The importance of dua
Allah revealed the Holy Quran to guide humankind. In it He speaks of the existence and oneness of the Creator, of creation and its purpose, and equally of how to worship, of what benefits and what harms people, of their mistakes, of sin and repentance, and of reward and recompense.
The Quran also teaches how to call upon Allah to earn His pleasure, to be forgiven, or to be saved from hardship. Many of its verses describe how the prophets and the believers prayed to Allah and what they asked Him for. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) himself prayed at many times of the day and in many situations, and taught others to do the same.
Below are some of these verses and hadiths, each with its Arabic text, a transliteration and its meaning.
Dua in the Holy Quran
The command to call upon Allah
In the Holy Quran Allah tells us to pray to Him.
1. Call upon Me and I will answer you
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ ﴿٦٠﴾
Wa qāla rabbukumud‘ūnī astajib lakum, innal-ladhīna yastakbirūna ‘an ‘ibādatī sayadkhulūna jahannama dākhirīn.
Your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me and I will answer you. Those who are too proud to worship Me will surely enter Hell, humbled.’
(Surah Ghafir (al-Mu’min), 40:60)
2. How to ask
Allah teaches in the Quran how people should ask of Him. He says:
فَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ ﴿٢٠٠﴾ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ ﴿٢٠١﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا وَاللَّهُ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ ﴿٢٠٢﴾
Fa minan-nāsi man yaqūlu rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā wa mā lahū fil-ākhirati min khalāq. Wa minhum man yaqūlu rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā hasanatan wa fil-ākhirati hasanatan wa qinā ‘adhāban-nār. Ulā’ika lahum nasībum mimmā kasabū, wallāhu sarī‘ul-hisāb.
‘Among people are those who say, “Our Lord, give us in this world,” and they have no share in the Hereafter. And among them are those who say, “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” They will have a share of what they have earned, and Allah is swift in reckoning.’
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2:200-202)
The prayers of the prophets
The prophets asked Allah for many things: for help in spreading His religion, for support against those who rejected it, for themselves, for their parents and for their descendants. Here are some of those verses.
1. The prayer of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail
While raising the foundations of the Kaaba, they prayed for a prophet to be sent among their descendants:
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿١٢٧﴾ رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُسْلِمَةً لَكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٢٨﴾ رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ﴿١٢٩﴾
Rabbanā taqabbal minnā, innaka antas-samī‘ul-‘alīm. Rabbanā waj‘alnā muslimayni laka wa min dhurriyyatinā ummatam muslimatal laka, wa arinā manāsikanā wa tub ‘alaynā, innaka antat-tawwābur-rahīm. Rabbanā wab‘ath fīhim rasūlam minhum yatlū ‘alayhim āyātika wa yu‘allimuhumul-kitāba wal-hikmata wa yuzakkīhim, innaka antal-‘azīzul-hakīm.
‘Our Lord, accept this from us; You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. Our Lord, make us both devoted to You, and make from our descendants a nation devoted to You. Show us our ways of worship and turn to us in forgiveness; You are the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. Our Lord, raise among them a messenger from among themselves who will recite Your verses to them, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them; You are the Almighty, the All-Wise.’
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2:127-129)
2. Prophet Ibrahim’s prayer for Makkah and its believing people
رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ﴿١٢٦﴾
Rabbij‘al hādhā baladan āminan warzuq ahlahū minath-thamarāti man āmana minhum billāhi wal-yawmil-ākhir.
‘My Lord, make this a city of safety, and provide its people with fruits, those of them who believe in Allah and the Last Day.’
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2:126)
رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ ﴿٣٥﴾ رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ ﴿٣٦﴾ رَبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِنْدَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُمْ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾
Rabbij‘al hādhal-balada āminan wajnubnī wa baniyya an na‘budal-asnām. Rabbi innahunna adlalna kathīram minan-nās, fa man tabi‘anī fa innahū minnī, wa man ‘asānī fa innaka ghafūrur-rahīm. Rabbanā innī askantu min dhurriyyatī bi wādin ghayri dhī zar‘in ‘inda baytikal-muharram, rabbanā li yuqīmus-salāta faj‘al af’idatam minan-nāsi tahwī ilayhim warzuqhum minath-thamarāti la‘allahum yashkurūn.
‘My Lord, make this city safe, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols. My Lord, they have led many people astray. Whoever follows me is of me, and whoever disobeys me, You are Forgiving, Merciful. Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in a barren valley by Your Sacred House, our Lord, so that they may establish prayer. So make the hearts of some people incline towards them, and provide them with fruits, so that they may be grateful.’
