Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa bi-ḥamdika wa tabāraka-smuka wa taʿālā jadduka wa lā ilāha ghayruk.
“How Perfect are You O Allah, and all praise is Yours. Your Name is most blessed, Your majesty is exalted and there is no god worthy of worship except You.”
Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up to pray at night (for tahajjud prayer) he uttered the takbīr and then said [the above].
He then said: لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ (There is no god but Allah) three times.
He then said: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا (Allah is altogether great) three times.
e then said: أَعُوْذُ بِاللّهِ السَّمِيْعِ الْعَلِيْمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ، مِنْ هَمْزِهِ وَنَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثِهِ (I seek protection in Allah, the All-Hearing and All-Knowing from the rejected Shaytān; from him inciting madness, pride and reprehensible poetry.) (Abū Dāwūd 775)
Allāhumma bāʿid baynī wa bayna khaṭāyāya kamā bāʿadta bayna-l-mashriqi wa-l-maghrib, Allāhumma naq-qinī min khaṭāyāya kamā yunaq-qa-th-thawbul-abyaḍu mina-d-danas, Allāhumma-ghsilnī min khaṭāyāya bil-māi’ wa-th-thalji wal-barad.
“O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the East from the West. O Allah purify me from my sins as white cloth is purified from dirt. O Allah wash away my sins with water, hail and snow.“
Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would pause between the opening takbir and the recitation. said: ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, the pause between the opening takbir and the recitation, what do you say?’ He replied: ‘I say [the above].’ (Bukhārī 744, Muslim 598)
Alḥamdu li-llāh ḥamdan kathīran ṭayyiban mubārakan fīh.
“All praise is for Allah; an abundant, sincere and blessed praise.“
Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that a man came panting and joined the row (of congregants in ṣalāh), and then uttered [the above]. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished his ṣalāh, he said, “…I saw twelve angels competing with each other to ascend with it.” (Muslim 600).
Allahu akbaru kabira walhamdu li-llah kathira, wa subhana-allahi bukaratan wa asila
“Allah is greater the greatest: abundant praise is for Allah, and how Perfect is Allah in the morning and the evening.“
ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) narrated, “Once we were praying with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when a man said [the above]. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ (after the ṣalāh) asked, “Who uttered those words?” The man replied, “It was me, O Messenger of Allah.” He ﷺ said, “I was amazed by them – the doors of heaven were opened for them.” Ibn ʿUmar said, “I have not stopped saying these words since I heard this statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” (Muslim 601).
Allāhumma Rabba Jibrā’īla, wa Mīkā’īla, wa Isrāfīl, fāṭira-s-samāwāti wa-l-arḍ, ʿālima-l-ghaybi wa-sh-shahādah, Anta taḥkumu bayna ʿibādika fīmā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūn, ihdinī lima-khtulifa fīhi mina-l-ḥaqqi bi-idhnik, innaka tahdī man tashā’u ilā Ṣirāṭi-m-Mustaqīm.
“O Allah, Lord of Jibrā’īl, Mīkā’īl and Isrāfīl; Creator of the heavens and the earth; Knower of the unseen and seen, You will judge between Your servants in what they used to differ. Guide me in what is contentious to the truth, by Your Will. Certainly, You guide whomsoever You will to a straight path.“
ʿAbdur Raḥmān b. ʿAwf (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated: I asked ‘A’isha (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā), the mother of the believers, (to tell me) the words with which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commenced the Ṣalāh when he got up at night. She said: “When he got up at night he would commence his Ṣalāh with [the above] words. (Muslim 770)
Wajjahtu wajhī lil-ladhī faṭara-s-samāwāti wal-arḍa ḥanīfan wa mā ana mina-l-mushrikīn, inna ṣalātī, wa nusukī, wa maḥyāya, wa mamātī lil-lāhi Rabbi-l-ʿĀlamīn, la sharīka lahu wa bi-dhālika umirtu wa ana mina-l-muslimīn. Allāhumma Antal-Maliku lā ilāha illā Ant, Anta Rabbī wa ana ʿabduk, ẓalamtu nafsī waʿtaraftu bi-dhambī, fa-ghfir lī dhunūbī jamīʿā, innahū lā yaghfiru-dh-dhunūba illā Ant, wa-hdinī li-aḥsani-l-akhlāqi lā yahdī li-aḥsanihā illā Ant, wa-ṣrif ʿannī sayyi’ahā lā yaṣrifu ʿannī sayyi’ahā illā Ant, labbayka wa saʿdayk, wal-khayru kulluhū fī yadayk, wa-sh-sharru laysa ilayk, ana bika wa ilayk, tabārakta wa taʿālayt, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk.
