During Salah

Remembrance and duʿa recited within the physical sequence of the prayer itself - from the opening supplication through to salām

52 remembrances · every one sourced and scholarly reviewed

فِي الصَّلَاةِ

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١
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ ، وَلَا 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.
Virtue
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. He 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)
Explanation
سُبْحَان: Negates all negative attributes from Him. Thus, Allah (ʿazza wa jall) is Perfect; free from any weakness, defect and oppression. Allah (ʿazza wa jall) does not bear resemblance to any of His Creation.حَمْدِ: Affirms all of His positive attributes. Ḥamd is to describe the praised one with perfection, love and utmost respect.تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ: Your Name is Perfect, Exalted, Holy and is the source of all good in the heavens and the earth.The Name of Allah (ʿazza wa jall) is full of blessing and good. Uttering His Name before eating prevents Shayṭān from sharing your meal. Similarly, if you slaughter an animal without uttering the Name of Allah, it remains unlawful for you to eat. Thus, all matters which are not preceded by the Name of Allah (ʿazza wa jall) are deficient and defective.جَدُّكَ: This refers to Allah’s majesty, greatness and grandeur.وَلاَ إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ: This is the kalimah (utterance) of tawḥīd (oneness), which all Messengers were sent with. It means there is none worthy of worship except for Allah (ʿazza wa jall).All of the above naturally guides us to this ultimate word of truth. After affirming and uttering Allah’s absolute unique perfection, it only makes sense that He is the Only One who should be worshipped.
References
Abū Dāwūd 775
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٢
اَللّٰهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِـيْ وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَاىَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ نَقِّنِيْ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَاىَ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ.
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.
Virtue
Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would pause between the opening takbir and the recitation. I 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)
References
Bukhārī 744, Muslim 598
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٣
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيْرًا طَيِّبًا مُّبَارَكًا فِيْهِ.
All praise is for Allah; an abundant, sincere and blessed praise.
Virtue
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).
References
Muslim 600
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٤
اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيْرًا ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ كَثِيْرًا ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ بُكْرَةً وَّأَصِيْلًا.
Allah is Greater, the Greatest: abundant praise is for Allah, and how Perfect is Allah in the morning and the evening.
Virtue
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).
References
Muslim 601
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٥
اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ جَبْرَائِيْلَ وَمِيْكَائِيْلَ وَإِسْرَافِيْلَ ، فَاطِرَ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ، عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ ، أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيْمَا كَانُوْا فِيْهِ يَخْتَلِفُوْنَ ، اِهْدِنِيْ لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيْهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ ، إِنَّكَ تَهْدِيْ مَنْ تَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيْمٍ.
O Allah, Lord of Jabrā’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 to the truth in matters over which there is disagreement, by Your permission. Certainly, You guide whomsoever You will to a straight path.
Virtue
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)
References
Muslim 770
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٦
وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيْفًا وَّمَآ أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ ، إِنَّ صَلاَتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِيْ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ، لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ ، وَبِذٰلِكَ 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.
Virtue
ʿAlī b. Abū Tālib (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would stand for prayer, he would say: [the above]. When he would do rukū, he would say: اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ وَبِكَ اٰمَنْتُ 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: اَللّٰهُمَّ 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: اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ وَبِكَ اٰمَنْتُ 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: اَللّٰهُمَّ 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)”
Explanation
By saying this duʿā’, you remind yourself of what Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhis-salām) said. You affirm the Oneness of Allah and disassociate yourself from shirk. The duʿā’ acts as a reminder of your purpose in life and that everything you do is for Him. You seek forgiveness and you ask Allah (ʿazza wa jall) to grant you beautiful character. You praise Him and show your desperate need of Him.
References
Muslim 771
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٧
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ ، أَنْتَ نُوْرُ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ ، وَوَعْدُكَ حَقٌّ ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ ، وَالنَّبِيُّوْنَ حَقٌّ ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ حَقٌّ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَبِكَ اٰمَنْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ.
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.
