15 supplications
Duas the Prophet ﷺ Made Often
Beyond the short daily duas, the Prophet ﷺ had longer supplications that gather the needs of this world and the next. Some he taught to individual Companions, some he said after the prayer, at the end of a gathering or after a battle, and their words repay memorisation.
The du‘a of the grateful servant
رَبِّ أَعِنِّي وَلَا تُعِنْ عَلَيَّ، وَانْصُرْنِي وَلَا تَنْصُرْ عَلَيَّ، وَامْكُرْ لِي وَلَا تَمْكُرْ عَلَيَّ، وَاهْدِنِي وَيَسِّرِ الْهُدَى لِي، وَانْصُرْنِي عَلَى مَنْ بَغَى عَلَيَّ، رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي لَكَ شَكَّارًا، لَكَ ذَكَّارًا، لَكَ رَهَّابًا، لَكَ مِطْوَاعًا، لَكَ مُخْبِتًا، إِلَيْكَ أَوَّاهًا مُنِيبًا، رَبِّ تَقَبَّلْ تَوْبَتِي، وَاغْسِلْ حَوْبَتِي، وَأَجِبْ دَعْوَتِي، وَثَبِّتْ حُجَّتِي، وَسَدِّدْ لِسَانِي، وَاهْدِ قَلْبِي، وَاسْلُلْ سَخِيمَةَ صَدْرِي
Rabbi a‘inni wa la tu‘in ‘alayya, wansurni wa la tansur ‘alayya, wamkur li wa la tamkur ‘alayya, wahdini wa yassiril-huda li, wansurni ‘ala man bagha ‘alayya. Rabbij‘alni laka shakkara, laka dhakkara, laka rahhaba, laka mitwa‘a, laka mukhbita, ilayka awwahan muniba. Rabbi taqabbal tawbati, waghsil hawbati, wa ajib da‘wati, wa thabbit hujjati, wa saddid lisani, wahdi qalbi, waslul sakhimata sadri.
My Lord, help me and do not help against me; support me and do not support others against me; plan for me and not against me; guide me and make guidance easy for me; support me against whoever wrongs me. My Lord, make me ever grateful to You, ever remembering You, ever fearing You, ever obedient to You, humble before You, turning to You in sighs and repentance. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash away my sin, answer my call, establish my proof, make my tongue truthful, guide my heart and remove the rancour from my chest.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi; Sunan Ibn Majah
Forgiveness for jest and earnest
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطِيئَتِي وَجَهْلِي، وَإِسْرَافِي فِي أَمْرِي، وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي جِدِّي وَهَزْلِي، وَخَطَئِي وَعَمْدِي، وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ عِنْدِي
Allahummaghfir li khati’ati wa jahli, wa israfi fi amri, wa ma anta a‘lamu bihi minni. Allahummaghfir li jiddi wa hazli, wa khata’i wa ‘amdi, wa kullu dhalika ‘indi.
O Allah, forgive me my mistakes, my ignorance, my excess in my affairs and what You know better than I. O Allah, forgive me what I did seriously and in jest, by mistake and on purpose; all of that is in me.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Forgiveness for past and future
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَفْتُ، وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Allahummaghfir li ma qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu, wa ma asrartu wa ma a‘lantu, wa ma asraftu, wa ma anta a‘lamu bihi minni. Antal-muqaddimu wa antal-mu’akhkhir, la ilaha illa ant.
O Allah, forgive me what I have done before and after, in secret and in the open, my excesses and what You know better than I. You are the One who brings forward and puts back; there is no god but You. Among the last words he said between the tashahhud and the salam.
Source: Sahih Muslim
For a purified soul
اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلَاهَا
Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha, wa zakkiha anta khayru man zakkaha, anta waliyyuha wa mawlaha.
O Allah, give my soul its piety and purify it, for You are the best to purify it; You are its Guardian and its Master.
Source: Sahih Muslim
For firmness and a sound heart
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الثَّبَاتَ فِي الْأَمْرِ، وَالْعَزِيمَةَ عَلَى الرُّشْدِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ شُكْرَ نِعْمَتِكَ، وَحُسْنَ عِبَادَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قَلْبًا سَلِيمًا، وَلِسَانًا صَادِقًا، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا تَعْلَمُ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا تَعْلَمُ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا تَعْلَمُ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ
Allahumma inni as’alukath-thabata fil-amr, wal-‘azimata ‘alar-rushd, wa as’aluka shukra ni‘matik, wa husna ‘ibadatik, wa as’aluka qalban salima, wa lisanan sadiqa, wa as’aluka min khayri ma ta‘lam, wa a‘udhu bika min sharri ma ta‘lam, wa astaghfiruka lima ta‘lam, innaka anta ‘allamul-ghuyub.
O Allah, I ask You for firmness in my affairs and resolve upon right guidance; I ask You for gratitude for Your blessings and excellence in worshipping You; I ask You for a sound heart and a truthful tongue; I ask You for the good of what You know, seek refuge in You from the evil of what You know and ask Your forgiveness for what You know. You are the Knower of the unseen.
