Du'a -- Personal Supplication in Islam

In the Qur'an, Allah says: "When My servants ask about Me, I am indeed close to them. I listen to the prayer of every supplicant, when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me, so that they may walk in the right way" (Qur'an 2:186).

The word du'a in Arabic means "calling" - the act of remembering Allah and calling upon Him.

Aside from the daily prayers, Muslims are encouraged to call upon Allah for forgiveness, guidance, and strength throughout the day. Muslims can make these personal supplications or prayers (du'a) in their own words, in any language, but there are also recommended examples from the Qur'an and Sunnah. Some samples are found in the pages linked below.




Prayers for Forgiveness

Muslims believe that Allah is Merciful and Forgiving, and that only Allah can forgive sins. All human beings make mistakes, and all that is needed is to recognize the error, rectify it, and seek forgiveness for it. Muslims may ask forgiveness using any words in any language, but these personal prayers (du'a) from Islamic tradition are most common.

When reciting du'a with several repetitions, Muslims often use prayer beads (sobha) to keep track of the number of repetitions. Many simple phrases can be repeated to seek Allah's forgiveness in this way.

Du'a From the Quran

Waqur rabbighfir warham wa'anta khayrur rahimeen.
So say, "Our Lord! Grant us forgiveness and mercy! For You are the Best of those who show mercy."
Quran 23:118

Rabbi inni zalamto nafsi faghfirli.
Oh my Lord, I have indeed wronged my soul!
Quran 28:16

Rabbana innana amanna faghfir lana zonoobana waqina 'athaban nar.
Our Lord! We have indeed believed. Forgive us our sins and save us from the agony of the Fire.
Quran 3:16

Rabbana latu akhitna in nasina akhta'na rabbana wala tahmil 'alayna isran kama hamaltaho 'alal lathina min qablina. Rabbana wala tohammilna mala taqata lana beh wa'fo'anna waghfir lana warhamna anta maolana fansorna 'alal qawmil kafireen.
Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who stand against faith."
Quran 2:286


Du'a From the SunnahAstagh firol lahal-lathi la ilaha illa howal hayyal qayyoma w'atooba ilayh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah. There is no deity but Him, the Living, the Eternal. And I repent unto Him. (Recommended to repeat three times.)

Subhanakal lahomma wabihamdik. Ash-hado alla-ilaha-illa ant. Astaghfiroka w'atoobo-ilayk.
Glory be to You, Oh Allah, and all praise! I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and to You I do repent. (Recommended to repeat three times.)



Prayers of Thanks

Muslims recognize that all of their blessings come from Allah, and are reminded to give thanks to Allah throughout the day and night, all of their lives. Muslims demonstrate gratitude during the five daily prayers, as they follow Allah's guidance through the course of the day, and possibly by reciting these personal prayers (du'a) from Islamic tradition.

When reciting du'a with several repetitions, Muslims often use prayer beads (sobha) to keep track of the number of repetitions. Many simple phrases can be repeated to give thanks and glory to Allah in this way.

Du'a From the Quran

Balil-laha fa'bod wakum minash-shakireen.
Worship Allah, and be of those who give thanks.
Quran 39:66

Tabarakasmo rabbika thil jalali wal ikram.
Blessed be the name of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty, and Honor.
Quran 55:78

Fasabbih bismi rabbikal azeem.
So celebrate with praises the name of thy Lord, the Supreme.
Quran 59:56

Alhamdu lillahil lathi hadana lihatha wama kunna linahtadiya laola an hadanallah.
Praise be to Allah, who has guided us to this. Never could we have found guidance, had it not been for the guidance of Allah.
Quran 7:43

Wahowallaho lailahaillahu. Lahol hamdo fil oola walakhirah. Walahol hukmu wa'ilayhi turja'oon.
And He is Allah, there is no god but He. To Him be praise, at the first and at the last. For Him is the command, and to Him shall you be brought back.
Quran 28:70

Falillahil hamdu rabbis samawati warabbil ardi rabbil 'alameen. Walahol kibria'o fis samawati walard wahowal azizul hakeem.
Then Praise be to Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth. Lord and Cherisher of all the worlds! To Him be Glory throughout the heavens and the earth, And He is Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom!
Quran 45:36-37


Du'a From the Sunnah

Allahomma ma asbaha bi min ni'matin aob bi'ahadin min khalkhika faminka wahdak. La sharika lak. Falakal hamdu walakash shukr.
Oh Allah! Whatever blessings I or any of Your creatures rose up with, is only from You. You have no partner, so all grace and thanks are due to You. (Recommended to repeat three times.)