“I have turned my face towards the One who created the heavens and the earth, turned away from all that is false having surrendered to Allah, and I am not of the polytheists. My ṣalāh, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds, who has no partners. I have been commanded of this, and I am of those who submit. O Allah, You are the King, there is no god worthy of being worshipped except You. You are my Lord and I am Your slave. I have wronged myself and I confess my sins. Forgive all of my sins, for no one forgives except You. Guide me to the best of character, for no one guides to the best of it except You; and turn the evil of it away from me, for no one turns it away except You. Here I am, seeking Your pleasure and at Your service. All good is in Your hands and no evil is attributed to You. My (existence, protection and success) is from You and I am returning to You. You are Most Blessed and You are Most Exalted. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.“
ʿAlī b. Abū Tālib (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would stand for prayer, he would say: [the above].(Muslim 771)”
Allāhumma laka-l-ḥamdu Anta Nūru-s-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi wa man fīhinn, wa laka-l-ḥamdu Anta Qayyimu-s-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi wa man fīhinn, wa laka-l-ḥamd, Anta-l-Ḥaqq wa waʿduka ḥaqq, wa qawluka ḥaqq, wa liqā’uka ḥaqq, wal-jannatu ḥaqq, wa-n-nāru ḥaqq, wa-s-sāʿatu ḥaqq, wa-n-nabiyyūna ḥaqq, wa muḥammadun ḥaqq, Allāhumma laka aslamtu wa ʿalayka tawakkaltu wa bika āmantu, wa ilayka anabtu, wa bika khaṣamtu, wa ilayka ḥākamtu.
“O Allah, for You Alone is all praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and whatever is therein. For You Alone is all praise; You are the Maintainer of the heavens and the earth and whatever is therein. And for You Alone is all praise; You are the Truth, Your promise is the truth, and Your speech is the truth. The meeting with You is the truth, Paradise is the truth, and Hell-Fire is the truth. The Final Hour is the truth, the Prophets are the truth and Muhammad is the truth. O Allah, I surrender myself to You Alone, I put my trust in You Alone, and I believe in You Alone. I turn to You Alone, I complain of my opponents to You Alone and I refer judgement to You Alone.“
Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) narrates: “When the Prophet ﷺ would stand for the night (tahajjud) prayer, he would say [the above].” (Bukhārī 6317, 7499)
Subḥānallāhi Rabbi-l-ālamin, subḥānallāhi wa bi-ḥamdih.
“Allah is free from imperfection, the Lord of all the worlds. Allah is free from imperfection, and all praise is due to Him.“
Rabīʿah bin Kaʿb al-Aslamī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) said: “I used to stay overnight at the home of the Prophet ﷺ and I used to hear him when he prayed night saying: [the above] for a long time.” (Nasā’ī 1618)
Allāhu akbar (x10), alḥamdu li-llāh (x10), subḥāna-llāh (x10), lā ilāha illā-Allāh (x10), astaghfiru-l-llāh (x10), Allāhumma ghfir lī wa-hdinī wa-rzuqnī wa āfinī, aʿūdhu bi-llāhi min ḍīqi-l-maqāmi yawma-l-qiyāmah.
“Allah is the Greatest. All praise be to Allah. Allah is free from imperfection. There is no god but Allah. I seek Allah’s forgiveness. O Allah, forgive me, guide me, grant me sustenance and wellbeing. I seek your protection from the anguish of standing on the Day of Judgement.“
ʿĀsim b. Ḥumayd said, “I asked ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) about what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to start his night prayer with. She said, “You have indeed asked me something which no one before you has asked me. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say [the above]” (Nasā’ī 1617).
Aʿūdhu bi-llāhi mina-sh-Shayṭāni-r-rajīm.
“I seek protection in Allah from the rejected Shayṭān.“
Aʿūdhu bi-llāhi-s-Samīʿi-l-ʿAlīm mina-sh-Shayṭāni-r-rajīm, min hamzihī wa nafkhihī wa nafthih.
“I seek protection in Allah, the All-Hearing and All-Knowing from the rejected Shaytān; from him inciting madness, pride and reprehensible poetry.“
Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up to pray at night (for tahajjud prayer) he uttered the takbīr and then said:
سُبْحَانَكَ اَللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ ، وَلاَ إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ (How Perfect are You O Allah, and all praise is Yours. Your Name is most blessed, Your majesty is exalted and there is no god worthy of worship except You.).
He then said: لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ (There is no god but Allah) three times.
He then said: اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا (Allah is altogether great) three times. He then said [the above]. (Aḥmad 11260)
Bismi-llāhi-r-Raḥmāni-r-Raḥīm.
