Every Friday · On YouTube
Duʿās from the Sunnah
The words of the Prophet ﷺ, one duʿā at a time
Each Friday we take one authentic duʿā of the Prophet ﷺ: its words, its meaning, and when he said it. Here is every duʿā in the series, with the Arabic, the English meaning and the reference, so you can learn them with your family.
The duʿās
Fourteen duʿās for forgiveness, mercy, guidance, protection and relief. A new one is added every Friday, in shāʾ Allah.
Sayyid al-Istighfār
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
“O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I am keeping Your covenant and Your promise as much as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favour upon me, and I acknowledge my sin. So forgive me, for no one forgives sins except You.”
When to say it: Morning and evening, with certainty. He ﷺ called it the master of all prayers for forgiveness.
The duʿā he taught Abū Bakr
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
“O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly, and none forgives sins but You. So forgive me with forgiveness from You, and have mercy on me. Indeed, You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
When to say it: In your prayer, before the salām. Abū Bakr asked for a duʿā to say in his prayer, and he ﷺ taught him this.
His most frequent duʿā
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“O Allah, our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
When to say it: At any time. Anas said this was the duʿā the Prophet ﷺ made most often.
Four things for a good life
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى، وَالتُّقَى، وَالْعَفَافَ، وَالْغِنَى
“O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity and self-sufficiency.”
When to say it: At any time, especially when starting something new.
Turner of hearts
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ، ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
“O Turner of hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.”
When to say it: Often. Umm Salamah said it was his most frequent duʿā when he was with her.
Nothing can harm
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ، وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on the earth or in the heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.”
When to say it: Three times each morning and evening.
Trust as you step out
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
“In the name of Allah. I put my trust in Allah. There is no power and no strength except through Allah.”
When to say it: Each time you leave your home.
Refuge from worry
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, from helplessness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from the burden of debt and from being overpowered by men.”
When to say it: When worry weighs on you. Anas heard him say it often.
When hardship comes
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
“There is no god but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the mighty Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the noble Throne.”
When to say it: In times of distress, as he ﷺ did.
From the belly of the whale
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“There is no god but You, glory be to You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
When to say it: In any difficulty. He ﷺ said no Muslim calls with it for anything except that Allah answers him.
By Your mercy I seek help
يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ
“O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all, by Your mercy I seek help.”
When to say it: When something troubles you, as he ﷺ did.
The duʿā for Laylat al-Qadr
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
“O Allah, You are Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.”
When to say it: He ﷺ taught it to ʿĀʾishah for Laylat al-Qadr, and it can be said at any time.
After Fajr
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا
“O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, good and pure provision, and deeds that are accepted.”
When to say it: After the Fajr prayer, as he ﷺ used to.
The advice to Muʿādh
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ، وَشُكْرِكَ، وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
“O Allah, help me to remember You, to thank You, and to worship You well.”
When to say it: At the end of every prayer. He ﷺ told Muʿādh, “I love you,” then taught him this.
A free duʿā card for your home
Eight duʿās of the Prophet ﷺ from the moments he made them, from Badr to his final words, with the Arabic, the meaning and the reference. Print it on A4 and keep it by your prayer mat.