(Surah Ibrahim, 14:35-37)
3. Prophet Ibrahim’s prayer for himself, his descendants, his parents and the believers
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ ﴿٤٠﴾ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ ﴿٤١﴾
Rabbij‘alnī muqīmas-salāti wa min dhurriyyatī, rabbanā wa taqabbal du‘ā’. Rabbanaghfir lī wa li wālidayya wa lil-mu’minīna yawma yaqūmul-hisāb.
‘My Lord, make me one who establishes prayer, and from my descendants too. Our Lord, accept my prayer. Our Lord, forgive me, my parents and the believers on the Day the reckoning takes place.’
(Surah Ibrahim, 14:40-41)
4. Prophet Ibrahim’s prayer for wisdom and the company of the righteous
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ ﴿٨٣﴾ وَاجْعَلْ لِي لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ فِي الْآخِرِينَ ﴿٨٤﴾ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ وَرَثَةِ جَنَّةِ النَّعِيمِ ﴿٨٥﴾ وَاغْفِرْ لِأَبِي إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٨٦﴾ وَلَا تُخْزِنِي يَوْمَ يُبْعَثُونَ ﴿٨٧﴾ يَوْمَ لَا يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ ﴿٨٩﴾
Rabbi hab lī hukman wa alhiqnī bis-sālihīn. Waj‘al lī lisāna sidqin fil-ākhirīn. Waj‘alnī min warathati jannatin-na‘īm. Waghfir li abī innahū kāna minad-dāllīn. Wa lā tukhzinī yawma yub‘athūn. Yawma lā yanfa‘u mālun wa lā banūn. Illā man atallāha bi qalbin salīm.
‘My Lord, grant me wisdom and join me with the righteous. Give me a good name among those who come later, and make me one of the inheritors of the Garden of Bliss. Forgive my father; he was one of those astray. Do not disgrace me on the Day they are raised, the Day when neither wealth nor sons will help, except for one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.’
(Surah ash-Shu‘ara’, 26:83-89)
5. The prayer of Prophet Ibrahim and those with him
رَبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿٤﴾ رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ﴿٥﴾
Rabbanā ‘alayka tawakkalnā wa ilayka anabnā wa ilaykal-masīr. Rabbanā lā taj‘alnā fitnatal lil-ladhīna kafarū waghfir lanā rabbanā, innaka antal-‘azīzul-hakīm.
‘Our Lord, in You we have put our trust, to You we have turned, and to You is the return. Our Lord, do not make us a trial for those who disbelieve, and forgive us, our Lord; You are the Almighty, the All-Wise.’
(Surah al-Mumtahanah, 60:4-5)
6. A prayer against excess and for help against the disbelievers
Those who fought in Allah’s way alongside the prophets said nothing in hardship but this:
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿١٤٧﴾
Rabbanaghfir lanā dhunūbanā wa isrāfanā fī amrinā wa thabbit aqdāmanā wansurnā ‘alal-qawmil-kāfirīn.
‘Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affairs, make our feet firm, and help us against the disbelieving people.’
(Surah Al Imran, 3:147)
7. The prayer of Prophet Nuh
رَبِّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُنْ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ ﴿٤٧﴾
Rabbi innī a‘ūdhu bika an as’alaka mā laysa lī bihī ‘ilm, wa illā taghfir lī wa tarhamnī akum minal-khāsirīn.
‘My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking You for what I have no knowledge of. Unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers.’
(Surah Hud, 11:47)
8. Prophet Nuh’s prayer on board the ark
رَبِّ أَنْزِلْنِي مُنْزَلًا مُبَارَكًا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْمُنْزِلِينَ ﴿٢٩﴾
Rabbi anzilnī munzalam mubārakan wa anta khayrul-munzilīn.
‘My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place; You are the best of those who bring to land.’
(Surah al-Mu’minun, 23:29)
9. The prayer of Prophet Musa
Prophet Musa asked Allah to make his mission easy and to make his brother Harun his helper:
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي ﴿٢٥﴾ وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي ﴿٢٦﴾ وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي ﴿٢٧﴾ يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي ﴿٢٨﴾ وَاجْعَلْ لِي وَزِيرًا مِنْ أَهْلِي ﴿٢٩﴾ هَارُونَ أَخِي ﴿٣٠﴾ اشْدُدْ بِهِ أَزْرِي ﴿٣١﴾ وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِي أَمْرِي ﴿٣٢﴾
Rabbishrah lī sadrī, wa yassir lī amrī, wahlul ‘uqdatam mil lisānī, yafqahū qawlī, waj‘al lī wazīram min ahlī, hārūna akhī, ushdud bihī azrī, wa ashrik-hu fī amrī.