Virtue
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)
References
Bukhārī 6317, 7499
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٨
سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ ، سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ.
Allah is free from imperfection, the Lord of all the worlds. Allah is free from imperfection, and all praise is due to Him.
Virtue
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)
References
Nasā’ī 1618
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٩
اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ⁦(x10)⁩، اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ ⁦(x10)⁩، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ ⁦(x10)⁩، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ⁦(x10)⁩، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ ⁦(x10)⁩، اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَاهْدِنِيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ وَعَافِنِيْ ، أَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنْ ضِيْقِ الْمَقَامِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.
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.
Virtue
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).
References
Nasā’ī 1617
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١٠
أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ.
I seek protection in Allah from the rejected Shayṭān.
Virtue
Allah says: “When you recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from rejected Shayṭān.” (16:98)
Explanation
أَعُوْذُ means I seek refuge. The root عاذ describes fleeing from what you fear will harm you to the One who can protect you from it. Seeking refuge (istiʿādhah) is an act of the heart: you show your need of Allah and humble yourself before Him, acknowledging His power and your own weakness against an unseen enemy The Qur’ān describes Shayṭān as khannās, the one who retreats and comes back. He refused to prostrate to Ādam when the angels obeyed Allah’s command and he still tries to keep people from ṣalāh, from prostration and from reflecting on the Qur’ān. We cannot defeat him by ourselves, so we turn to Allah, the All-Powerful (al-Qawiyy) and the Guardian (al-Ḥafīẓ), for protection
References
16:98
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١١
أَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ 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.
Virtue
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)
Explanation
أَعُوْذُ means I seek refuge. The root عاذ describes fleeing from what you fear will harm you to the One who can protect you from it. Seeking refuge (istiʿādhah) is an act of the heart: you show your need of Allah and humble yourself before Him, acknowledging His power and your own weakness against an unseen enemy The Qur’ān describes Shayṭān as khannās, the one who retreats and comes back. He refused to prostrate to Ādam when the angels obeyed Allah’s command and he still tries to keep people from ṣalāh, from prostration and from reflecting on the Qur’ān. We cannot defeat him by ourselves, so we turn to Allah, the All-Powerful (al-Qawiyy) and the Guardian (al-Ḥafīẓ), for protection
References
Aḥmad 11260
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١٢
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ.
In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very Merciful.
Virtue
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)
Explanation
Beginning with بِسْمِ اللهِ (In the Name of Allah) is an expression of servitude: you begin by asking for Allah’s help and blessing in all that you do. The Name اللهِ belongs to Him alone and refers to the One who alone is worthy of worship الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ: both Names come from the word raḥmah - mercy, compassion and tenderness. Together they describe a Lord whose mercy is vast and constant. Allah says, “My mercy encompasses everything” (7:156) and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Allah said, “Indeed My mercy has preceded My anger” (Muslim) Every blessing we have stems from His mercy and it is through His mercy that we are invited to stand before Him in ṣalāh
References
Aḥmad 11260
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١٣
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّـيَ الْعَظِيْمِ.
How perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent.
Virtue
Ḥudhayfah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said, “I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ one night and he started reciting Sūrah al-Baqarah. I said to myself that he will do rukūʿ at the end of one hundred āyāt, but he carried on reciting. I then said to myself that he will perhaps recite the whole sūrah in a rakʿah, and he carried on reciting. (At the end of Sūrah al-Baqarah), I said to myself that he will (now) go into rukūʿ. However, he then started Sūrah al-Nisā’, and recited it. He then started Sūrah Āl ʿImrān and recited it slowly. When he recited the āyāt which entailed the glorification of Allah (tasbīḥ), he glorified Him. When he recited the āyāt which entailed asking (duʿā’), he would ask Allah. And when he recited the āyāt which entailed the protection of Allah, he sought His protection. He ﷺ then went into rukūʿ and said, [the above]. His bowing lasted about the same length of time as his standing. He then said, ‘May Allah respond to the one who has praised Him’, and he then stood for a long time, about the same length of time as he had spent in bowing. He then performed sajdah and said, ‘How Perfect is my Lord, the Most Exalted’, and his prostration lasted nearly the same length of time as his standing” (Muslim 772).
