5 supplications
Duas for Marriage and the Spouse
Marriage is half of religion in the words of many scholars, and the Prophet ﷺ taught a du‘a for each of its stages: congratulating the couple, the first night, intimacy and the life that follows. These duas place the new home under the blessing of Allah from its first day.
Congratulating newlyweds
بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ، وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكَ، وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ
Barakallahu lak, wa baraka ‘alayk, wa jama‘a baynakuma fi khayr.
May Allah bless you, shower His blessings upon you, and join you together in goodness.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
On the wedding night
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا جَبَلْتَهَا عَلَيْهِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ مَا جَبَلْتَهَا عَلَيْهِ
Allahumma inni as’aluka khayraha wa khayra ma jabaltaha ‘alayh, wa a‘udhu bika min sharriha wa sharri ma jabaltaha ‘alayh.
O Allah, I ask You for her good and the good of the nature You have given her, and I seek refuge in You from her evil and the evil of the nature You have given her. The husband places his hand on his wife’s forehead and says this.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Sunan Ibn Majah
Before intimacy
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ جَنِّبْنَا الشَّيْطَانَ، وَجَنِّبِ الشَّيْطَانَ مَا رَزَقْتَنَا
Bismillah, Allahumma jannibnash-shaytan, wa jannibish-shaytana ma razaqtana.
In the name of Allah. O Allah, keep Satan away from us and keep Satan away from what You grant us. “If a child is decreed for them, Satan will never harm him.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Comfort of the eyes
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata a‘yunin waj‘alna lil-muttaqina imama.
Our Lord, grant us from our spouses and offspring comfort to our eyes, and make us leaders of the righteous.
Source: Qur’an 25:74
I am in need of Your good
رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir.
My Lord, I am truly in need of whatever good You send down to me. The dua of Musa in Madyan.
Source: Qur’an 28:24
The Sunnah of marriage
The Prophet ﷺ congratulated newlyweds with “Barakallahu laka wa baraka ‘alayka wa jama‘a baynakuma fi khayr” instead of the pre-Islamic wish for “harmony and sons” (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi). The du‘a asks for blessing for each spouse and for a union in goodness.
On the wedding night, the husband places his hand on his wife’s forehead and asks Allah for her good (Abu Dawud). Before intimacy, the couple mention Allah and seek protection from Satan; the Prophet ﷺ said that if a child is decreed from that union, Satan will never harm him (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
Choosing a spouse
The Prophet ﷺ said: “A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her lineage, her beauty and her religion; choose the one with religion and you will prosper” (al-Bukhari, Muslim). For the woman’s family he said: “If someone whose religion and character please you proposes, marry him” (at-Tirmidhi). Du‘a, istikhara and advice go together in this decision.
Practical tips
- Pray istikhara and consult before accepting a proposal.
- Congratulate couples with the Prophetic du‘a instead of other wishes.
- Begin married life with two rak‘ahs together if possible.
- Make du‘a for your spouse by name in your prayers.
- Keep the home a place of salam, Qur’an and kindness.
Duas for Marriage and the Spouse: questions and answers
Is there a du‘a to find a good spouse?
Musa’s du‘a “Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir” (28:24) was answered with work and a wife; “Rabbana hab lana min azwajina…” (25:74) asks for a spouse who is a comfort to the eyes. Istikhara is also prayed before deciding.
What do we say to congratulate a couple?
“Barakallahu laka wa baraka ‘alayka wa jama‘a baynakuma fi khayr.”