‘My Lord, open my heart for me and make my task easy for me. Untie the knot from my tongue so that they understand my speech. Appoint for me a helper from my family, Harun, my brother; strengthen me through him and let him share in my task.’
(Surah Ta-Ha, 20:25-32)
10. The prayer of Prophet Yunus
Prophet Yunus prayed this in the darkness inside the fish:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾
Lā ilāha illā anta subhānaka innī kuntu minaz-zālimīn.
‘There is no god but You; glory be to You. I have been among the wrongdoers.’
(Surah al-Anbiya’, 21:87)
11. The prayer of Prophet Zakariya
رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ ﴿٨٩﴾
Rabbi lā tadharnī fardan wa anta khayrul-wārithīn.
‘My Lord, do not leave me alone, without an heir; You are the best of inheritors.’
(Surah al-Anbiya’, 21:89)
The prayers of the believers
Alongside describing the believers, the Quran also tells us how they pray.
1. For pardon, and not to be burdened beyond strength
رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦﴾
Rabbanā lā tu’ākhidhnā in nasīnā aw akhta’nā, rabbanā wa lā tahmil ‘alaynā isran kamā hamaltahū ‘alal-ladhīna min qablinā, rabbanā wa lā tuhammilnā mā lā tāqata lanā bih, wa‘fu ‘annā waghfir lanā warhamnā, anta mawlānā fansurnā ‘alal-qawmil-kāfirīn.
‘Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not place on us a burden like the one You placed on those before us. Our Lord, do not load us with more than we have strength to bear. Pardon us, forgive us and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, so help us against the disbelieving people.’
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2:286)
2. The prayer of people of understanding
Those who remember Allah standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth, say:
رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ ﴿١٩١﴾ رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ ﴿١٩٢﴾ رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ ﴿١٩٣﴾ رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ ﴿١٩٤﴾
Rabbanā mā khalaqta hādhā bātilan subhānaka faqinā ‘adhāban-nār. Rabbanā innaka man tudkhilin-nāra faqad akhzaytah, wa mā liz-zālimīna min ansār. Rabbanā innanā sami‘nā munādiyan yunādī lil-īmāni an āminū bi rabbikum fa āmannā, rabbanā faghfir lanā dhunūbanā wa kaffir ‘annā sayyi’ātinā wa tawaffanā ma‘al-abrār. Rabbanā wa ātinā mā wa‘adtanā ‘alā rusulika wa lā tukhzinā yawmal-qiyāmah, innaka lā tukhliful-mī‘ād.
‘Our Lord, You have not created all this in vain. Glory be to You; protect us from the punishment of the Fire. Our Lord, whoever You admit into the Fire You have disgraced, and the wrongdoers will have no helpers. Our Lord, we heard a caller calling to faith, “Believe in your Lord,” and we believed. Our Lord, forgive us our sins, wipe away our misdeeds, and let us die among the righteous. Our Lord, give us what You promised us through Your messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. You never break Your promise.’
(Surah Al Imran, 3:191-194)
3. The believers’ prayer for forgiveness and mercy
Allah says that a group of His servants used to say:
رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ ﴿١٠٩﴾
Rabbanā āmannā faghfir lanā warhamnā wa anta khayrur-rāhimīn.
‘Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy on us; You are the best of those who show mercy.’
(Surah al-Mu’minun, 23:109)
4. For safety from the punishment of Hell
The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk the earth humbly, who answer the ignorant with ‘Peace’, and who spend the night prostrating and standing before their Lord; and they say:
رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا ﴿٦٥﴾ إِنَّهَا سَاءَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا ﴿٦٦﴾
Rabbanasrif ‘annā ‘adhāba jahannama inna ‘adhābahā kāna gharāmā, innahā sā’at mustaqarran wa muqāmā.
‘Our Lord, turn away from us the punishment of Hell; its punishment is unrelenting. It is an evil place to settle and to stay.’
(Surah al-Furqan, 25:65-66)
5. The prayer of the magicians in the time of Prophet Musa
Pharaoh brought his magicians to face Prophet Musa. Defeated by Musa’s miracle, they believed. Pharaoh, enraged, ordered them killed, yet they did not give up their faith; instead they prayed:
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٢٦﴾
Rabbanā afrigh ‘alaynā sabran wa tawaffanā muslimīn.