Explanation
Rukūʿ is one of the most significant pillars of ṣalāh. Its position is one of the most intense symbols of servitude, submission and humility. In rukūʿ, not only do you glorify Allah (ʿazza wa jall) but you also simultaneously humble: the heart, the tongue and the limbs. Feel your self-importance diminishing, whilst the awe and glory of Allah (ʿazza wa jall) expand in your heart. The more your heart glorifies Allah(ʿazza wa jall), the fear and awe of His creation will slowly vanish from your heart.Everything other than Allah (ʿazza wa jall) will begin to appear small and insignificant.Do not rush this position. Take your time, prolong your rukūʿ whenever possible and inshā’Allah you will feel the sweetness and joy in this position.The secret of rukūʿThe adhkār (remembrances) of rukūʿ are the secret of this pillar. Make every effort to memorise them. They will help you in internalising the greatness and grandeur of Allah. The Prophet (ṣall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) would lengthen his rukūʿ to the same duration as his qiyām in his voluntary prayers, repeating the following adhkār with humility, devotion and reflection:سُبْحَانَ رَبِّـيَ الْعَظِيْمِIn stating the word ‘subḥan’, you are declaring the perfection of Allah and negating all deficiencies. This is followed by the word ‘rabbī’ (my Lord). Note the use of the pronoun ‘my’. Saying ‘my’ should stir a sense of closeness, bonding and love. Allah is my Lord, the One who created me, nurtures me, feeds me, clothes me, heals me and manages all of my affairs. Next, you describe Him as ‘al-ʿAẓīm’: the Magnificent, the Great.سُبْحَانَ اللهِ means to glorify Allah  above any imperfection or deficiency i.e Allah is free from all defects. Allah is the Most Glorified who has no partner or rival, who possesses every aspect of perfection, and whose actions are pure and free from evil.
References
Muslim 772
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١٤
سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْجَبَرُوْتِ ، والْمَلَكُوْتِ ، والْكِبْرِيَاءِ ، والْعَظَمَةِ.
How perfect is the Owner of might, dominion, grandeur and greatness!
Virtue
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)
Explanation
اَلْجَبَرُوْتِ might]: the origin of this word is jabr. This refers to:The power and might of Allah , through which He compels His creation according to His will, and through which He will seize the worldly jabābirah (tyrants).Allah mending and restoring the condition of those who are ‘broken’, weak and oppressed.The sublimeness of Allah which cannot be comprehended by thelimited human mind.اَلْمَلَكُوْتِ dominion]: Allah is the King, whose dominion is everything that surrounds us; that which we can see and cannot see. Of the latter are the Kursī, the Throne of Allah, Paradise and the Hell-fire.اَلْكِبْرِيَاءِ grandeur]: This quality is only praiseworthy for Allah, and is not one that human beings should have. Only He is entirely Perfect in every sense.ِاَلْعَظَمَةِ greatness]: There is nothing greater, more vast and more powerful than Allah. Our limited minds cannot perceive His greatness.
References
Nasā’ī 1132, Abū Dāwūd 873
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١٥
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ ، وَبِكَ اٰمَنْتُ ، وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ ، خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِيْ ، وَبَصَرِيْ ، وَمُخِّيْ ، وَعَظْمِيْ ، وَعَصَبِيْ.
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.
Virtue
ʿAlī b. Abī Tālib (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would do rukū, he would say [the above].” (Muslim 771)
Explanation
سَمْعِيْ My hearing]: My hearing has humbled to You, thereby, ensuring I will not listen to anything that displeases you. I will not listen to evil speech, backbiting or music.بَصَرِيْ My sight]: My sight has humbled to You. I will, therefore, not look at anything unlawful.These two senses have been singled out in this duʿā’ because they are responsible for most of our distractions. The humbling of both these senses and ensuring they submit to Allah will result in an automatic decrease in the whispers of Shayṭān. The impact of this will then appear on the rest of the body.