Ya rabbi lakal hamdu kama yanbaghi lijalali wajhika wa'azeem sultanik.
Oh my Lord! All grace is due to You, which is befitting to Your glorious presence and Your great sovereignty. (Recommended to repeat three times.)

Allahomma anta rabbi la ilaha illa'ant. Khalakhtani wa'ana abdok w'ana ala ahdika wawa'dika mastata't. A'ootho bika min sharri ma sana't. Aboo' laka bini matika 'alayya wa'boo' bithanbi faghfirli fa'innaho la yaghfroth thonooba illa'ant.
Oh Allah! You are my Lord. There is no deity but You. You created me and I am your slave-servant. I am trying my best to keep my oath of faith to You, and to seek to live in the hope of Your promise. I seek refuge in You from my greatest evil deeds. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I acknowledge my sins. So forgive me, for none but You can forgive sins. (Recommended to repeat three times.)

Salat-l-Istikhara
This "prayer for guidance" is often used to help in important decision-making


Anytime a Muslim is making a decision, he or she should seek Allah's guidance and wisdom. Allah alone knows what is best for us, and there may be good in what we perceive as bad, and bad in what we perceive as good.

If you are ambivalent or unsure about a decision you have to make, there is a specific prayer for guidance (Salat-l-Istikhara) that you can do to ask for Allah's help in making your decision. Should you marry this certain person? Should you attend this graduate school? Should you take this job offer or that one? Allah knows what is best for you, and if you are not sure about a choice that you have, seek His guidance.

The Prophet Muhammad said, "If one of you is concerned about some practical undertaking, or about making plans for a journey, he should perform two cycles (rak'atain) of voluntary prayer." Then he/she should say the following du'a:


Arabic:

Translation:

Oh Allah! I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power; I have none. And You know; I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things.

Oh Allah! If in Your knowledge, (this matter*) is good for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge, (this matter*) is bad for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it. And ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.

Transliteration:

Allahumma inni astakheeroka bi ilmik. Wa'astaq-diroka biqodratik. Wa'as'aloka min fadlikal-azeem. Fa'innaka taqdiru wala aqdir. Wata lamo wala-a lam. Wa'anta-allamul ghuyoob.

Allahumma in kunta ta lamu anna (hathal-amra*) khayul-lee fi deenee wama ashi wa ajila amri wa'ajilah, faqdorho lee, wayassirho lee, thomma-barik lee fih. Wa'in konta ta lamo anna (hathal-amra*) sharrul-lee fi deenee. Wama ashi. Wa ajila amri. Wa'ajilaho. Fasrifho annee. Wasrifnee anh. Waqdur leyal-khayr haytho kan. Thomma ardini bih.

* When making the du'a, the actual matter or decision should be mentioned instead of the words "hathal-amra" ("this matter").

* After doing salat-l-istikhara, you may feel more inclined toward a decision one way or the other.

Patience, Perseverance, and Prayer


During times of deep trial, despair, and sadness, Muslims seek comfort and guidance in the words of Allah in the Qur'an. Allah reminds us that all people will be tried and tested in life, and calls upon Muslims to bear these trials with "patient perseverance and prayer." Indeed, Allah reminds us that many people before us have suffered and had their faith tested; so too will we be tried and tested in this life.

There are dozens upon dozens of verses that remind Muslims to be patient and trust in Allah during these times of trial. Among them:

"Seek Allah's help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humble." (2:45)

"Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere." (2:153)

"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives, and the fruits of your toil. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who say, when afflicted with calamity, 'To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.' They are those on whom descend blessings from their Lord, and mercy. They are the ones who receive guidance." (2:155-157)

"Oh you who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy. Vie in such perseverance, strengthen each other, and be pious, that you may prosper."(3:200)

"And be steadfast in patience, for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish." (11:115)

"Be patient, for your patience is with the help of Allah." (16:127)

"Patiently, then, persevere - for the Promise of Allah is true, and ask forgiveness for your faults, and celebrate the praises of your Lord in the evening and in the morning."(40:55)

"No one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune." (41:35)

"Verily man is in loss, except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual enjoining of truth, and of patience and constancy." (103:2-3)

As Muslims, we should not let our emotions get the better of us. It is certainly difficult for a person to look at the tragedies of the world today and not feel helpless and sad. But believers are called to put their trust in their Lord, and not to fall into despair or hopelessness. We must continue to do what Allah has called us to do: put our trust in Him, perform good deeds, and stand as witnesses for justice and truth.