‘Our Lord, pour patience upon us and let us die as Muslims, submitting to You.’
(Surah al-A‘raf, 7:126)
What the Quran teaches us to ask for
1. Guidance to the straight path
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm. Al-hamdu lillāhi rabbil-‘ālamīn. Ar-rahmānir-rahīm. Māliki yawmid-dīn. Iyyāka na‘budu wa iyyāka nasta‘īn. Ihdinas-sirātal-mustaqīm. Sirātal-ladhīna an‘amta ‘alayhim ghayril-maghdūbi ‘alayhim wa lad-dāllīn.
‘In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the straight path, the path of those You have blessed, not of those who have earned anger, nor of those who are astray.’
(Surah al-Fatihah, 1:1-7)
2. To keep the heart firm on the truth
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ ﴿٨﴾
Rabbanā lā tuzigh qulūbanā ba‘da idh hadaytanā wa hab lanā mil ladunka rahmah, innaka antal-wahhāb.
‘Our Lord, do not let our hearts turn away after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from Yourself; You are the Giver.’
(Surah Al Imran, 3:8)
3. For one’s parents
Lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy, and say:
رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا ﴿٢٤﴾
Rabbirhamhumā kamā rabbayānī saghīrā.
‘My Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small.’
(Surah al-Isra’ (Bani Isra’il), 17:24)
4. For goodness in every undertaking
رَبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَلْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ سُلْطَانًا نَصِيرًا ﴿٨٠﴾
Rabbi adkhilnī mudkhala sidqin wa akhrijnī mukhraja sidqin waj‘al lī mil ladunka sultānan nasīrā.
‘My Lord, let me enter with a truthful entrance and leave with a truthful exit, and grant me from Yourself a helping authority.’
(Surah al-Isra’ (Bani Isra’il), 17:80)
5. For more knowledge
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا ﴿١١٤﴾
Rabbi zidnī ‘ilmā.
‘My Lord, increase me in knowledge.’
(Surah Ta-Ha, 20:114)
6. Refuge from the whispers of Satan
رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ ﴿٩٧﴾ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ ﴿٩٨﴾
Rabbi a‘ūdhu bika min hamazātish-shayātīn, wa a‘ūdhu bika rabbi an yahdurūn.
‘My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the promptings of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, from their coming near me.’
(Surah al-Mu’minun, 23:97-98)
7. Asking for forgiveness
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ ﴿١١٨﴾
Rabbighfir warham wa anta khayrur-rāhimīn.
‘My Lord, forgive and have mercy; You are the best of those who show mercy.’
(Surah al-Mu’minun, 23:118)
8. For a righteous spouse and children
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ﴿٧٤﴾
Rabbanā hab lanā min azwājinā wa dhurriyyātinā qurrata a‘yunin waj‘alnā lil-muttaqīna imāmā.
‘Our Lord, grant us spouses and children who are a comfort to our eyes, and make us an example for the God-conscious.’
(Surah al-Furqan, 25:74)
9. For the ability to be grateful
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٥﴾
Rabbi awzi‘nī an ashkura ni‘matakal-latī an‘amta ‘alayya wa ‘alā wālidayya wa an a‘mala sālihan tardāhu wa aslih lī fī dhurriyyatī, innī tubtu ilayka wa innī minal-muslimīn.
‘My Lord, enable me to be grateful for the favour You have given me and my parents, and to do good deeds that please You, and make my descendants righteous for me. I have turned to You in repentance, and I am one of those who submit to You.’
(Surah al-Ahqaf, 46:15)
Dua in the hadith
Here are some of the prayers the Messenger of Allah recited, or taught others, at different times and in different situations. Volume and hadith numbers follow the Bangla translations the texts were taken from.
The manner of praying
1. Raising both hands in prayer
Umar ibn al-Khattab narrated that when the Messenger of Allah raised his hands in prayer, he did not lower them until he had wiped his face with them.
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (ص) إِذَا رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ فِي الدُّعَاءِ لَمْ يَحُطَّهُمَا حَتَّى يَمْسَحَ بِهِمَا وَجْهَهُ
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3322 (Bangla edition))
In prayer and asking forgiveness
1. A prayer to say within salat
Abdullah ibn Amr narrated that Abu Bakr asked the Messenger of Allah to teach him a prayer to say in his salat. He said, ‘Say:’
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مِنْ عِنْدِكَ مَغْفِرَةً، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Allāhumma innī zalamtu nafsī zulman kathīran, wa lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā anta, faghfir lī min ‘indika maghfiratan, innaka antal-ghafūrur-rahīm.
