8 supplications
Duas of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)
Ibrahim, the friend of Allah (khalil), is the prophet whose supplications the Qur’an quotes most often. He prayed while building the Kaaba, for his children and his parents, for a safe city and for an honourable memory, and Allah answered him: his descendants include Isma‘il, Ishaq, Ya‘qub and Muhammad ﷺ.
Accept from us
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Rabbana taqabbal minna innaka antas-sami‘ul-‘alim.
Our Lord, accept this from us; You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. The dua of Ibrahim and Isma‘il while raising the Kaaba.
Source: Qur’an 2:127
Ibrahim and Isma‘il at the Kaaba
رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Rabbana waj‘alna muslimayni laka wa min dhurriyyatina ummatan muslimatan lak, wa arina manasikana wa tub ‘alayna, innaka antat-tawwabur-rahim.
Our Lord, make us Muslims in submission to You, and from our descendants a nation submitting to You. Show us our rites of worship and accept our repentance. You are the Accepter of repentance, the Most Merciful.
Source: Qur’an 2:128
For a safe land and a pure faith
رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ
Rabbij‘al hadhal-balada aminan wajnubni wa baniyya an na‘budal-asnam.
My Lord, make this city secure, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.
Source: Qur’an 14:35
Keep me and my children praying
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي، رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
Rabbij‘alni muqimas-salati wa min dhurriyyati, rabbana wa taqabbal du‘a’.
My Lord, make me one who establishes the prayer, and from my descendants too. Our Lord, accept my supplication.
Source: Qur’an 14:40
Forgiveness for the parents
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Rabbanaghfir li wa li-walidayya wa lil-mu’minina yawma yaqumul-hisab.
Our Lord, forgive me, my parents and the believers on the Day the account is established. The dua of Ibrahim.
Source: Qur’an 14:41
For wisdom and a good legacy
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ وَاجْعَل لِّي لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ فِي الْآخِرِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِن وَرَثَةِ جَنَّةِ النَّعِيمِ
Rabbi hab li hukman wa alhiqni bis-salihin, waj‘al li lisana sidqin fil-akhirin, waj‘alni min warathati jannatin-na‘im.
My Lord, grant me wisdom and join me with the righteous. Grant me an honourable mention among later generations, and make me one of the inheritors of the Garden of Bliss.
Source: Qur’an 26:83-85
For a righteous child
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Rabbi hab li minas-salihin.
My Lord, grant me a child from among the righteous.
Source: Qur’an 37:100
Reliance and protection from becoming a trial
رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Rabbana ‘alayka tawakkalna wa ilayka anabna wa ilaykal-masir. Rabbana la taj‘alna fitnatan lil-ladhina kafaru waghfir lana rabbana, innaka antal-‘azizul-hakim.
Our Lord, in You we put our trust, to You we turn in repentance, and to You is the final return. Our Lord, do not make us a trial for those who disbelieve, and forgive us, our Lord. You are the Almighty, the All-Wise.
Source: Qur’an 60:4-5
The context of each supplication
Ibrahim made the first two du‘as with his son Isma‘il while raising the foundations of the Kaaba (2:127-128). Even while performing one of the greatest acts of worship in history, they asked for acceptance and for repentance, a lesson in humility: no deed should make the believer feel secure.
The du‘as of Surah Ibrahim (14:35-41) were made in the barren valley of Makkah where he left Hajar and the infant Isma‘il. He asked for safety, for protection from idolatry, for the establishment of prayer in his descendants, and for forgiveness for his parents and the believers. Every pilgrim who visits Makkah today sees the answer.
His du‘a for a righteous child (37:100) was answered with Isma‘il, and later with Ishaq. His du‘a for an honourable mention (26:84) was answered too: Muslims mention him in every prayer when they send blessings on “Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim”.
Ibrahim, a model of du‘a
The Qur’an calls Ibrahim “awwahun halim” (9:114), one who sighs often in humility before his Lord and is forbearing. His du‘as show the order of his priorities: acceptance of his deeds, the faith of his children, prayer, then provision, and always forgiveness. Allah made him an imam for mankind (2:124) and commanded us to follow his way.
Putting these duas into practice
- Recite “Rabbana taqabbal minna” after finishing any good deed: a prayer, a donation, a fast.
- Make the du‘a for your children before they are born and throughout their lives.
- Add “Rabbanaghfir li wa li-walidayya” to the du‘a before the salam of every prayer.
- Ask Allah to keep your descendants steadfast in prayer, as Ibrahim did.
- Pray for the safety of Makkah and of every Muslim land.
Duas of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham): questions and answers
Which du‘a of Ibrahim is best for parents?
“Rabbanaghfir li wa li-walidayya wa lil-mu’minina yawma yaqumul-hisab” (14:41), asking forgiveness for oneself, one’s parents and all believers.
Can I use these du‘as in my prayer?
Yes, in the du‘a before the salam and, with the intention of supplication, in prostration.