References
Muslim 771
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١٦
سُبُّوْحٌ، قُدُّوْسٌ، رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوْحِ.
The Supremely Perfect, The Most Pure, The Lord of the Angels and the Spirit (Jibrīl).
Virtue
ʿĀishah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) narrates: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say [the above] in his rukū and sujūd.” (Muslim 487)
Explanation
قُدُّوْسٌ The Most Pure]: Allah b is Pure from all defects and evil. He is Pure in His Essence and in all of His actions. He is Free from what our imaginations perceive about Him; He transcends what we think of as ‘perfection’. He is Free from oppression, partner or child. There is no one like Him. He purifies the hearts of His believing slaves, and is glorified by them and the angels.
References
Muslim 487
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١٧
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ.
How perfect are You, O Allah, our Lord, and all praise is for You. O Allah, forgive me.
Virtue
ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said [the above] in his rukūʿ and sujūd. (Bukhārī 794, Muslim 784)
Explanation
This duʿā’ affirms the positive attributes of Allah(ʿazza wa jall), and negates all negative attributes. The praise also precedes the request for forgiveness, making it likelier to be accepted.The Prophet ﷺ would supplicate regularly with this duʿā’. ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) reported, “I did not see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performing any prayer since (Sūrahal-Naṣr) was revealed, except that he supplicated or said in it [the above supplication]” (Muslim).This is because Sūrah al-Naṣr contains the direct commandment of Allah (ʿazza wa jall) to His beloved ﷺ: “Then extol the perfection and praise of your Lord, and seek forgiveness from Him. Surely He is Ever-Relenting” (110:3).The above command was revealed to him at the end of his life to prepare him to meet his Lord. Thus, he ﷺ was instructed to occupy himself in glorifying, praising and seeking forgiveness from Him.
References
Bukhārī 794, Muslim 784
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١٨
سُبْحَانَكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.
How Perfect are You, and all praise is for You. There is no god worthy of worship except You.
Virtue
‘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)
References
Muslim 485
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١٩
اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ.
O Allah, our Lord, to You Alone belongs all praise.
Virtue
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)
References
Bukhārī 796
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٢٠
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، حَمْدًا كَثِيْرًا طَيِّبًا مُّبَارَكًا فِيْهِ.
Our Lord, to You Alone belongs all praise; abundant, pure and blessed praise.
Virtue
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).
References
Bukhārī 799
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٢١
لِرَبِّيَ الْحَمْدُ ، لِرَبِّيَ الْحَمْدُ.
For my Lord alone is all praise. For my Lord alone is all praise.
Virtue
Hudayfah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhau) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ lifted his head from rukūʿ, he said [the above]. (Nāsā’ī 1069)
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٢٢
رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ بَعْدُ ، أَهْلَ الثَّنَاءِ وَالْمَجْدِ ، أَحَقُّ مَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ – وَكُلُّنَا لَكَ عَبْدٌ – اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ ، وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ ، وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ.
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. The greatest truth the slave can utter is – and we are all Your slaves - O Allah, there is none who can withhold what You give, and none can give what You withhold; and the wealth of the wealthy does not avail him from You
Virtue
Abū Saʿīd al-Khuḍrī (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrated that when the Messeneger of Allah would raise his head after bowing, he would say [the above]. (Muslim 477)
Explanation
لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ ، وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ (O Allah, there is none who can withhold what You give, and none can give what You withhold]: This is reminiscent of the Prophet’s advice to his cousin ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAbbās (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu), who narrated, “One day I was behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (on a camel) and he said to me, ‘Son, Iwill teach you some words: Be mindful of Allah and He will be mindful of you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him in front of you. When you ask, then ask Allah. When you seek help, then seek help from Allah. Know that if the nation gathered together to benefit you with something, they would only benefit you with something that Allah has already written for you. If they gathered together to harm you with something, they would only harm you with something that Allah had already written against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried’ (Tirmidhī).اَلْجَدُّ: Jadd means good fortune and includes: wealth, power, and fame. None of these can protect you from the punishment of Allah (ʿazza wa jall).