‘O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly, and none forgives sins but You. So forgive me with forgiveness from Yourself; You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.’
(Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 6, no. 6872 (Adhunik Prokashoni, Dhaka, Bangla edition))
2. Sayyid al-Istighfar, the best prayer for forgiveness
Shaddad ibn Aws narrated that the Prophet said to him, ‘Shall I not show you the chief of all prayers for forgiveness? It is:’
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، وَأَبُوءُ إِلَيْكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَعْتَرِفُ بِذُنُوبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي، إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
Allāhumma anta rabbī lā ilāha illā anta, khalaqtanī wa ana ‘abduka, wa ana ‘alā ‘ahdika wa wa‘dika mastata‘tu, a‘ūdhu bika min sharri mā sana‘tu, wa abū’u ilayka bi ni‘matika ‘alayya, wa a‘tarifu bi dhunūbī, faghfir lī dhunūbī, innahū lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā anta.
‘O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I keep to Your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me and I acknowledge my sins, so forgive my sins, for none forgives sins but You.’
The Prophet said that whoever says these words in the evening and dies before morning, Paradise is his; and likewise whoever says them in the morning and dies before evening.
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Ahmad, an-Nasa’i and al-Bukhari)
At sleep, on waking and at night
1. Before sleeping and on waking
Hudhayfa narrated that when the Prophet went to bed he would say:
اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Allāhumma bismika amūtu wa ahyā.
‘O Allah, in Your name I die and I live.’
And when he woke he would say:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Al-hamdu lillāhil-ladhī ahyānā ba‘da mā amātanā wa ilayhin-nushūr.
‘All praise is for Allah, who gave us life after He had made us die, and to Him is the return.’
In Abu Dharr’s narration the words are plural: ‘Bismika namūtu wa nahyā’ (in Your name we die and live).
(Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 6, nos. 6878 and 6880 (Adhunik Prokashoni, Dhaka, Bangla edition); Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3351 (Bangla edition))
2. Entrusting oneself to Allah when lying down
Al-Bara’ ibn Azib narrated that the Prophet told a man: when you go to your bed, say:
اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَوَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لاَ مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ
Allāhumma aslamtu nafsī ilayka, wa wajjahtu wajhī ilayka, wa fawwadtu amrī ilayka, wa alja’tu zahrī ilayka, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilayka, lā malja’a wa lā manjā minka illā ilayka, āmantu bi kitābikal-ladhī anzalta, wa bi nabiyyikal-ladhī arsalta.
‘O Allah, I have surrendered myself to You, turned my face to You, entrusted my affairs to You and relied on You, in hope of You and in awe of You. There is no refuge and no escape from You except to You. I believe in Your Book which You revealed and in Your Prophet whom You sent.’
Whoever says this and dies that night dies upon Islam, and whoever wakes in the morning is rewarded. At-Tirmidhi also narrates nearly the same prayer from Rafi‘ ibn Khadij, to be said lying on the right side (vol. 6, no. 3331).
(Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 6, no. 6970 (Adhunik Prokashoni, Dhaka, Bangla edition))
3. Refuge from punishment on the Day of Resurrection
Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman narrated that when the Prophet lay down to sleep he put his right hand under his head and said:
اللَّهُمَّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَجْمَعُ عِبَادَكَ أَوْ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ
Allāhumma qinī ‘adhābaka yawma tajma‘u ‘ibādaka aw tab‘athu ‘ibādak.
‘O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You gather (or raise up) Your servants.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3334 (Bangla edition))
4. For relief from debt and want
Abu Hurayra narrated that the Messenger of Allah told them to say, when lying down to sleep:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَرَبَّ الأَرَضِينَ وَرَبَّنَا وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَفَالِقَ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى، وَمُنْزِلَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنْجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ ذِي شَرٍّ أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ، أَنْتَ الأَوَّلُ فَلَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الآخِرُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَالظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَالْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَيْءٌ، اقْضِ عَنِّي الدَّيْنَ وَأَغْنِنِي مِنَ الْفَقْرِ
Allāhumma rabbas-samāwāti wa rabbal-aradīna wa rabbanā wa rabba kulli shay’, wa fāliqal-habbi wan-nawā, wa munzilat-tawrāti wal-injīli wal-qur’ān, a‘ūdhu bika min sharri kulli dhī sharrin anta ākhidhum bi nāsiyatih, antal-awwalu fa laysa qablaka shay’, wa antal-ākhiru fa laysa ba‘daka shay’, waz-zāhiru fa laysa fawqaka shay’, wal-bātinu fa laysa dūnaka shay’, iqdi ‘annid-dayna wa aghninī minal-faqr.
