Daily duas
Short duas from the Sunnah for the things we do every day: eating, sleeping, leaving home and more.
-
Before eating
Before you start eating or drinking.
bis-mil-laah
“In the name of Allah.”
If you forget at the start, say it when you remember (see the next dua).
-
If you forgot to say Bismillah
When you remember in the middle of eating.
bis-mil-laa-hi aw-wa-la-hoo wa aa-khi-rah
“In the name of Allah, at its beginning and at its end.”
-
After eating
When you finish eating.
al-ham-du lil-laa-hil-la-dhee at-'a-ma-nee haa-dhaa wa ra-za-qa-nee-hi min ghay-ri ḥaw-lim min-nee wa laa quw-wah
“All praise is for Allah, who fed me this and gave it to me without any power or strength from me.”
-
Before sleeping
When you lie down to sleep.
bis-mi-kal-laa-hum-ma a-moo-tu wa aḥ-yaa
“In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.”
Sleep is like a small death, and waking up is like coming back to life.
-
When waking up
As soon as you wake up.
al-ham-du lil-laa-hil-la-dhee aḥ-yaa-naa ba'-da maa a-maa-ta-naa wa i-lay-hin nu-shoor
“All praise is for Allah, who gave us life after He had made us die, and to Him is the return.”
-
Entering the toilet
Before you go in (step in with the left foot).
bis-mil-laah. al-laa-hum-ma in-nee a-'oo-dhu bi-ka mi-nal khu-bu-thi wal kha-baa-'ith
“In the name of Allah. O Allah, I seek Your protection from the male and female evil ones.”
-
Leaving the toilet
After you come out (step out with the right foot).
ghuf-raa-nak
“I ask for Your forgiveness.”
-
Leaving home
When you step out of the house.
bis-mil-laah, ta-wak-kal-tu 'a-lal-laah, wa laa ḥaw-la wa laa quw-wa-ta il-laa bil-laah
“In the name of Allah. I put my trust in Allah. There is no power and no strength except with Allah.”
-
Entering home
When you come home: say salaam to the people inside.
as-sa-laa-mu 'a-lay-kum
“Peace be upon you.”
The Prophet ﷺ said: when you go in to your family, give salaam; it is a blessing for you and for your household (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2698).
-
Greeting someone
When you meet a Muslim.
as-sa-laa-mu 'a-lay-kum wa raḥ-ma-tul-laa-hi wa ba-ra-kaa-tuh
“Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.”
The reply is: wa 'a-lay-ku-mus sa-laam wa raḥ-ma-tul-laa-hi wa ba-ra-kaa-tuh (and upon you be peace...).
-
Entering the masjid
Step in with the right foot.
al-laa-hum-maf-taḥ lee ab-waa-ba raḥ-ma-tik
“O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy.”
-
Leaving the masjid
Step out with the left foot.
al-laa-hum-ma in-nee as-'a-lu-ka min faḍ-lik
“O Allah, I ask You for Your favour.”
-
After wudu
When you finish making wudu.
ash-ha-du al-laa i-laa-ha il-lal-laa-hu waḥ-da-hoo laa sha-ree-ka lah, wa ash-ha-du an-na mu-ḥam-ma-dan 'ab-du-hoo wa ra-soo-luh
“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, without any partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.”
The eight gates of Paradise are opened for the one who says this.
-
When you sneeze
After a sneeze.
al-ham-du lil-laah
“All praise is for Allah.”
The one who hears says: yar-ḥa-mu-kal-laah (May Allah have mercy on you). You answer: yah-dee-ku-mul-laa-hu wa yus-li-ḥu baa-la-kum (May Allah guide you and set your affairs right).
-
Wearing new clothes
When you put on something new.
al-ham-du lil-laa-hil-la-dhee ka-saa-nee haa-dhaa wa ra-za-qa-nee-hi min ghay-ri ḥaw-lim min-nee wa laa quw-wah
“All praise is for Allah, who clothed me with this and gave it to me without any power or strength from me.”
-
Protection, morning and evening
Three times in the morning and three times in the evening.
bis-mil-laa-hil-la-dhee laa ya-ḍur-ru ma-'as-mi-hee shay-'un fil ar-ḍi wa laa fis sa-maa-'i wa hu-was sa-mee-'ul 'a-leem
“In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in the heavens can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.”