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West.
But it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day,
And the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers;
To spend of your substance, out of love for Him,
For your kin, for orphans, for the needy,
for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves;
To be steadfast in prayer
And give in charity;
To fulfill the contracts which you have made;
And to be firm and patient, in pain and adversity
And throughout all periods of panic.
Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.
Qur'an 2:177

Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.
Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.
Qur'an 94:5-6

Prayers During Meals

When eating, Muslims are to recognize that all of their blessings come from Allah. Muslims throughout the world say the same personal prayer (du'a) before and after meals. Unlike "grace" said before meals in many cultures and faiths, this prayer is not communal. Each individual, silently or quietly, says their own personal prayer whether eating alone or in a group.

Before Eating a Meal

Allahomma barik lana fima razaqtana waqina athaban-nar. Bismillah.
(Oh Allah! Bless the food You have provided us and save us from the punishment of the hellfire. In the name of Allah.)
Alternative: Bismillahi wa barakatillah. (In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah.)

Brief Alternative: Bismillah. (In the name of Allah.)

When Finishing a Meal

Alhamdulillah il-lathi at'amana wasaqana waja'alana Muslimeen. (Praise be to Allah Who has fed us and given us drink, and made us Muslims.)
Brief Alternative: Alhamdulillah. (Praise be to Allah.)
If One Forgets Before Beginning the MealBismillahi fee awalihi wa akhirihi. (In the name of Allah, in the beginning and the end.).

Islamic Prayer Beads: Subha

Definition: Prayer beads are used in many religions and cultures, either to help with prayer and meditation, or to simply keep the fingers occupied during times of stress. Islamic prayer beads are called subha, from a word which means to glorify God (Allah).

Materials

Subha beads are most often made of round glass, wood, plastic, amber, or gemstone. The cord is usually cotton, nylon, or silk. There is a wide variety of colors and styles on the market, ranging from cheap mass-produced prayer beads, to those that are made with expensive materials and high-quality workmanship.

Design

Subha may vary in style or decorative embellishments, but they share some common design qualities. Subha have either 33 round beads, or 99 round beads separated by flat disks into three groups of 33. There is often a larger, leader bead and a tassle at one end to mark the start point of recitations. The color of the beads is most often uniform throughout a single strand, but can vary widely among sets.

Use

The subha is used by Muslims to help count recitations and concentrate during personal prayers. The worshipper touches one bead at a time while reciting words of dhikr(remembrance of Allah). These recitations are often of the 99 "names" of Allah, or of phrases that glorify and praise Allah. These phrases are most often repeated as follows:
Subhannallah (Glory to Allah) - 33 times
Alhamdilillah (Praise be to Allah) - 33 times
Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great) - 33 timesThis form of recitation stems from an account (hadith) in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed his daughter, Fatima, to remember Allah using these words. He also said that believers who recite these words after every prayer "will have all sins pardoned, even if they may be as large as the foam on the surface of the sea."

Muslims may also use prayer beads to count multiple recitations of other phrases while in personal prayer. Some Muslims also carry the beads as a source of comfort, fingering them when stressed or anxious. Prayer beads are a common gift item, especially for those returning from Hajj (pilgrimage).

Misuse

Some Muslims may hang prayer beads in the home, or near young babies, in the mistaken belief that the beads will protect from harm. Blue beads which contain an "evil eye" symbol are used in similar superstitious ways that have no basis in Islam. Prayer beads are also often carried by performers who swing them around during traditional dances. These are cultural practices with no basis in Islam.

History

At the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims did not use prayer beads as a tool during personal prayer, but may have used date pits or small pebbles. Reports indicate that Caliph Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) used a subha similar to modern ones. The widespread manufacture and use of subha began about 600 years ago.

Where To Buy

In the Muslim world, subha can be found in stand-alone kiosks, at souqs, and even in shopping malls. In non-Muslim countries, they are often carried by merchants who sell other imported Islamic goods, such as clothing. Crafty people may even like to make their own!

Alternatives

There are Muslims who see the subha as an unwelcome innovation. They argue that the Prophet Muhammad himself did not use them, and they are an imitation of ancient prayer beads used in other religions and cultures. As an alternative, some Muslims use their fingers alone to count recitations. Beginning with the right hand, the worshipper uses the thumb to touch each joint of each finger. Three joints on a finger, over ten fingers, results in a count of 33.

Pronunciation: sub'-ha

Also Known As: misbaha, dhikr beads, worry beads. The verb to describe the use of the beads is tasbih or tasbeeha. These verbs are also sometimes used to describe the beads themselves.

Alternate Spellings: subhah

Common Misspellings:

 "Rosary" refers to the Christian/Catholic form of prayer beads. Subhaare similar in design but have distinct variations.

Examples:

The old woman fingered the subha (Islamic prayer beads) and recited prayers while she waited for her grandson to be born.