“In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very Merciful.“
Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up to pray at night (for tahajjud prayer) he uttered the takbīr and then said:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ ، وَلاَ إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
(How Perfect are You O Allah, and all praise is Yours. Your Name is most blessed, Your majesty is exalted and there is no god worthy of worship except You.).
He then said: لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اَللّٰهُ (There is no god but Allah) three times.
He then said: اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا (Allah is altogether great) three times. He then said [the above]. (Aḥmad 11260)
Subḥāna Rabiyya-l-ʿAẓīm.
“How perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent.“
(Muslim 772, Abu Dawud 871)
Subḥāna dhi-l-jabarūt, wa-l-malakūt, wa-l kibriyā’, wa-l-ʿaẓamah.
“How perfect is the Owner of might, dominion, grandeur and greatness!“
ʿAwf b. Mālik (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “I stood with the Prophet ﷺ. He started by using the siwāk and performing wuḍū, then he stood and prayed. He started reciting al-Baqarah and he did not come to any verse that spoke of mercy but he paused and asked for mercy, and he did not come to any verse that spoke of punishment but he paused (and sought refuge with Allah from that). Then he bowed and he stayed bowing for as long as he had stood, and he said while bowing: [the above] Then he prostrated for as long as he had bowed, saying while prostrating: [the above]. Then he recited al ʿImrān, then another sūrah and another, doing that each time.” (Nasā’ī 1132, Abū Dāwūd 873)
Allāhumma laka rakʿatu, wa bika āmantu, wa laka aslamtu, khashʿa laka samʿī, wa baṣarī, wa mukhkhī, wa aẓmī, wa aṣabī.
“O Allah, for You Alone I have bowed in prayer, in You Alone I have believed, and to You Alone I have submitted. My hearing, sight, mind, bones and nerves are humble to You.“
(Muslim 771)
Subbūḥun, Quddūsun, Rabbul-malā’ikati wa-r-rūḥ.
“The Supremely Perfect, The Most Pure, The Lord of the Angels and the Spirit (Jibrīl).“
ʿĀishah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) narrates: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say [the above] in his rukū and sujūd.” (Muslim 487)
Subḥānaka Allāhumma Rabbanā, wa bi-ḥamdika, Allāhumma-ghfir lī.
“How perfect are You, O Allah, our Lord, and all praise is for You. O Allah, forgive me.“
(Bukhārī 794, Muslim 784)
Subḥānaka wa bi-ḥamdika lā ilāha illā ant.
“How Perfect are You, and all praise is for You. There is no god worthy of worship except You.“
‘Ā’isha (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) reported: “One night, I was unable to find the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (in his bed). I thought that he might have gone to one of his other wives. I searched for him and then came back and (found him) in a state of bowing, or prostration, saying: [the above]. I said: ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed for you. I was thinking of (another) affair, whereas you are (occupied) in a different one.’” (Muslim 485)
Allāhumma Rabbanā laka-l-ḥamd.
“O Allah, our Lord, to You Alone belongs all praise.“
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When the Imām says: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه say: اللهم ربنا لك الحمد, for indeed whoever coincides in saying this with the angels, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhārī 796)
Rabbanā laka-l-ḥamdu, ḥamdan kathīran ṭayyiban mubārakan fīh.
“Our Lord, to You Alone belongs all praise; abundant, pure and blessed praise.“
Rifāʿah b. Rāfiʿ (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhau) narrated, “One day we were praying behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When he ﷺ raised his head from rukūʿ, he said, سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
A man behind him said, رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، حَمْدًا كَثِيْرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيْهِ
When he ﷺ finished, he asked, ‘Who uttered those words?’ The man replied, ‘Me.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘I saw some thirty-something angels racing to write it first.’” (Bukhārī 799).
Li-Rabbiya-l-ḥamd, li-Rabbiya-l-ḥamd.
“For my Lord alone is all praise. For my Lord alone is all praise.“
“Hudayfah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhau) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ lifted his head from rukūʿ, he said [the above].” (Nāsā’ī 1069)
Rabbanā laka-l-ḥamdu mil’a-s-samāwati wa-l-arḍ, wa mil’a mā shi’ta min shay’in baʿdu ahla-thanā’i wa-l-majd, aḥaqqu mā qāla-l-ʿabdu, wa kullunā laka ʿabdun: Allāhumma lā māniʿa li-mā aʿaṭayt, wa lā muʿṭiya li-mā manʿat, wa lā yanfaʿu dha-l-jaddi minka-l-jadd.