-
Breaking the fast
After you break your fast (iftar).
dha-ha-baẓ ẓa-ma-'u wab-tal-la-til 'u-roo-qu wa tha-ba-tal aj-ru in shaa-'al-laah
“The thirst has gone, the veins are moist, and the reward is certain, if Allah wills.”
Say Bismillah before you start eating, as with any meal.
-
When it rains
When you see rain falling.
al-laa-hum-ma ṣay-yi-ban naa-fi-'aa
“O Allah, (make it) a beneficial rain.”
-
Visiting someone who is ill
Say it to the person you visit.
laa ba'-sa ṭa-hoo-run in shaa-'al-laah
“No harm: (it is) a purification (from sins), if Allah wills.”
-
Thanking someone
When someone does something good for you.
ja-zaa-kal-laa-hu khay-raa
“May Allah reward you with good.”
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever says this has praised the other person in the best way.
-
After the adhan
After answering the call to prayer.
al-laa-hum-ma rab-ba haa-dhi-hid da'-wa-tit taam-ma-ti waṣ ṣa-laa-til qaa-'i-mah, aa-ti mu-ḥam-ma-da-nil wa-see-la-ta wal fa-ḍee-lah, wab-'ath-hu ma-qaa-mam maḥ-moo-da-nil la-dhee wa-'ad-tah
“O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and of the prayer about to begin, give Muhammad the place of nearness and honour, and raise him to the praised station You promised him.”
First repeat the words of the adhan after the caller, then send salawaat on the Prophet ﷺ, then say this dua.
-
After the prayer
Straight after the salaam at the end of a fard prayer.
as-tagh-fi-rul-laah (3 times), al-laa-hum-ma an-tas sa-laa-mu wa min-kas sa-laam, ta-baa-rak-ta yaa dhal ja-laa-li wal ik-raam
“I ask Allah's forgiveness (three times). O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, Owner of majesty and honour.”
-
When you are angry
When you feel anger rising.
a-'oo-dhu bil-laa-hi mi-nash shay-ṭaa-nir ra-jeem
“I seek protection with Allah from Shayṭaan, the rejected one.”
Say it, stay quiet and calm down. The Prophet ﷺ said these words take the anger away.
-
When the wind blows hard
When a strong wind blows.
al-laa-hum-ma in-nee as-'a-lu-ka khay-ra-haa wa khay-ra maa fee-haa wa khay-ra maa ur-si-lat bih, wa a-'oo-dhu bi-ka min shar-ri-haa wa shar-ri maa fee-haa wa shar-ri maa ur-si-lat bih
“O Allah, I ask You for its good, the good it carries and the good it was sent with, and I seek Your protection from its harm, the harm it carries and the harm it was sent with.”
-
After it rains
When the rain has fallen.
mu-ṭir-naa bi-faḍ-lil-laa-hi wa raḥ-ma-tih
“We have been given rain by the favour and mercy of Allah.”
-
Seeing the new moon
When you see the new moon at the start of a month.
al-laa-hum-ma a-hil-la-hoo 'a-lay-naa bil-yum-ni wal ee-maa-ni was sa-laa-ma-ti wal is-laam, rab-bee wa rab-bu-kal-laah
“O Allah, bring this new moon to us with blessing and faith, with safety and Islam. My Lord and your Lord is Allah.”
-
At the end of a gathering
Before getting up from a gathering or a class.
sub-ḥaa-na-kal-laa-hum-ma wa bi-ḥam-dik, ash-ha-du al-laa i-laa-ha il-laa an-ta, as-tagh-fi-ru-ka wa a-too-bu i-layk
“Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise is Yours. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I ask Your forgiveness and turn back to You.”
The Prophet ﷺ said it wipes away the small mistakes made in that gathering.
-
Arriving at a new place
When you stop somewhere new: a house, a hotel or a camp.
a-'oo-dhu bi-ka-li-maa-til-laa-hit taam-maa-ti min shar-ri maa kha-laq
“I seek protection in the perfect words of Allah from the harm of what He has created.”
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever says it, nothing will harm them until they leave that place.
-
Protection for children
When putting children to bed, or any time you want to protect them.
u-'ee-dhu-ku-maa bi-ka-li-maa-til-laa-hit taam-ma-ti min kul-li shay-ṭaa-niw wa haam-ma-tiw wa min kul-li 'ay-nil laam-mah
“I place you both in the protection of the perfect words of Allah, from every devil and every harmful creature, and from every evil eye.”
