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Wa qāla rabbukumu-dʿūnī astajib lakum
A collection of authentic, well-loved supplications from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) — simple words to keep on your tongue through the ordinary moments of every day.
Du’ā — supplication — is one of the most beautiful acts of worship in Islam. It is a direct conversation between a servant and their Lord, needing no appointment, no intermediary and no special place. The Qur’an records the gentle promise, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you,” and the Prophet (peace be upon him) described du’ā as the very essence of worship.
There is an etiquette (ādāb) that gives du’ā its weight. Begin by praising Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him). Face the qiblah where you can, raise your hands, and ask with a present, hopeful heart — certain that you will be answered. Choose the blessed moments: the last third of the night, between the adhān and iqāmah, while fasting, in prostration, and on Friday. Above all, be sincere, be patient, and never tire of asking.
The supplications below are widely known and firmly established in the Sunnah. Each is given in transliteration with its meaning in English, grouped by the occasion it suits. The transliterations are a guide to pronunciation; where you are able, learning the Arabic from a qualified teacher brings the words fully to life.
Adhkār of the day
Short remembrances to open and close each day under Allah’s protection.
Al-ĥamdu lillāhi-lladhī aĥyānā baʿda mā amātanā wa ilayhi-n-nushūr. — “All praise is for Allah who gave us life after He had caused us to die, and to Him is the return.”
Aṣbaĥnā wa aṣbaĥal-mulku lillāh. — “We have reached the morning and at this very time the whole kingdom belongs to Allah.” A reminder that each new day is a trust from Him.
Amsaynā wa amsal-mulku lillāh. — “We have reached the evening and at this very time the whole kingdom belongs to Allah.” The evening counterpart, said as the day draws in.
Reciting Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ and the two sūrahs of refuge (al-Falaq and an-Nās) three times each, morning and evening, is a well-known practice of seeking Allah’s protection from all harm.
At the table
Beginning with Allah’s name, and thanking Him when the meal is done.
Bismillāh. — “In the name of Allah.” If forgotten at the start, one says: Bismillāhi awwalahu wa ākhirah — “In the name of Allah, at its beginning and its end.”
Al-ĥamdu lillāhi-lladhī aṭʿamanā wa saqānā wa jaʿalanā muslimīn. — “All praise is for Allah who fed us, gave us drink, and made us Muslims.”
When eating at someone’s home, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would pray for them: Allāhumma bārik lahum fīmā razaqtahum — “O Allah, bless them in what You have provided for them.”
Coming & going
Carrying Allah’s name across the threshold, in and out.
Enter with the name of Allah, with greetings of peace (salām) to those within, and with the heart turned to Him — placing trust in Allah for both the going out and the coming in.
Bismillāh, tawakkaltu ʿalallāh, wa lā ĥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh. — “In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah; there is no might nor power except with Allah.”
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raĥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. — “Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.” Spreading the salām strengthens love between believers.
At night
Closing the day in remembrance, entrusting the soul to its Lord.
Bismika-llāhumma amūtu wa aĥyā. — “In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.” A gentle handing-over of the night to the One who never sleeps.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged reciting Āyat al-Kursī and the last two verses of Sūrat al-Baqarah, and the three sūrahs of refuge, before sleeping — a known protection through the night.
If troubled by a bad dream, seek refuge in Allah from Shayṭān and from the evil of what was seen, and turn to the other side — a practice taught to relieve the heart.
On the road
Setting out under Allah’s care, and returning with gratitude.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) would say Subḥāna-lladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahu muqrinīn — “Glory to Him who has subjected this to us; we could never have done it ourselves” — then asked for righteousness and ease on the journey.
Aʿūdhu bikalimātillāhi-t-tāmmāti min sharri mā khalaq. — “I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created” — said when halting somewhere on a journey.
On the way back, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would add: Āyibūna, tāʾibūna, ʿābidūna, lirabbinā ĥāmidūn — “We return, repenting, worshipping and praising our Lord.”
Turning back to Allah
The doors of repentance are always open to the one who knocks.
Astaghfirullāh. — “I seek the forgiveness of Allah.” A word the Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have repeated many times each day; light on the tongue, heavy on the scales.
The “master” supplication for forgiveness begins Allāhumma anta rabbī lā ilāha illā ant, khalaqtanī wa ana ʿabduk… — an acknowledgement of Allah as Lord, of His favour, and of one’s own sin, asking to be forgiven.
Lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu mina-ẓ-ẓālimīn. — “There is no god but You; glory be to You; truly I have been among the wrongdoers” — the call of Prophet Yūnus (peace be upon him) from within the whale.
When the heart is heavy
Words of strength for grief, worry, hardship and fear.
Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn. — “Truly we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return.” The believer’s response to loss and calamity, taught in the Qur’an.
A relief in distress is to call upon Allah with His names, as in the words: Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika mina-l-hammi wa-l-ĥazan — “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief.”
Ḥasbunallāhu wa niʿma-l-wakīl. — “Allah is sufficient for us, and what an excellent Guardian.” A statement of trust the believers are taught to say when faced with fear.
Lā ĥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh. — “There is no might nor power except with Allah” — described as a treasure from the treasures of Paradise, a comfort when something feels beyond us.
However you supplicate, hold to good thoughts of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that Allah is near, answering the call of the one who calls — sometimes by granting exactly what was asked, sometimes by turning away a harm, and sometimes by storing the reward for the Hereafter. So ask freely, for yourself and for others, and let du’ā become a constant companion rather than a last resort.
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