“O Allah, Our Lord, for You Alone is all praise; praise which fills the heavens, which fills the earth, which fills whatever is in between them, and which fills whatever You wish after that.“
(Muslim 477)
Allāhumma Rabbanā laka-l-ḥamdu mil’a-s-samāwati wa mil’a-l-arḍ, wa mil’a mā baynahumā, wa mil’a mā shi’ta min shay’in baʿdu.
“O Allah, for You Alone is all Praise which fills the heavens and the earth and all that is in between them, and which fills whatever You wish after that.“
(Muslim 478)
Allāhumma laka-l-ḥamdu mil’a-s-samā’i wa mil’a-l-arḍ, wa mil’a mā shi’ta min shay’in baʿdu, Allāhumma tahhirnī bi-thalji wa-l-mā’i-l-bārid, Allāhumma ṭahhirnī mina-dh-dhunūb wa-l-khaṭāyā kamā yunaqqa-th-thawbu-l-abyaḍu mina-l-wasakh.
“O Allah, purify me with snow, hail and cold water. O Allah, purify me from sins and mistakes as white cloth is purified of dirt.“
(Muslim 476)
Subḥāna Rabbiya-l-Aʿlā.
“How Perfect is my Lord, the Most High.“
(Muslim 772)
Subbūḥun, Quddūsun, Rabbul-malā’ikati wa-r-rūḥ.
“The Supremely Perfect, The Most Pure, The Lord of the Angels and the Spirit (Jibrīl).”
ʿĀishah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) narrates: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say [the above] in his rukūʿ and sajdah.” (Muslim 487)
Subḥānaka Allāhumma Rabbanā, wa bi-ḥamdika, Allāhumma-ghfir lī.
“How Perfect are You, Allah our Lord, and for You is all praise. O Allah, forgive me.“
(Muslim 484)
Subḥānaka wa bi-ḥamdika lā ilāha illā ant.
“You are free from imperfection, and all praise is to You. There is no god worthy of worship except You.“
‘A’isha (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) reported: “One night, I was unable to find the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (in his bed). I thought that he might have gone to one of his other wives. I searched for him and then came back and (found him) in a state of bowing, or prostration, saying: [the above]. I said: ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed for you. I was thinking of (another) affair, whereas you are (occupied) in a different one.’” (Muslim 485)
Allāhumma laka sajadtu, wa bika āmantu, wa laka aslamtu, sajada wajhī lil-ladhī kalaqahū, wa ṣawarrahū, wa shaqqa samʿahū wa baṣarahū, tabāraka-l-lāhu aḥsanu-l-khāliqīn.
“O Allah, for You Alone I have prostrated, in You Alone I have believed, and to You Alone I have submitted. My face has prostrated to the One who created and fashioned it, and who formed its hearing and sight. Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.“
ʿAlī b. Abī Tālib (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would stand for prayer, he would say: وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيْفًا وَّمَآ أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ ، إِنَّ صَلاَتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِيْ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ، لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ ، وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، أَنْتَ رَبِّيْ وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ ، ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِيْ فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ ذُنُوْبِيْ جَمِيْعًا، إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، وَاهْدِنِيْ لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِيْ لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّيْ سَيِّئَهَا لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّيْ سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ ، وَالْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِيْ يَدَيْكَ ، وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ ، أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ ، تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْكَ (I have turned my face towards the One who created the heavens and the earth, turned away from all that is false having surrendered to Allah, and I am not of the polytheists. My ṣalāh, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds, who has no partners. I have been commanded of this, and I am of those who submit. O Allah, You are the King, there is no god worthy of being worshipped except You. You are my Lord and I am Your slave. I have wronged myself and I confess my sins. Forgive all of my sins, for no one forgives except You. Guide me to the best of character, for no one guides to the best of it except You; and turn the evil of it away from me, for no one turns it away except You. Here I am, seeking Your pleasure and at Your service. All good is in Your hands and no evil is attributed to You. My (existence, protection and success) is from You and I am returning to You. You are Most Blessed and You are Most Exalted. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.) When he would do rukū, he would say: اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي وَمُخِّي وَعَظْمِي وَعَصَبِي (O Allah, for You Alone I have bowed in prayer, in You Alone I have believed, and to You Alone I have submitted. My hearing, sight, mind, bones and nerves are humble to You.) When he would raise his head from rukū, he would say: اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَمِلْءَ الأَرْضِ وَمِلْءَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ بَعْدُ (O Allah, Our Lord, for You Alone is all praise; praise which fills the heavens, which fills the earth, which fills whatever is in between them, and which fills whatever You wish after that.) When he would do sajdah, he would say [the above]. The last thing he would say after the tashahhud and the salām would be: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَفْتُ وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ (O Allah, forgive me for what I have done in the past and for what I am yet to do, for what I have done privately and for what I have done publicly, for my excesses and for that which You know more than me. You are the One who brings forward and the One who puts behind, and there is no god worthy of worship except You.) (Muslim 771)”
Subḥāna Dhil-jabarūt, wal-malakūt, wal-kibriyā’i wal-ʿaẓamah.
