8 du‘as
Guidance
Knowledge, a steadfast heart and the straight path
1Knowledge, provision and accepted deeds
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا
Allāhumma innī as'aluka 'ilman nāfi'an, wa rizqan ṭayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan.
O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, good and pure provision, and deeds that are accepted.
The story
Umm Salamah reported that the Prophet ﷺ would say this after giving salam at the end of the Fajr prayer.
Sunan Ibn Majah 925, graded sahih by al-Albani
2Guidance, piety and self-sufficiency
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
Allāhumma innī as'alukal-hudā wat-tuqā wal-'afāfa wal-ghinā.
O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity and self-sufficiency.
The story
A du'a the Prophet ﷺ used to make, narrated by 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud.
Sahih Muslim 2721
3Make me and my children steadfast in prayer
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
Rabbij-'alnī muqīmaṣ-ṣalāti wa min dhurriyyatī, rabbanā wa taqabbal du'ā'.
My Lord, make me one who establishes prayer, and my descendants too. Our Lord, accept my prayer.
The story
From the du'as of Ibrahim عليه السلام in Surah Ibrahim.
Qur'an 14:40
4Set right my religion, my world and my Hereafter
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِيَ الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي، وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ، وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ
Allāhumma aṣliḥ lī dīniyal-ladhī huwa 'iṣmatu amrī, wa aṣliḥ lī dunyāyal-latī fīhā ma'āshī, wa aṣliḥ lī ākhiratiyal-latī fīhā ma'ādī, waj'alil-ḥayāta ziyādatan lī fī kulli khayr, waj'alil-mawta rāḥatan lī min kulli sharr.
O Allah, set right my religion, which safeguards all my affairs; set right my worldly life, in which is my livelihood; set right my Hereafter, to which I return. Make life an increase for me in every good, and make death a rest for me from every evil.
The story
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah as one of the du'as of the Prophet ﷺ.
Sahih Muslim 2720
5Turner of hearts
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
Yā Muqallibal-qulūb, thabbit qalbī 'alā dīnik.
O Turner of hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.
The story
Anas ibn Malik said the Prophet ﷺ said this often. When asked why, he explained that hearts are between two of the fingers of Allah, and He turns them as He wills.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2140, graded sahih by al-Albani
6Guide us to the straight path
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm.
Guide us to the straight path.
The story
From al-Fatihah: the du'a every Muslim makes at least seventeen times a day.
Qur'an 1:6
7Increase me in knowledge
رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Rabbi zidnī 'ilmā.
My Lord, increase me in knowledge.
The story
The one thing Allah commanded His Prophet ﷺ to ask Him for more of.
Qur'an 20:114
8The du'a of the young men of the cave
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Rabbanā ātinā mil-ladunka raḥmatan wa hayyi' lanā min amrinā rashadā.
Our Lord, grant us mercy from Yourself, and guide us rightly in our affair.
The story
Said by the young believers as they took refuge in the cave. For when you don't know what to do next.
Qur'an 18:10