‘O Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earths, our Lord and Lord of all things, who splits open the seed and the date-stone, who revealed the Torah, the Gospel and the Quran: I seek refuge in You from the evil of every evil thing whose forelock You hold. You are the First, there is nothing before You; You are the Last, there is nothing after You; You are the Manifest, there is nothing above You; You are the Hidden, nothing is hidden from You. Settle my debt for me and free me from poverty.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3336 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i and Muslim)
5. When waking in the night
Ubada ibn as-Samit narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: whoever wakes in the night and says:
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ
Lā ilāha illallāhu wahdahū lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr, wa subhānallāh, wal-hamdu lillāh, wa lā ilāha illallāh, wallāhu akbar, wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
‘There is no god but Allah alone, without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things. Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, and there is no power and no strength except through Allah.’
Then if he says ‘Rabbighfir lī’ (my Lord, forgive me), or makes any prayer, it is answered; and if he resolves to make ablution and pray, his prayer is accepted.
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3349 (Bangla edition); also narrated by al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah)
6. On standing for the night prayer (tahajjud)
Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that when the Messenger of Allah stood to pray in the depth of the night he would say:
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيَّامُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ، اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، أَنْتَ إِلَهِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
Allāhumma lakal-hamdu anta nūrus-samāwāti wal-ard, wa lakal-hamdu anta qayyāmus-samāwāti wal-ard, wa lakal-hamdu anta rabbus-samāwāti wal-ardi wa man fīhinn, antal-haqq, wa wa‘dukal-haqq, wa liqā’uka haqq, wal-jannatu haqq, wan-nāru haqq, was-sā‘atu haqq. Allāhumma laka aslamtu, wa bika āmantu, wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu, wa ilayka anabtu, wa bika khāsamtu, wa ilayka hākamtu, faghfir lī mā qaddamtu wa mā akhkhartu wa mā asrartu wa mā a‘lantu, anta ilāhī lā ilāha illā anta.
‘O Allah, to You belongs all praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth. To You belongs all praise; You uphold the heavens and the earth. To You belongs all praise; You are the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all within them. You are the Truth, Your promise is true, meeting You is true, Paradise is true, the Fire is true and the Hour is true. O Allah, to You I have submitted, in You I have believed, on You I have relied, to You I have turned, for You I have contended, and to You I have brought my case. So forgive me what I have done before and after, in secret and in the open. You are my God; there is no god but You.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3352 (Bangla edition); also narrated by al-Bukhari, Muslim, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah)
Morning and evening
1. Protection from all harm
Uthman ibn Affan said that the Messenger of Allah said: nothing will harm a servant who says this three times every morning and every evening:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Bismillāhil-ladhī lā yadurru ma‘asmihī shay’un fil-ardi wa lā fis-samā’i wa huwas-samī‘ul-‘alīm.
‘In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3324 (Bangla edition))
2. Declaring contentment in the evening
Thawban narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: whoever says in the evening:
رَضِيتُ بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا، وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا
Radītu billāhi rabban, wa bil-islāmi dīnan, wa bi muhammadin nabiyyā.
‘I am content with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion and with Muhammad as my Prophet.’
It becomes Allah’s due to make him content.
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3325 (Bangla edition))
3. On reaching morning and evening
The Messenger of Allah taught his companions: when one of you reaches the morning, let him say:
اللَّهُمَّ بِكَ أَصْبَحْنَا وَبِكَ أَمْسَيْنَا وَبِكَ نَحْيَا وَبِكَ نَمُوتُ وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
Allāhumma bika asbahnā wa bika amsaynā wa bika nahyā wa bika namūtu wa ilaykal-masīr.
‘O Allah, by You we enter the morning and by You we enter the evening, by You we live and by You we die, and to You is the return.’
And when he reaches the evening, let him say:
اللَّهُمَّ بِكَ أَمْسَيْنَا وَبِكَ أَصْبَحْنَا وَبِكَ نَحْيَا وَبِكَ نَمُوتُ وَإِلَيْكَ النُّشُورُ
Allāhumma bika amsaynā wa bika asbahnā wa bika nahyā wa bika namūtu wa ilaykan-nushūr.
‘O Allah, by You we enter the evening and by You we enter the morning, by You we live and by You we die, and to You is the resurrection.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3327 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and an-Nasa’i)
Leaving home, the market and travel
1. On leaving home
Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: whoever says on leaving his house:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ
Bismillāh, tawakkaltu ‘alallāh, lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
‘In the name of Allah; I put my trust in Allah; there is no power and no strength except through Allah.’