References
Muslim 477
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٢٣
اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَمِلْءَ الْأَرْضِ وَمِلْءَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدُ.
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.
Virtue
Ibn ʿAbbās (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhumā) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised his head after bowing, he said [the above]. (Muslim 478)
References
Muslim 478
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٢٤
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمَاءِ وَمِلْءَ الْأَرْضِ، وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدُ، اَللّٰهُمَّ طَهِّرْنِيْ بِالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَالْمَاءِ الْبَارِدِ، اَللّٰهُمَّ طَهِّرْنِيْ مِنَ الذُّنُوْبِ وَالْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْوَسَخِ‏.
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.
Virtue
ʿAbdullāh b. Abī Awfā (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would raise his head after bowing, he would say [the above]. (Muslim 476)
References
Muslim 476
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٢٥
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّـيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ.
How Perfect is my Lord, the Most High.
Virtue
Ḥudhayfah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said, “I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ one night and he started reciting Sūrah al-Baqarah. I said to myself that he will do rukūʿ at the end of one hundred āyāt, but he carried on reciting. I then said to myself that he will perhaps recite the whole sūrah in a rakʿah, and he carried on reciting. (At the end of Sūrah al-Baqarah), I said to myself that he will (now) go into rukūʿ. However, he then started Sūrah al-Nisā’, and recited it. He then started Sūrah Āl ʿImrān and recited it slowly. When he recited the āyāt which entailed the glorification of Allah (tasbīḥ), he glorified Him. When he recited the āyāt which entailed asking (duʿā’), he would ask Allah. And when he recited the āyāt which entailed the protection of Allah, he sought His protection. He ﷺ then went into rukūʿ and said, ‘How Perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent.’ His bowing lasted about the same length of time as his standing. He then said, ‘May Allah respond to the one who has praised Him’, and he then stood for a long time, about the same length of time as he had spent in bowing. He then performed sajdah and said, [the above], and his prostration lasted nearly the same length of time as his standing” (Muslim 772).
References
Muslim 772
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٢٦
سُبُّوْحٌ قُدُّوْسٌ، رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوْحِ.
The Supremely Perfect, The Most Pure, The Lord of the Angels and the Spirit (Jibrīl).
Virtue
ʿĀishah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) narrates: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say [the above] in his rukūʿ and sajdah.” (Muslim 487)
References
Muslim 487
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٢٧
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وبِحَمْدِكَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ.
How Perfect are You, Allah our Lord, and for You is all praise. O Allah, forgive me.
Virtue
ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would frequently recite [the above] in his rukūʿ and sujūd, in order to comply with the command of the Qur’ān. (Muslim 484)
References
Muslim 484
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٢٨
سُبْحَانَكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.
You are free from imperfection, and all praise is to You. There is no god worthy of worship except You.
Virtue
‘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)
References
Muslim 485
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٢٩
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ ، وَبِكَ اٰمَنْتُ ، وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ ، سَجَدَ وَجْهِيْ لِلَّذِيْ خَلَقَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ ، تَبَارَكَ اللّٰهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِيْنَ.
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.
Virtue
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)”
Explanation
Whilst reading this duʿā’, feel a sense of shame and shyness from the One who granted you all of the aforementioned blessings; and yet you still disobey Him.Imagine you were blind and Allah (ʿazza wa jall) had not bestowed you with the gift of sight.Imagine you were deaf and you could not hear your loved ones or the recitation of the Qur’ān.
References
Muslim 771
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٣٠
سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْجَبَرُوْتِ ، وَالْمَلَكُوْتِ ، وَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ ، وَالْعَظَمَةِ.
How perfect is the Owner of might, dominion, grandeur and greatness.
Virtue
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, Abū Dāwūd 873)
References
Nasā’ī 1132, Abū Dāwūd 873
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٣١
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذَنْبِيْ كُلَّهُ ، دِقَّهُ وَجِلَّهُ ، وَأَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ ، وَعَلَانِيَتَهُ وَسِرَّهُ.