“How perfect is the Owner of might, dominion, grandeur and greatness.“
ʿAwf b. Mālik (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “I stood with the Prophet ﷺ. He started by using the siwāk and performing wudū, then he stood and prayed. He started reciting Sūrah al-Baqarah and he did not come to any verse that spoke of mercy but he paused and asked for mercy, and he did not come to any verse that spoke of punishment but he paused (and sought refuge with Allah from that). Then he bowed and he stayed bowing for as long as he had stood, and he said while bowing: [the above]. Then he prostrated for as long as he had bowed, saying while prostrating: [the above]. Then he recited Sūrah āl ʿImrān, then another surah and another, doing that each time.” (Nasā’ī 1132)
Allāhumma-ghfir lī dhambī kullah, diqqahū wa jillah, wa awwalahū wa ākhirah, wa ʿalāniyatahū wa sirrah.
“O Allah, forgive for me all of my sins: the minor and major, the first and the last, the public and the private (Muslim 483).“
Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say [the above] in sujūd.” (Muslim 483, Abū Dāwūd 873)
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bi-riḍāka min sakhatik, wa bi-muʿāfātika min ʿuqūbatik, wa bika minka, lā uḥṣī thanā’an ʿalayk, Anta kamā athnayta ʿalā nafsik.
“O Allah, indeed, I seek protection in Your pleasure from Your anger, and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and in You from Your [aforementioned anger and punishment]. I cannot enumerate Your praise. You are as You have praised Yourself.“
ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) said, “One night, I noticed that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was missing. I found him (in the Masjid), in prostration with his feet upright; he was saying [the above]” (Nasā’ī 1100)
Sajada wajhī lil-ladhī kalaqahū, wa shaqqa samʿahū wa baṣarahū bi-hawlihī wa quwwatihī, fatabāraka-l-lāhu aḥsanu-l-khāliqīn.
“My face has prostrated to the One who created it, and who formed its hearing and sight through His power and strength. How Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.“
Allāhumma-ktub lī bihā ʿindaka ajrā, wa-ḍaʿ ʿannī bihā wizrā, wa-jalhā lī indaka dhukhrā,wa-taqabbalhā minnī kamā taqabbaltahā min ʿabdika Dāwūd.
“O Allah, record for me a reward by You through it [i.e. the prostration] and remove from me my sins because of it. Make it a treasure for me in Your keeping, and accept it from me as You accepted it from Dāwūd.”
Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) said: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I had a dream at night while I was sleeping in which I was praying behind a tree, when I prostrated the tree prostrated along with me. Then I heard it saying [the above]. (Tirmidhī 579)
Rabbi-ghfir lī, Rabbi-ghfir lī.
“My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.“
Hudhayfah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying at night. He said: “Allah is the greatest” (three times). He then said: “How perfect is the Owner of dominion, might, grandeur and greatness!” He then began (his salah) and recited Surah al-Baqarah; then he bowed and he paused in bowing as long as he stood up; he said while bowing, “How perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent.” “How perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent.“; then he raised his head, after bowing: then he stood up and he paused as long as he paused in bowing and said, “Praise be to my Lord” ; then he prostrated and paused in prostration as long as he paused in the standing position; he said while prostrating: “How Perfect is my Lord, the Most High.“; then he raised his head after prostration, and sat as long as he prostrated, and said while sitting: “O my Lord forgive me.” He offered four rak’ahs of prayer and recited in them Sūrah al-Baqarah, Āl Imran, an-Nisā, al-Mā‘idah, or al-An’ām. The narrator Shu’bah doubted. (Abu Dāwūd 874)
Allāhumma-ghfir lī, war-ḥamnī, wa ʿāfinī, wah-dinī war-zuqnī.
“O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me wellbeing, guide me and grant me sustenance.”
ʿAbdullah b. ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā): “The Prophet ﷺ used to say [the above] between the two prostrations.” (Abū Dāwūd 850)
At-taḥiyyātu lil-lāhi, wa-ṣalawātu, wa- ṭayyibātu, as-salāmu ʿalyaka ayyuha-n-nabiyyu wa raḥmatul-lāhi wa barakātuh, as-salāmu ʿalyanā wa ʿalā ʿibādillah-ṣ-ṣalihīn, ash-hadu an-lā ilāha illa-l-lāhu wa ashadu an-na Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh.