It is said to him: you are sufficed and you are protected; and Satan moves away from him.
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3360 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Abu Dawud and an-Nasa’i)
2. Refuge from going astray and from injustice
Umm Salama narrated that when the Prophet left his house he would say:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ نَزِلَّ أَوْ نَضِلَّ أَوْ نَظْلِمَ أَوْ نُظْلَمَ أَوْ نَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُجْهَلَ عَلَيْنَا
Bismillāh, tawakkaltu ‘alallāh. Allāhumma innā na‘ūdhu bika min an nazilla aw nadilla aw nazlima aw nuzlama aw najhala aw yujhala ‘alaynā.
‘In the name of Allah; I put my trust in Allah. O Allah, we seek refuge in You from slipping or going astray, from wronging others or being wronged, and from acting ignorantly or being treated ignorantly.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3361 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i and al-Hakim)
3. On entering the market
Salim ibn Abdullah ibn Umar narrated, from his father and grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah said: whoever goes into the market and says:
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لاَ يَمُوتُ، بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Lā ilāha illallāhu wahdahū lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, yuhyī wa yumītu wa huwa hayyun lā yamūt, bi yadihil-khayr, wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr.
‘There is no god but Allah alone, without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is Ever-Living and does not die. In His hand is all good, and He has power over all things.’
Allah writes for him a million good deeds, erases a million of his sins and builds for him a house in Paradise.
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3363 (Bangla edition))
4. On stopping at a place
Khawla bint Hakim as-Sulamiyya narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: whoever stops at a place and says:
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
A‘ūdhu bi kalimātillāhit-tāmmāti min sharri mā khalaq.
‘I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.’
Nothing will harm him until he leaves that place.
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Ahmad)
5. On setting out on a journey
Abu Hurayra narrated that when the Messenger of Allah set out on a journey, he mounted his riding animal, pointed with his finger and said:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ اصْحَبْنَا بِنُصْحِكَ وَاقْلِبْنَا بِذِمَّةٍ، اللَّهُمَّ ازْوِ لَنَا الأَرْضَ وَهَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا السَّفَرَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ
Allāhumma antas-sāhibu fis-safari wal-khalīfatu fil-ahl. Allāhummas-habnā bi nushika waqlibnā bi dhimmah. Allāhummazwi lanal-arda wa hawwin ‘alaynas-safar. Allāhumma innī a‘ūdhu bika min wa‘thā’is-safari wa ka’ābatil-munqalab.
‘O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the One who looks after the family. O Allah, accompany us with Your care and bring us back in safety. O Allah, fold up the land for us and make the journey easy. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel and from returning in sorrow.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3372 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i and al-Hakim)
6. On returning from a journey
Al-Bara’ ibn Azib said that when the Prophet returned from a journey he would say:
آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ
Āyibūna tā’ibūna ‘ābidūna li rabbinā hāmidūn.
‘We return, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3374 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Ahmad)
In distress, illness and anger
1. In times of distress
Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that in times of distress the Prophet would pray:
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الأَرْضِ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
Lā ilāha illallāhul-‘alīmul-halīm, lā ilāha illallāhu rabbul-‘arshil-‘azīm, lā ilāha illallāhu rabbus-samāwāti wa rabbul-ardi rabbul-‘arshil-karīm.
‘There is no god but Allah, the All-Knowing, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the Mighty Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, Lord of the Noble Throne.’
(Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 6, no. 6913 (Adhunik Prokashoni, Dhaka, Bangla edition); Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3369 (Bangla edition))
2. Declaring Allah’s oneness in illness
Abu Sa‘id and Abu Hurayra narrated that the Prophet said: when a servant says ‘Lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu akbar’, his Lord affirms it, saying, ‘There is no god but Me, and I am the Greatest.’ So it is with each of these sentences:
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ
Lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu akbar. Lā ilāha illallāhu wahdah. Lā ilāha illallāhu wahdahū lā sharīka lah. Lā ilāha illallāhu lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd. Lā ilāha illallāhu wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
‘There is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. There is no god but Allah, alone. There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner. There is no god but Allah; His is the dominion and His is the praise. There is no god but Allah, and there is no power and no strength except through Allah.’
The Prophet used to say that whoever says these words in his illness and then dies, the Fire will not touch him.