The Prophet ﷺ said this for his grandsons Ḥasan and Ḥusayn. For one child say أُعِيذُكَ (u-'ee-dhu-ka) for a boy or أُعِيذُكِ (u-'ee-dhu-ki) for a girl; for more than two, أُعِيذُكُمْ (u-'ee-dhu-kum).
-
When something hurts
When you have pain somewhere in your body.
a-'oo-dhu bil-laa-hi wa qud-ra-tih min shar-ri maa a-ji-du wa u-ḥaa-dhir
“I seek protection with Allah and His power from the harm of what I feel and what I fear.”
Put your hand where it hurts and say بِسْمِ اللَّهِ (bis-mil-laah) three times, then say this dua seven times.
-
Seeing someone in difficulty
When you see someone going through an illness or a trial.
al-ḥam-du lil-laa-hil la-dhee 'aa-faa-nee mim-mab-ta-laa-ka bih, wa faḍ-ḍa-la-nee 'a-laa ka-thee-rim mim-man kha-la-qa taf-ḍee-laa
“All praise is for Allah who kept me safe from what He tested you with, and favoured me over many of those He created.”
Say it quietly, so the person does not hear it and feel hurt.
-
When something good happens
When you get good news or something you love happens.
al-ḥam-du lil-laa-hil la-dhee bi-ni'-ma-ti-hee ta-tim-muṣ ṣaa-li-ḥaat
“All praise is for Allah, by whose favour good things are completed.”
When something you don't like happens, say الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلٰى كُلِّ حَالٍ (al-ḥam-du lil-laa-hi 'a-laa kul-li ḥaal): All praise is for Allah in every situation.
-
Visiting the graves
When you visit a graveyard.
as-sa-laa-mu 'a-lay-kum ah-lad di-yaa-ri mi-nal mu'-mi-nee-na wal mus-li-meen, wa in-naa in shaa-al-laa-hu la-laa-ḥi-qoon, as-'a-lul-laa-ha la-naa wa la-ku-mul 'aa-fi-yah
“Peace be upon you, people of these homes, believers and Muslims. We will join you, if Allah wills. I ask Allah for well-being for us and for you.”
-
Congratulating someone on their marriage
When someone gets married.
baa-ra-kal-laa-hu la-ka wa baa-ra-ka 'a-lay-ka wa ja-ma-'a bay-na-ku-maa fee khayr
“May Allah bless you, send blessings upon you, and bring you both together in goodness.”
-
When something bad happens
At a loss, bad news or any hardship.
in-naa lil-laa-hi wa in-naa i-lay-hi raa-ji-'oon
“We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return.”
The Prophet ﷺ taught us to add: اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا (al-laa-hum-ma'-jur-nee fee mu-ṣee-ba-tee wa akh-lif lee khay-ram min-haa): O Allah, reward me in my hardship and give me something better in its place (Sahih Muslim 918).
-
Coming back from a journey
When you return home from a journey.
aa-yi-boo-na taa-'i-boo-na 'aa-bi-doo-na li-rab-bi-naa ḥaa-mi-doon
“We return, repenting, worshipping and praising our Lord.”
-
For good character
Any time. Many people say it when they look in a mirror, but the hadith does not mention a mirror.
al-laa-hum-ma ka-maa ḥas-san-ta khal-qee fa-ḥas-sin khu-lu-qee
“O Allah, as You have made my body beautiful, make my character beautiful too.”
-
When bad thoughts come
When Shayṭaan puts doubts or bad thoughts in your mind.
aa-man-tu bil-laa-hi wa ru-su-lih
“I believe in Allah and His messengers.”
Then seek refuge in Allah and stop thinking about it.
-
When there is too much rain
When heavy rain starts to cause harm.
al-laa-hum-ma ḥa-waa-lay-naa wa laa 'a-lay-naa
“O Allah, around us and not upon us.”
-
When slaughtering an animal (Qurbani)
At the moment of slaughter.
bis-mil-laa-hi wal-laa-hu ak-bar
“In the name of Allah; Allah is the Greatest.”
These duas are being checked by teachers. The English pronunciation is a guide: learn the exact sounds by listening.
The meanings are explained in simple words for learners, not a word-for-word translation. For the full meaning of the Qur'an, read an established translation, such as Saheeh International in English or Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi in Urdu.