“All royal greetings belong to Allah, as do prayers and good (deeds and words). May peace, the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you O Prophet. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.“
Ibn Mas’ūd (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me the Tashahhud as he taught me a sūrah from the Qur’an, while my hand was between his hands. (Bukhārī 6265)
“Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdu-m-Majīd, Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammad, wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdu-m-Majīd.“
“O Allah, honor and have mercy upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as you have honored and had mercy upon Ibrahim indeed you are the most praiseworthy the most glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim indeed, you are the most praiseworthy, the most glorious”
ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā (raḥimahullāh) said: “Kaʿb ibn ʿUjrah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) met me and said: ‘Shall I not give you a gift I received from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?’ I replied: ‘Yes of course, gift it to me.’ So he said: ‘We asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, how should we invoke ṣalāh upon you, the members of the family, for Allah has taught us how to send salām upon you?” He ﷺ replied: “Say: [the above].” (Bukhārī 3370)
Allāhumma innī ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīrā, wa lā yaghfiru-dh-dhunūba illā Ant, fa-ghfir lī maghfirata-m-min ʿindik, war-ḥamnī, innaka Anta-l-Ghafūru-r-Raḥīm.
“O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly and no one forgives sins except You; grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy upon me. You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.“
Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to teach me a du’ā so that I may invoke Allah with it in my salāh. He told me to say: [the above].” (Bukhārī 834).
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika min ʿadhābi Jahannam, wa min ʿadhābil-qabr, wa min fitnati-l-maḥyā wal-mamāt, wa min sharri fitnati-l-Masīḥi-d-Dajjāl.
“O Allah, I seek Your protection from the punishment of the fire, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of al-Masīḥ al-Dajjāl.“
Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When any one of you utters the tashahhud (in salāh), he should seek refuge with Allah from four and should say [the above].” (Muslim 588)
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika min ʿadhābil-qabr, wa aʿūdhu bika min fitnati-l-Masīḥi-d-Dajjāl, wa aʿūdhu bika min fitnati-l-maḥyā wa fitnati-l-mamāt, Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika mina-l-ma’thami wa-l-maghram.
“O Allah, I seek Your protection from the punishment of the grave, and I seek Your protection from the trial of the al-Masīḥ al-Dajjāl, and I seek Your protection from the trials of life and death. O Allah, I seek Your protection from sin and debt.“
ʿĀishā (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to invoke Allah in Salāh saying [the above]. Somebody said to him, “Why do you so frequently seek refuge with Allah from being in debt?” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “A person in debt tells lies when he speaks, and breaks promises when he makes (them).” (Bukhārī 832)
Allāhumma-ghfirlī mā qaddamtu wa mā akh-khart, wa mā asrartu wa mā aʿlant, wa mā asraftu wa mā Anta aʿlamu bihī minnī, Anta-l-Muqaddimu wa Anta-l-Muakh-khir, lā ilāha illā ant.
“O Allah, forgive me for what I have done in the past and for what I am yet to do, for what I have done privately and for what I have done publicly, for my excesses and for that which You know more than me. You are the One who brings forward and the One who puts behind, and there is no god worthy of worship except You.“
ʿAlī b. Abū Tālib (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would stand for prayer, he would say: وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيْفًا وَّمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ ، إِنَّ صَلاَتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِيْ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ، لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ ، اَللّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، أَنْتَ رَبِّيْ وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ ، ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِيْ فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ ذُنُوْبِيْ جَمِيْعًا، إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، وَاهْدِنِيْ لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِيْ لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّيْ سَيِّئَهَا لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّيْ سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ ، وَالْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِيْ يَدَيْكَ ، وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ ، أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ ، تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْكَ (I have turned my face towards the One who created the heavens and the earth, turned away from all that is false having surrendered to Allah, and I am not of the polytheists. My ṣalāh, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds, who has no partners. I have been commanded of this, and I am of those who submit. O Allah, You are the King, there is no god worthy of being worshipped except You. You are my Lord and I am Your slave. I have wronged myself and I confess my sins. Forgive all of my sins, for no one forgives except You. Guide me to the best of character, for no one guides to the best of it except You; and turn the evil of it away from me, for no one turns it away except You. Here I am, seeking Your pleasure and at Your service. All good is in Your hands and no evil is attributed to You. My (existence, protection and success) is from You and I am returning to You. You are Most Blessed and You are Most Exalted. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.) When he would do rukū, he would say: اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي وَمُخِّي وَعَظْمِي وَعَصَبِي (O Allah, for You Alone I have bowed in prayer, in You Alone I have believed, and to You Alone I have submitted. My hearing, sight, mind, bones and nerves are humble to You.) When he would raise his head from rukū, he would say: اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَمِلْءَ الأَرْضِ وَمِلْءَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ بَعْدُ (O Allah, Our Lord, for You Alone is all praise; praise which fills the heavens, which fills the earth, which fills whatever is in between them, and which fills whatever You wish after that.) When he would do sajdah, he would say: اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ (O Allah, for You Alone I have prostrated, in You Alone I have believed, and to You Alone I have submitted. My face has prostrated to the One who created and fashioned it, and who formed its hearing and sight. Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.) The last thing he would say after the tashahhud and the salām would be [the above]. (Muslim 771)
Allāhumma aʿinnī ʿalā dhikrika wa shukrika wa ḥusni ʿibādatik.