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3364 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Ibn Majah, an-Nasa’i and al-Hakim)
3. On seeing someone in affliction
Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: whoever sees someone in affliction and says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَافَانِي مِمَّا ابْتَلاَكَ بِهِ وَفَضَّلَنِي عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ تَفْضِيلاً
Al-hamdu lillāhil-ladhī ‘āfānī mimmabtalāka bih, wa faddalanī ‘alā kathīrim mimman khalaqa tafdīlā.
‘All praise is for Allah, who has kept me safe from what He has tried you with, and has favoured me greatly over much of what He created.’
He will be kept safe from that affliction for as long as he lives. Salim ibn Abdullah ibn Umar said it should be said quietly, so that the afflicted person does not hear it.
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3365 (Bangla edition))
4. When angry
Mu‘adh ibn Jabal narrated that two men insulted each other in front of the Prophet until anger showed on one of their faces. The Prophet said: I know a word which, if he said it, his anger would leave him:
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
A‘ūdhu billāhi minash-shaytānir-rajīm.
‘I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3386 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and an-Nasa’i)
On seeing the signs of nature
1. When a strong wind blows
Aisha narrated that when the Prophet saw a strong wind he would say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِهَا وَخَيْرِ مَا فِيهَا وَخَيْرِ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا وَشَرِّ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهِ
Allāhumma innī as’aluka min khayrihā wa khayri mā fīhā wa khayri mā ursilat bih, wa a‘ūdhu bika min sharrihā wa sharri mā fīhā wa sharri mā ursilat bih.
‘O Allah, I ask You for its good, the good within it and the good it has been sent with, and I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil within it and the evil it has been sent with.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3383 (Bangla edition))
2. On hearing thunder
Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that when the Messenger of Allah heard thunder he would say:
اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَقْتُلْنَا بِغَضَبِكَ، وَلاَ تُهْلِكْنَا بِعَذَابِكَ، وَعَافِنَا قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ
Allāhumma lā taqtulnā bi ghadabika wa lā tuhliknā bi ‘adhābika wa ‘āfinā qabla dhālik.
‘O Allah, do not kill us with Your anger and do not destroy us with Your punishment, and keep us safe before that.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3384 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Ahmad and al-Hakim)
3. On seeing the new moon
Talha ibn Ubaydullah narrated that on seeing the new moon the Prophet would say:
اللَّهُمَّ أَهْلِلْهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْيُمْنِ وَالإِيمَانِ وَالسَّلاَمَةِ وَالإِسْلاَمِ، رَبِّي وَرَبُّكَ اللَّهُ
Allāhumma ahlilhu ‘alaynā bil-yumni wal-īmān, was-salāmati wal-islām, rabbī wa rabbukallāh.
‘O Allah, bring it upon us with blessing and faith, with safety and Islam. (New moon,) my Lord and your Lord is Allah.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3385 (Bangla edition); also narrated by Ahmad, ad-Darimi and al-Hakim)
Other occasions
1. In the prostration of recitation
Aisha narrated that when the Prophet prostrated after reciting a verse of prostration at night, he would say:
سَجَدَ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ، وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ بِحَوْلِهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ
Sajada wajhiya lil-ladhī khalaqahū wa shaqqa sam‘ahū wa basarahū bi hawlihī wa quwwatih.
‘My face has prostrated to the One who created it and brought forth its hearing and sight by His might and power.’
(Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, vol. 6, no. 3359 (Bangla edition))
2. Before intimacy between spouses
Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: if one of you, before coming to his wife, says:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ جَنِّبْنَا الشَّيْطَانَ، وَجَنِّبِ الشَّيْطَانَ مَا رَزَقْتَنَا
Bismillāh, Allāhumma jannibnash-shaytāna wa jannibish-shaytāna mā razaqtanā.
‘In the name of Allah. O Allah, keep Satan away from us, and keep Satan away from what You provide us.’
Then if a child is decreed for them, Satan will never harm it.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 6, no. 6910 (Adhunik Prokashoni, Dhaka, Bangla edition))
3. The Prophet’s prayer at the Battle of the Confederates
Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa narrated that at the Battle of the Confederates (al-Ahzab) the Messenger of Allah prayed:
اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ، سَرِيعَ الْحِسَابِ، اهْزِمِ الأَحْزَابَ، اهْزِمْهُمْ وَزَلْزِلْهُمْ
Allāhumma munzilal-kitāb, sarī‘al-hisāb, ihzimil-ahzāb, ihzimhum wa zalzilhum.
‘O Allah, Revealer of the Book, swift in reckoning, defeat the confederates; defeat them and shake them.’
(Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 6, no. 6971 (Adhunik Prokashoni, Dhaka, Bangla edition))