Source: Sunan al-Nasa’i; Musnad Ahmad
At the end of a gathering
اللَّهُمَّ اقْسِمْ لَنَا مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ مَا يَحُولُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ مَعَاصِيكَ، وَمِنْ طَاعَتِكَ مَا تُبَلِّغُنَا بِهِ جَنَّتَكَ، وَمِنَ الْيَقِينِ مَا تُهَوِّنُ بِهِ عَلَيْنَا مُصِيبَاتِ الدُّنْيَا، وَمَتِّعْنَا بِأَسْمَاعِنَا وَأَبْصَارِنَا وَقُوَّتِنَا مَا أَحْيَيْتَنَا، وَاجْعَلْهُ الْوَارِثَ مِنَّا، وَاجْعَلْ ثَأْرَنَا عَلَى مَنْ ظَلَمَنَا، وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى مَنْ عَادَانَا، وَلَا تَجْعَلْ مُصِيبَتَنَا فِي دِينِنَا، وَلَا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا، وَلَا مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا، وَلَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمُنَا
Allahummaqsim lana min khashyatika ma yahulu baynana wa bayna ma‘asik, wa min ta‘atika ma tuballighuna bihi jannatak, wa minal-yaqini ma tuhawwinu bihi ‘alayna musibatid-dunya, wa matti‘na bi-asma‘ina wa absarina wa quwwatina ma ahyaytana, waj‘alhul-waritha minna, waj‘al tha’rana ‘ala man dhalamana, wansurna ‘ala man ‘adana, wa la taj‘al musibatana fi dinina, wa la taj‘alid-dunya akbara hammina wa la mablagha ‘ilmina, wa la tusallit ‘alayna man la yarhamuna.
O Allah, grant us enough fear of You to keep us from disobeying You, enough obedience to bring us to Your Paradise and enough certainty to make the calamities of this world easy. Let us enjoy our hearing, sight and strength as long as we live and let them remain with us; avenge us on those who wronged us and help us against our enemies. Do not make our calamity in our religion, nor this world our greatest concern or the limit of our knowledge, and do not give power over us to those who show us no mercy.
Source: Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
For His bounty and mercy
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ وَرَحْمَتِكَ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَمْلِكُهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlika wa rahmatik, fa-innahu la yamlikuha illa ant.
O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty and Your mercy, for none possesses them but You.
Source: al-Mu‘jam of at-Tabarani
The du‘a of ‘Ammar ibn Yasir
اللَّهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ الْغَيْبَ، وَقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ، أَحْيِنِي مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَيَاةَ خَيْرًا لِي، وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْرًا لِي، اللَّهُمَّ وَأَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الْقَصْدَ فِي الْفَقْرِ وَالْغِنَى، وَأَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيمًا لَا يَنْفَدُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَا تَنْقَطِعُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضَاءَ بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ بَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ، وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ، فِي غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ، وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ، اللَّهُمَّ زَيِّنَّا بِزِينَةِ الْإِيمَانِ، وَاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ
Allahumma bi-‘ilmikal-ghayb, wa qudratika ‘alal-khalq, ahyini ma ‘alimtal-hayata khayran li, wa tawaffani idha ‘alimtal-wafata khayran li. Allahumma wa as’aluka khashyataka fil-ghaybi wash-shahadah, wa as’aluka kalimatal-haqqi fir-rida wal-ghadab, wa as’alukal-qasda fil-faqri wal-ghina, wa as’aluka na‘iman la yanfad, wa as’aluka qurrata ‘aynin la tanqati‘, wa as’alukar-rida’a ba‘dal-qada’, wa as’aluka bardal-‘ayshi ba‘dal-mawt, wa as’aluka ladhdhatan-nadhari ila wajhik, wash-shawqa ila liqa’ik, fi ghayri darra’a mudirrah, wa la fitnatin mudillah. Allahumma zayyinna bi-zinatil-iman, waj‘alna hudatan muhtadin.
O Allah, by Your knowledge of the unseen and Your power over creation, keep me alive while life is good for me and take me when death is good for me. I ask You for fear of You in private and public, for the word of truth in contentment and anger, for moderation in poverty and wealth, for bliss that never ends and joy that never ceases, for contentment after the decree, a cool life after death, the delight of looking at Your Face and longing to meet You, without harmful affliction or misleading trial. O Allah, adorn us with faith and make us guides who are guided.