“O Allah, help me to remember You, be grateful to You and worship You in an excellent manner.“
Muʿādh b. Jabal (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took him by the hand and he said, “O Muʿādh, I swear by Allah that I love you. I swear by Allah that I love you. O Muʿādh, I advise you not to forget supplicating after every prayer by saying: [the above]. (Abū Dāwūd 1522)
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika mina-l-bukhl, wa aʿūdhu bika mina-l-jubn, wa aʿūdhu bika min an uradda ilā ardhali-l-ʿumur, wa aʿūdhu bika min fitnati-d-dunyā, wa ʿadhābi-l-qabr.
“O Allah, I seek Your protection from miserliness, I seek Your protection from cowardice and I seek Your protection from being sent back to a miserable old age. I seek Your protection from the trials of the world and from the punishment of the grave.“
Musʿab b. Saʿd and ‘Amr b. Maymūn al-Awdī (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) narrates that Saʿd b. Abī Waqqās (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) used to teach his children these words as a teacher teaches his students, and he would say that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to seek refuge (with Allah) with [the above] at the end of every prayer. (Nasa’ī 5479)
Allāhumma innī as’aluka-l-jannah, wa aʿūdhu bika mina-n-nār
“O Allah, I beg You for Paradise and I seek Your protection from Hell-fire.“
Abū Sāliḥ reported on the authority of some Companions (radiy Allāhū ‘anhum) that the Prophet ﷺ said to a person: “What do you say in prayer?” He replied: “I first recite (the) tashahhud, and then I say [the above], but I do not understand your sound and the sound of Muʿādh (i.e. what you say or he says in prayer). The Prophet ﷺ said: “We too go around it (i.e. our supplication is also related to Paradise and Hell-fire).” (Abū Dāwūd 792)
Allāhumma bi-ʿilmika-l-ghayb, wa qudratika ʿala-l-khalq, aḥyinī mā kānati-l-ḥayātu khayra-l-lī, wa tawaffanī idhā kānati-l-wafātu khayra-l-lī, Allāhumma innī as’aluka khashyataka fi-l-ghaybi wa-sh-shahādah, wa as’aluka kalimata-l-ḥaqqi fi-r-riḍā wa-l-ghaḍab, wa as’aluka-l-qaṣda fi-l-faqr wa-l-ghinā, wa as’aluka naʿīma-l-lā yanfad, wa as’aluka qurrata ʿayni-l-lā tanqaṭiʿ, wa as’aluka-r-riḍā baʿda-l-qaḍā, wa as’aluka barda-l-ʿayshi baʿda-l-mawt, wa as’aluka ladh-dhata-n-naẓari ilā wajhik, wa-sh-shawqa ilā liqā’ik, fī ghayri ḍarrā’a muḍirrah, wa lā fitnati-m-muḍillah, Allāhumma zayyinnā bi-zīnati-l-īmān, wa-jʿalnā hudāta-m-muhtadīn.
“O Allah, I ask You for Your fear in private and in public, and for the word of truth in times of joy and anger. I ask You for moderation in poverty and in wealth. I ask You for endless blessings and perpetual delights. I ask You to make me pleased with destiny; for a cool and comfortable life after death; for the pleasure of seeing Your Face; and for the longing to meet You, without any painful ordeals and tribulations that misguide.“
ʿAṭā b. as-Sā’ib narrated that his father said: “ʿAmmār b. Yāsir (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) led us in prayer and he made it brief. Some of the people said to him: ‘You made the prayer sort (or brief).’ He said: ‘Nevertheless I still recited supplications that I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’ When he got up and left, a man- he was my father but he did not name himself- followed him and asked him about that supplication, then he came and told the people [the above].” (Nasā’ī 1305)
Allāhumma innī as’aluka bi-anna laka-l-ḥamd, lā ilāha illā Antal-Mannān, Badīʿu-s-samāwāti wal-arḍ, yā Dhal-jalāli wal-ikrām, yā Ḥayyu yā Qayyūm.