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).
Virtue
Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say [the above] in sujūd.” (Muslim 483, Abū Dāwūd 873)
References
Muslim 483, Abū Dāwūd 873
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٣٢
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ ، وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوْبَتِكَ ، وَبِكَ مِنْكَ ، لَا أُحْصِيْ ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ ، أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِكَ‏‏.
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.
Virtue
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)
References
Nasā’ī 1100
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٣٣
سَجَدَ وَجْهِيْ لِلَّذِيْ خَلَقَهُ ، وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ بِحَوْلِهِ وَقُوَّتِهِ ، فَتَبَارَكَ اللّٰهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِيْنَ.
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.
Virtue
ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) narrated: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say [the above] in the sajdah al-tilāwah (Ḥākim 1/220)
References
Ḥākim 1/220
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٣٤
اَللّٰهُمَّ اكْتُبْ لِيْ بِهَا عِنْدَكَ أَجْرًا ، وَضَعْ عَنِّيْ بِهَا وِزْرًا ، وَاجْعَلْهَا لِيْ عِنْدَكَ ذُخْرًا ، وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّيْ كَمَا تَقَبَّلْتَهَا مِنْ عَبْدِكَ دَاوُدَ.
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.
Virtue
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)
References
Tirmidhī 579
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٣٥
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ.
My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.
Virtue
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)
Explanation
Imagine yourself kneeling, waiting for your name to be called out on the Day of Fear in order to be punished. Then you are given a chance to seek pardon; this is your chance. Before it is too late, you implore Allah: ‘My Lord, forgive me…My Lord, forgive me…My Lord, forgive me.’The aforementioned duʿā’ need not be limited to two repetitions; rather, it should be repeated as many times as possible.
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٣٦
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ، وَارْحَمْنِيْ ، وَعَافِنِيْ ، وَاهْدِنِيْ ، وَارْزُقْنِيْ.
O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me wellbeing, guide me and grant me sustenance.
Virtue
ʿAbdullah b. ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā): “The Prophet ﷺ used to say [the above] between the two prostrations.” (Abū Dāwūd 850)
Explanation
All the benefits of this world and of the hereafter are combined in this duʿā’.
References
Abū Dāwūd 850
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٣٧
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ ، اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ.
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.
Virtue
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)
Explanation
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ [All royal greetings]: In different cultures, royalty are shown respect in different ways. Some stand upon their arrival and wait for them to be seated before they themselves sit down. Others bow and curtsy. Royalty are also addressed with specific terms of honour (‘Your Honour/Majesty, Your RoyalHighness’, etc.) and protocols usually dictate what can and cannot be uttered when greeting them.Taḥiyyāt is plural of the word taḥiyyah, and is derived from the word ‘ḥayāt’, meaning life in Arabic. It is a form of greeting similar to ‘Long live the King/ Queen…’ For Allah (ʿazza wa jall), it means that everlasting kingship, ownership and sovereignty belong only to Him as He Alone is the Ever-Living, the only One whowill never die. Thus, He (ʿazza wa jall) is most worthy of all praises and greetings. This is why we say the plural form at-Taḥiyyātu (all royal greetings) and not at-Taḥiyyatu (the singular form) to Allah.وَالصَّلَوَاتُ [All prayers]: All of the ṣalāh we pray and the supplications we make are only directed to Allah.وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ ]All good]: Ṭayyibāt refers to pure attributes, actions and words. Allah (ʿazza wa jall) is Pure and only accepts the ‘pure’. All of His Actions and Attributes are Pure.He is the Lord of the pure ones, and it is only the pure ones who will be granted closeness to Him in the Abode of eternal honour (Paradise). Only pure actions and words, which are carried out solely for His sake, ascend to Him.An Alternative Meaning to the Tashahhud:TAḤIYYĀT : All verbal forms of worship.