5 supplications
Duas of Gratitude and Praise
Gratitude keeps blessings and increases them: “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you” (14:7). The Prophet ﷺ taught a word of praise for every situation, good or bad, so that the believer’s tongue never stops thanking Allah.
On seeing someone afflicted
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَافَانِي مِمَّا ابْتَلَاكَ بِهِ، وَفَضَّلَنِي عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ تَفْضِيلًا
Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ‘afani mimmabtalaka bih, wa faddalani ‘ala kathirin mimman khalaqa tafdila.
Praise be to Allah who has spared me what He has afflicted you with and has favoured me greatly over many of those He created. Said quietly, so as not to hurt the afflicted person.
Source: Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
Good news and bad news
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ — وَفِيمَا يَكْرَهُ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ
Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi bi-ni‘matihi tatimmus-salihat — Al-hamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal.
Praise be to Allah, by whose grace good things are completed. For what one dislikes: Praise be to Allah in every circumstance.
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah
On hearing displeasing news
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ
Alhamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal.
Praise be to Allah in every circumstance.
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah
On seeing the first fruits of the season
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي ثَمَرِنَا، وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي مَدِينَتِنَا، وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي صَاعِنَا، وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي مُدِّنَا
Allahumma barik lana fi thamarina, wa barik lana fi madinatina, wa barik lana fi sa‘ina, wa barik lana fi muddina.
O Allah, bless us in our fruits, bless us in our city, bless us in our sa‘ and bless us in our mudd.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Gratitude for the blessings
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Rabbi awzi‘ni an ashkura ni‘matakal-lati an‘amta ‘alayya wa ‘ala walidayya wa an a‘mala salihan tardah, wa aslih li fi dhurriyyati, inni tubtu ilayka wa inni minal-muslimin.
My Lord, enable me to be grateful for the favour You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and to do righteous deeds that please You, and make my offspring righteous. I have repented to You, and I am among the Muslims.
Source: Qur’an 46:15
A word of praise for every situation
When the Prophet ﷺ saw something he liked he said: “Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi bi-ni‘matihi tatimmus-salihat”, and when he saw something he disliked he said: “Alhamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal” (Ibn Majah). Thus the believer praises Allah in ease and hardship, knowing that every decree contains good.
On seeing someone afflicted with illness or hardship, he taught to say “Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ‘afani mimmabtalaka bih…” quietly, so as not to hurt the person, and said that whoever says it will be spared that affliction (at-Tirmidhi).
Gratitude in deeds
Gratitude is not only words. The Prophet ﷺ prayed at night until his feet swelled, and when asked why, said: “Should I not be a grateful servant?” (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Prostrating when receiving good news (sujud ash-shukr), giving charity from a new blessing and using health in obedience are all forms of thanks.
Practical tips
- Say “Alhamdulillah” consciously for three blessings every evening.
- Prostrate in thanks on receiving good news.
- Say “Alhamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal” when things go wrong.
- Share part of every new blessing with others.
- Thank the people through whom blessings reached you.
Duas of Gratitude and Praise: questions and answers
What is sujud ash-shukr?
A single prostration made on receiving good news or being spared harm, as the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions did (Abu Dawud).
What do I say on hearing good news?
“Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi bi-ni‘matihi tatimmus-salihat” (Ibn Majah).