“O Allah, I beg You as all praise only belongs to You. There is no god worthy of worship except You, the Giver of all good, the Originator of the heavens and the earth. O Lord of Majesty and Honour, O the Ever Living, O the One who sustains and protects all that exists.“
Anās b. Malik (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates that I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and a man was offering ṣalāh. The man then said [the above]. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remarked: “He has certainly asked Allah with His Greatest Name; when He is supplicated by it, He responds, and when asked, He gives.” (Abū Dāwūd 1495)
Allāhumma innī as’aluka bi-annī ash-hadu an-naka Anta-llāhu lā ilāha illā Anta-l-Aḥadu-ṣ-Ṣamad, al-ladhī lam yalid, wa lam yūlad, wa lam yakul-lahū kufuwan aḥad.
“O Allah, I ask You as I bear witness that You are Allah, there is no god worthy of worship except You, the One, the Self-Sufficient Master, the One who has not given birth and was not born, and to whom no one is equal.“
Buraydah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard a man saying [the above]. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remarked: “By the One in Whose Hand is my life, He has certainly asked Allah with His Greatest Name; when He is supplicated by it, He responds, and when asked, He gives.” (Tirmidhī 3475)
Assālamu ʿalaykum wa Raḥmatu-llāhi, Assālamu ʿalaykum wa Raḥmatu-llāhi
“May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you. May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.“
Allāhumma-h-dinī fī-man hadayt, wa ʿāfinī fī-man ʿāfayt, wa tawallanī fī-man tawal-layt, wa bārik lī fī-mā aʿṭayt, wa qinī sha-ra mā qaḍayt, innaka taqḍī wa lā yuqḍā ʿalayk, wa innahū lā yadhillu man wālayt, wa lā yaʿizzu man ʿādayt, tabārakta rabbanā wa taʿālayt
.
“O Allah, guide me amongst those You have guided, grant me wellbeing amongst those You have granted wellbeing, and befriend me amongst those You have befriended. Bless me in what You have given me and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed: You are the One who decrees and You are not decreed against. Whomsoever You befriend will never be disgraced, and whomsoever You oppose will never be honoured. You are the Most Blessed, our Lord and You are the Most Exalted.“
Ḥasan b. ʿAlī (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me some words that I say during the witr ṣalāh. (The version of Ibn Jawwās has: I say them in the Qunūt (supplication) of the witr Salāh.) They were: [the above]. (Abū Dāwūd 1425)
Allāhumma innā nastaʿīnuka wa nastaghfiruka, wa nu’minu bika wa nuthnī ʿalayka-l-khayr, wa lā nakfuruka wa naklaʿu wa natruku may-yafjuruk, Allāhumma iyyāka naʿbudu, wa laka nuṣallī, wa nasjud, wa ilayka nasʿā wa naḥfid, wa narjū raḥmatak, wa nakhshā ʿadhābak, inna ʿadhābaka-l-jidda bi-l-kuffāri mulḥiq.
“O Allah, we beg You for Your help and we seek Your forgiveness. We believe in You, we praise You highly, and we are not ungrateful to You. We move away from and leave those who disobey You. O Allah, You Alone we worship, to You Alone we pray and prostrate, to You Alone we strive and hasten. We hope for Your mercy and we fear Your punishment: Your severe punishment will surely be meted out to the disbelievers.“
Abū ʿAbdur Raḥmān relates: “Ibn Masʿūd (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) taught us that we read [the above] in the qunūt.” (Ibn Abī Shaybah 518/4)
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bi-riḍāka min sakhatik, wa bi-muʿāfātika min ʿuqūbatik, wa aʿūdhu bika minka, lā uḥṣī thanā’an ʿalayk, Anta kamā athnayta ʿalā nafsik.
“O Allah, I seek protection in Your pleasure from Your anger. I seek protection in Your forgiveness from Your punishment. I seek protection in You from Your [aforementioned anger and punishment]. I cannot enumerate Your praise. You are as You have praised Yourself.“
ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say [the above] at the end of his witr ṣalāh.” (Abū Dāwūd 1427, Tirmidhī 3566, Ibn Mājah 1179) In another narration, it is narrated from Aishā (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā): “I noticed that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was missing from his bed one night, so I went looking for him, and my hand touched the soles of his feet while he was prostrating with his feet upright. He was saying: [the above without the word إِنِّيْ].” (Muslim 486)