ṢALAWĀT : All physical forms of worship.ṬAYYIBĀT : All monetary forms of worship.اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ: Along with the right Allah (ʿazza wa jall) , the Creator, has over you, His creation also has a right over you. They have a right to share a portion of your ṣalāh. Accordingly, you should begin with praying for the bestof creation, Muḥammad ﷺ , and then follow this by praying for the righteous servants of Allah.اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ May peace be upon you O Prophet]: al-Salām is one of the Perfect Names of Allah (ʿazza wa jall). By stating ‘peace be upon you’, you are seeking the protection of Allah for the person you are greeting. You are asking Allah (ʿazza wa jall) to take care of him and to keep him safe from all harm and evil.What you are saying is, “O Allah, protect Muḥammad ﷺ in his daʿwah and protect his ummah from every type of deficiency, so that his message reigns supreme, and the glory and honour of his ummah increase.رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ[The mercy of Allah]: You are asking Allah (ʿazza wa jall) to give Muḥammad ﷺ every possible good, and to reward him for everything he did for us.In offering our salām to Muḥammad ﷺ we are also benefitting, as he responds to our greetings. Allah b has greatly privileged us by making us the beneficiaries of the duʿā’ of the greatest man tohave walked on this earth. He ﷺ said, “There is no one who sendssalām upon me, except that Allah returns my soul to me so that I may respond to his salām” (Abū Dāwūd).وَبَرَكَاتُهُ [His blessings]: Barakāt is the plural of barakah which linguistically means growth and increase. You are asking Allah (ʿazza wa jall) to bless the Prophet ﷺ and to bless him ﷺ in his followers by: (1) increasing their numbers and (2) by occupying them in worship as he will share in their reward.اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ After this, you send greetings upon yourself and upon the chosen righteous servants of Allah (ʿazza wa jall) , in accordance with the command of Allah (ʿazza wa jall) to His beloved ﷺ, “Say, all praise is for Allah, and may peace be upon His servants whom He has chosen” (27:59).The caveat here of the ‘righteous’ shows you the importance of trying your best to be from them and to always keep their company.The Prophet ﷺ said that when one utters the above, the supplication “reaches every slave in the sky and the earth” (Bukhārī).أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ Then attest to the Oneness of Allah (ʿazza wa jall). Through this phrase you affirm that He is the only One worthy of being worshipped, loved and obeyed. Everything and anything other than Him (ʿazza wa jall) that is worshipped is falsehood.أَشْهَدُ [I testify]: Ash-hadu means ‘I testify’. You ‘testify’ to something being true when you are certain of its authenticity. Accordingly, this word is befitting hereas you are certain that Allah (ʿazza wa jall) is the only One worthy of being worshipped and Muḥammad ﷺ is the slave and Messenger of Allah.When uttering these words, re-affirm these words by simultaneously raising your index finger to indicate the Oneness of Allah (ʿazza wa jall). When doing so, you must also strive to feel the impact of these words, feeling that you are strangling Shayṭān with this action. When ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā) would sit down in ṣalāh, he would place his hands on his knees and point with his finger and keep his eye focused on it. He said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that the finger is “harder on Shayṭān than iron” (Aḥmad).
References
Bukhārī 6265
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٣٨
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَىٰ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَىٰ اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَىٰ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَىٰ اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ.
O Allah, honour and have mercy upon Muḥammad and the family of Muḥammad as You have honoured and had mercy upon Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm: indeed, You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muḥammad and the family of Muḥammad as You have blessed Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm: indeed, You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.