Source: Sunan al-Nasa’i
The du‘a seen in the Prophet’s dream
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ، وَتَرْكَ الْمُنْكَرَاتِ، وَحُبَّ الْمَسَاكِينِ، وَأَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي وَتَرْحَمَنِي، وَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ فِتْنَةَ قَوْمٍ فَتَوَفَّنِي غَيْرَ مَفْتُونٍ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ، وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ، وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُ إِلَى حُبِّكَ
Allahumma inni as’aluka fi‘lal-khayrat, wa tarkal-munkarat, wa hubbal-masakin, wa an taghfira li wa tarhamani, wa idha aradta fitnata qawmin fa-tawaffani ghayra maftun, wa as’aluka hubbak, wa hubba man yuhibbuk, wa hubba ‘amalin yuqarribu ila hubbik.
O Allah, I ask You to do good deeds, to leave evil ones and to love the poor; that You forgive me and have mercy on me; and when You intend a trial for a people, take me without being tried. I ask You for Your love, the love of those who love You and the love of deeds that bring me closer to Your love. “It is true; learn it and teach it.”
Source: Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
Faith that never turns back
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ إِيمَانًا لَا يَرْتَدُّ، وَنَعِيمًا لَا يَنْفَدُ، وَمُرَافَقَةَ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ فِي أَعْلَى جَنَّةِ الْخُلْدِ
Allahumma inni as’aluka imanan la yartadd, wa na‘iman la yanfad, wa murafaqata muhammadin ﷺ fi a‘la jannatil-khuld.
O Allah, I ask You for faith that does not waver, bliss that does not end and the company of Muhammad ﷺ in the highest Garden of eternity. The du‘a of Ibn Mas‘ud, praised by the Prophet ﷺ.
Source: Sahih Ibn Hibban; Musnad Ahmad
More faith, certainty and understanding
اللَّهُمَّ زِدْنِي إِيمَانًا وَيَقِينًا وَفِقْهًا
Allahumma zidni imanan wa yaqinan wa fiqha.
O Allah, increase me in faith, certainty and understanding. Reported from ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud.
Source: al-Mu‘jam of at-Tabarani
Five requests for this world and the next
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي
Allahummaghfir li, warhamni, wahdini, wa ‘afini, warzuqni.
O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, keep me well and provide for me. Taught to new Muslims: “These gather for you your world and your Hereafter.”
Source: Sahih Muslim
Refuge in His might from going astray
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِعِزَّتِكَ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَنْ تُضِلَّنِي، أَنْتَ الْحَيُّ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ، وَالْجِنُّ وَالْإِنْسُ يَمُوتُونَ
Allahumma laka aslamtu, wa bika amantu, wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu, wa ilayka anabtu, wa bika khasamtu. Allahumma inni a‘udhu bi-‘izzatika, la ilaha illa ant, an tudillani, antal-hayyul-ladhi la yamut, wal-jinnu wal-insu yamutun.
O Allah, to You I submit, in You I believe, on You I rely, to You I turn and for You I argue. I seek refuge in Your might, there is no god but You, from being led astray. You are the Ever-Living who does not die, while jinn and humans die.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Make faith beloved to us
اللَّهُمَّ حَبِّبْ إِلَيْنَا الْإِيمَانَ وَزَيِّنْهُ فِي قُلُوبِنَا، وَكَرِّهْ إِلَيْنَا الْكُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْيَانَ، وَاجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الرَّاشِدِينَ
Allahumma habbib ilaynal-imana wa zayyinhu fi qulubina, wa karrih ilaynal-kufra wal-fusuqa wal-‘isyan, waj‘alna minar-rashidin.
O Allah, make faith beloved to us and beautify it in our hearts, make disbelief, sin and disobedience hateful to us, and make us among the rightly guided. Said after the battle of Uhud.
Source: Musnad Ahmad; al-Adab al-Mufrad of al-Bukhari
For all good
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ أَعْلَمْ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ أَعْلَمْ
Allahumma inni as’aluka minal-khayri kullihi ‘ajilihi wa ajilih, ma ‘alimtu minhu wa ma lam a‘lam, wa a‘udhu bika minash-sharri kullihi ‘ajilihi wa ajilih, ma ‘alimtu minhu wa ma lam a‘lam.
O Allah, I ask You for all good, immediate and delayed, what I know of it and what I do not know, and I seek refuge in You from all evil, immediate and delayed, what I know of it and what I do not know.
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah
Why learn the longer duas
The Prophet ﷺ was given “comprehensive words”, few in letters and vast in meaning. In the du‘a “Rabbi a‘inni” the servant asks Allah to be on his side in every struggle, to make him grateful, remembering and humble, and to cleanse his heart of rancour. The du‘a of ‘Ammar asks even for the delight of seeing Allah’s Face.
Learning one of these duas each week and using it in the last sitting of the prayer or in the night is an easy way to enrich one’s supplication beyond repeated short phrases.
Duas the Prophet ﷺ Made Often: questions and answers
Which du‘a gathers this world and the next?
“Allahummaghfir li warhamni wahdini wa ‘afini warzuqni”; the Prophet ﷺ said these gather for you your world and your Hereafter (Muslim).
Can I make du‘a in my own words?
Yes. The prophetic words are best, but sincere du‘a in your own language is accepted, especially outside the prayer.