4 supplications
Duas of Prophet Nuh (Noah)
Nuh called his people for nine hundred and fifty years with patience, by night and by day, in public and in private. His supplications in the Qur’an reflect that long struggle: humble before his Lord, merciful towards the believers and firm against injustice.
For parents and all believers
رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ
Rabbighfir li wa li-walidayya wa liman dakhala baytiya mu’minan wa lil-mu’minina wal-mu’minat.
My Lord, forgive me and my parents, and whoever enters my house as a believer, and the believing men and believing women.
Source: Qur’an 71:28
For a blessed place to land
رَّبِّ أَنزِلْنِي مُنزَلًا مُّبَارَكًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْمُنزِلِينَ
Rabbi anzilni munzalan mubarakan wa anta khayrul-munzilin.
My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to bring to land.
Source: Qur’an 23:29
After asking for what he did not know
رَبِّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Rabbi inni a‘udhu bika an as’alaka ma laysa li bihi ‘ilm, wa illa taghfir li wa tarhamni akun minal-khasirin.
My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking You for that of which I have no knowledge. Unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers.
Source: Qur’an 11:47
When overwhelmed
أَنِّي مَغْلُوبٌ فَانتَصِرْ
Anni maghlubun fantasir.
I am overpowered, so help me.
Source: Qur’an 54:10
The context of each supplication
After centuries of calling his people, Nuh said: “I am overpowered, so help me” (54:10), and Allah sent the flood. When the ark was ready, he was taught to say: “My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to bring to land” (23:29), a du‘a many travellers recite on arriving at a new place or moving house.
When his son refused to board and drowned, Nuh asked Allah about him; Allah told him not to ask about what he had no knowledge of, and Nuh immediately sought refuge from doing so and asked for forgiveness (11:47). His last recorded du‘a includes his parents, whoever enters his house as a believer and all believers (71:28), an inclusive prayer the Muslim can make daily.
The longest call in history
Nuh called his people day and night, openly and secretly, promising them forgiveness, rain, wealth and children if they sought forgiveness from their Lord (71:5-12). Few believed. His du‘as were made only after this long effort, a lesson that du‘a accompanies work and patience rather than replacing them. Allah saved him and the believers, and made his descendants the ones who remained (37:77).
His du‘a for his parents and for everyone who enters his house as a believer also teaches the believer to make his home a place of faith, so that guests and family are included in his prayers.
Putting these duas into practice
- Say “Rabbi anzilni munzalan mubarakan” when moving house, checking into a hotel or arriving in a new city.
- Include your parents and all believers in your daily du‘a.
- When you feel overwhelmed after doing everything you can, say “Anni maghlubun fantasir”.
- If you asked for something unwise, seek refuge and forgiveness as Nuh did.
- Be patient in calling others to good, however long it takes.
Duas of Prophet Nuh (Noah): questions and answers
Which du‘a of Nuh is said when moving house?
“Rabbi anzilni munzalan mubarakan wa anta khayrul-munzilin” (23:29), asking for a blessed place to settle.
Can I pray for all believers in my du‘a?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever asks forgiveness for the believing men and women receives a good deed for each of them (at-Tabarani).