Du'as to Learn

Before eating

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

Bismillah

"In the name of Allah."

Before eating or drinking.

If you forget and remember partway, say: "Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu" (In the name of Allah, at its beginning and its end).

After eating

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَجَعَلَنَا مُسْلِمِينَ

Alhamdu lillahi alladhi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alana muslimin

"All praise is for Allah, who fed us and gave us drink, and made us Muslims."

After finishing a meal.

Before sleep

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya

"In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live."

As you lie down to sleep.

Upon waking

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

Alhamdu lillahi alladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur

"All praise is for Allah, who gave us life after He caused us to die, and to Him is the resurrection."

On waking in the morning.

Leaving home

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

Bismillah, tawakkaltu 'ala Allah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah

"In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah; there is no might nor power except with Allah."

As you step out of the house.

Entering home

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ الْمَوْلَجِ وَخَيْرَ الْمَخْرَجِ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَلَجْنَا وَبِسْمِ اللَّهِ خَرَجْنَا وَعَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّنَا تَوَكَّلْنَا

Allahumma inni as'aluka khayral mawlaji wa khayral makhraj, bismillahi walajna wa bismillahi kharajna wa 'ala Allahi rabbina tawakkalna

"O Allah, I ask You for the best of entrances and the best of exits. In the name of Allah we enter, in the name of Allah we leave, and upon Allah our Lord we place our trust."

On returning home.

The first words after salam

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ (ثَلَاثًا) اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ

Astaghfirullah (x3). Allahumma anta as-salam wa minka as-salam, tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram

"I seek Allah's forgiveness (three times). O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of Majesty and Honour."

Immediately after completing the prayer.

Ayat al-Kursi

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

Allahu la ilaha illa huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum. La ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm. Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard. Man dhal-ladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi idhnih. Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum, wa la yuhituna bishay'in min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'. Wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard, wa la ya'uduhu hifzuhuma, wa huwal-'Aliyyul-'Azim.

"Allah, there is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what lies before them and behind them, and they grasp nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent."

After every fard prayer.

The Tasbih (Tasbih Fatimah)

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ (×٣٣) الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ (×٣٣) اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (×٣٣) لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

SubhanAllah (x33), Alhamdulillah (x33), Allahu Akbar (x33), then: La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir

"Glory be to Allah (33), all praise to Allah (33), Allah is the Greatest (33). There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner; His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things."

After every fard prayer, completing one hundred.

The three Quls

سُورَةُ الْإِخْلَاصِ · سُورَةُ الْفَلَقِ · سُورَةُ النَّاسِ

Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, Surah An-Nas

"The three short chapters of sincerity and protection."

After every fard prayer; three times each in the morning and evening.

Du'a of Mu'adh

اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَىٰ ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ

Allahumma a'inni 'ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni 'ibadatik

"O Allah, help me to remember You, to thank You, and to worship You well."

After every prayer; taught by the Prophet ﷺ to Mu'adh ibn Jabal.

Durood Ibrahim

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.

"O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious."

In the sitting of every prayer, and a beautiful du'a in its own right.

SubhanAllahi wa bihamdih

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ

SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil-'Azim

"Glory be to Allah and praise to Him; glory be to Allah the Magnificent."

Any time; two phrases described as beloved to the Most Merciful.

La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah

لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah

"There is no might nor power except with Allah."

In the face of difficulty; described as a treasure of Paradise.

Salawat on the Prophet

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad

"O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad."

Whenever the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned.

Good in this life and the next

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina 'adhaban-nar

"Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."

The most comprehensive du'a; recited constantly, including during Hajj.

Du'a of Yunus (Jonah)

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin

"There is no god but You; glory be to You. Indeed, I was among the wrongdoers."

In times of distress; recited by Yunus in the belly of the whale.

Du'a for parents

رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

Rabbi irhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira

"My Lord, have mercy upon them as they raised me when I was small."

When praying for your mother and father.

Du'a of Ibrahim

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ. رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

Rabbi-j'alni muqimas-salati wa min dhurriyyati, rabbana wa taqabbal du'a. Rabbana-ghfir li wa liwalidayya wa lil-mu'minina yawma yaqumul-hisab

"My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and many from my descendants. Our Lord, accept my supplication. Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day the account is established."

For steadfastness in prayer and forgiveness for yourself and your family.

Sayyid al-Istighfar

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَىٰ عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana 'abduka, wa ana 'ala 'ahdika wa wa'dika mas-tata't, a'udhu bika min sharri ma sana't, abu'u laka bi ni'matika 'alayya, wa abu'u bidhanbi faghfir li fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa anta

"O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I keep Your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge Your blessing upon me, and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for none forgives sins except You."

The master du'a of seeking forgiveness; said morning and evening.

Du'a for anxiety and grief

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ، وَابْنُ عَبْدِكَ، وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ، أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ، أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، وَنُورَ صَدْرِي، وَجَلَاءَ حُزْنِي، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي

Allahumma inni 'abduka, wabnu 'abdika, wabnu amatika, nasiyati biyadika, madin fiyya hukmuka, 'adlun fiyya qada'uka. As'aluka bikulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka, aw anzaltahu fi kitabika, aw 'allamtahu ahadan min khalqika, awista'tharta bihi fi 'ilmil-ghaybi 'indaka, an taj'alal-Qur'ana rabi'a qalbi, wa nura sadri, wa jala'a huzni, wa dhahaba hammi

"O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant. My forelock is in Your hand. Your judgement upon me is assured, and Your decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every name that is Yours, by which You have named Yourself, or revealed in Your Book, or taught to any of Your creation, or kept hidden in the knowledge of the unseen with You: make the Quran the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the departure of my sorrow, and the release of my worry."

When overcome by anxiety, sadness, or grief.

Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal-wakil

حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal-wakil

"Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs."

When facing worry, fear, or reliance on Allah's help.

Upon hearing of loss

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un

"Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return."

On hearing of a death, loss, or any hardship.

Khutbat al-Hajah (the opening)

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ

Innal-hamda lillahi nahmaduhu wa nasta'inuhu wa nastaghfiruh, wa na'udhu billahi min shururi anfusina wa min sayyi'ati a'malina, man yahdihillahu fala mudilla lah, wa man yudlil fala hadiya lah

"Indeed, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves and from our bad deeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whomever He leaves astray, none can guide."

How the speaker opens nearly every khutbah, nikah, and lecture.

These are the speaker's words rather than something you recite yourself. Recognising it helps you follow along.

The verse that closes the khutbah

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Innallaha ya'muru bil-'adli wal-ihsani wa ita'i dhil-qurba wa yanha 'anil-fahsha'i wal-munkari wal-baghy, ya'izukum la'allakum tadhakkarun

"Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded."

Many khatibs recite this verse to signal the khutbah is drawing to a close.