Allah, ask Him for al-Firdaws, for it is the highest and middle part of Paradise” (al-Bukhari). These duas keep the Hereafter present in the heart.
Asking for Paradise×3
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ
Allahumma inni as’alukal-jannah, wa a‘udhu bika minan-nar.
O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and seek refuge in You from the Fire. “Whoever asks Allah for Paradise three times, Paradise says: O Allah, admit him into Paradise.”
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Sunan Ibn Majah
Paradise and the deeds that lead to it
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ
Allahumma inni as’alukal-jannata wa ma qarraba ilayha min qawlin aw ‘amal, wa a‘udhu bika minan-nari wa ma qarraba ilayha min qawlin aw ‘amal.
O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and whatever word or deed brings one near to it, and I seek refuge in You from the Fire and whatever word or deed brings one near to it.
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah; Musnad Ahmad
Protection from Hell
رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا
Rabbanasrif ‘anna ‘adhaba jahannam, inna ‘adhabaha kana gharama.
Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell; its punishment is everlasting.
Source: Qur’an 25:65
To die with the righteous
رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ
Rabbana faghfir lana dhunubana wa kaffir ‘anna sayyi’atina wa tawaffana ma‘al-abrar.
Our Lord, forgive us our sins, remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous.
Source: Qur’an 3:193
Good in this world and the next
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. The supplication the Prophet ﷺ made most often; also said between the Yemeni corner and the Black Stone.
Source: Qur’an 2:201; Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Asking for Paradise
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever asks Allah for Paradise three times, Paradise says: O Allah, admit him into Paradise; and whoever seeks refuge from the Fire three times, the Fire says: O Allah, protect him from the Fire” (at-Tirmidhi). He also taught to aim high and ask for al-Firdaws, the highest level (al-Bukhari).
The servants of the Most Merciful described in Surah al-Furqan pray: “Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell” (25:65), even though they spend their nights in prayer. Hope and fear go together.
The deeds that lead to Paradise
Asking for Paradise is completed by asking for “whatever word or deed brings one near to it”. Among these deeds: the five prayers, fasting, honouring parents, good character, spreading salam, feeding people and praying at night while people sleep (at-Tirmidhi). Asking without acting is a wish; acting without asking is pride; the believer joins both.
Practical tips
- Ask for Paradise three times after each prayer.
- Ask for al-Firdaws al-A‘la, the highest level.
- Link the du‘a to a deed: a prayer, a visit, a charity.
- Read about the descriptions of Paradise in the Qur’an to strengthen longing.
- Seek refuge from the Fire with the same sincerity.
Duas for Paradise and Protection from Hell: questions and answers
How many times should I ask for Paradise?
The hadith mentions three times; many Muslims say it after each prayer and in the morning and evening.
Is it allowed to ask for a high level of Paradise?
Yes, the Prophet ﷺ encouraged asking for al-Firdaws al-A‘la (al-Bukhari).