Virtue
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)
Explanation
Next, after greeting and paying respect to the Lord of the worlds, you now move on to paying your respect to the best of creation ﷺ. You are continuing your assault on Shayṭān by stating the name of the person who irks him the most: his chief enemy, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. After sending ṣalāh, you will go on to making duʿā’. The adab (propriety) of duʿā’ is that you first praise Allah (ʿazza wa jall), and then send ṣalawāt upon His beloved ﷺ, before asking Allah (ʿazza wa jall), for your own needs.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When one of you makes duʿā’, he should start with praising Allah and glorifying his Lord, and should then invoke ṣalāh on the Prophet ﷺ. He should then make duʿā’ for whatever he wishes” (Abū Dāwūd). Hence, the ṣalawāt follow the tashahhud which includes the praises of Allah. Take time out to ponder on the meaning of this beautiful Prophetic utterance, often referred to as al-ṣalāh al-ibrāhīmiyyah.اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ [O Allah, honour and have mercy]: O Allah, have mercy upon Muḥammad and praise him in the lofty assembly. The ‘lofty assembly’ refers to the elite angels who are close to Allah (ʿazza wa jall).Ṣalāh also means ‘honour him’ i.e. honour him in this world by elevating his mention, granting victory to his dīn and preserving his sharīʿah; honour him in the hereafter by rewarding him abundantly, accepting his intercession on behalf of his ummah and granting him the loftiest station of glory (maqām maḥmūd).وَعَلَىٰ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ [And upon the family of Muḥammad ﷺ]: This phrase could be a reference to: 1) His family 2) His followers. By invoking ṣalāh on his followers, you are honouring the Messenger ﷺ by honouring those who are dear to him.بَارِكْ [Bless]: Bārik is derived from barakah, and linguistically has two meanings:(1) to be firm and continuous and (2) to grow and increase. Thus, it is similar to stating, “O Allah continue to bless and honour Muḥammad ﷺ and his followers. Increase him and his followers in every form of good. Bless him in the mission that he came with and make his legacy universal.حَمِيْدٌ [The Most Praiseworthy]: Allah (ʿazza wa jall) is worthy of all praise in His Essence, His Attributes and His Actions. He also praises His praiseworthy slaves. One of His greatest blessings is that He allowed His creation to praise Him.مَّجِيْدٌ [The Most Glorious]: His glory and greatness know no ends. He is the Most Generous and bestows endless favours. He is Noble and Exalted.The glory of Allah (ʿazza wa jall) refers to His beautiful actions combined with nobility.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah has angels who travel around the earth conveying to me the salām of my ummah.” (Nasā’ī).Why do the ṣalawāt end with these two specific names?In asking Allah (ʿazza wa jall) to bestow ‘ṣalawāt’ on His beloved ﷺ, you ask Him to praise him, honour him, and elevate his mention. Thus, it is befitting that you ask ‘alḤamīd’ (The Most Praiseworthy) and ‘al-Majīd’ (The Most Glorious) – the real and ultimate source of praise and glory – to increase the Messenger ﷺ in praise and glory.Why do we send ṣalawāt upon the Messenger ﷺ?Along with complying with Allah’s command, sending ṣalawāt on the Messenger ﷺ is a manifestation of our love, reverence and obedience to him. He was sent as a mercy for mankind, and he always remembered us and worried about us.On one occasion he lifted his hands and while weeping, invoked, “O Allah! My ummah, my ummah!” Allah sent Jibrīl down with the glad tidings, “Muḥammad, surely we will please you in regards to your ummah and we will not cause you grief” (Muslim).In every ṣalāh, he would ask Allah (ʿazza wa jall) to forgive us (Ibn Ḥibbān). He missed us and yearned to see us. He once said, “I wish to see my brothers!” The Companions (radiy Allāhu ʿanhum) asked, “O Messenger of Allah, are we not your brothers?” He replied, “You are my Companions, but my brothers are those who have not yet come in the world.I will welcome them at the Ḥawḍ (blessed fountain)” (Nasā’ī).Unlike the other Messengers who had their exclusive duʿā’ accepted in this world, the Messenger reserved his duʿā’ for the Day of Judgement where he will intercede on our behalf (Bukhārī).The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever sends ṣalāh upon meonce, Allah will send ṣalāh upon him tenfold, erase ten sins fromhim, and will raise him ten degrees in status.” (Nasā’ī).
References
Bukhārī 3370
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٣٩
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ ظُلْمًا كَثِيْرًا ، وَّلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ مَغْفِرَةً مِّنْ عِنْدِكَ ، وَارْحَمْنِيْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ.
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.
Virtue
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)
Explanation
In this duʿā’, you are acknowledging that only He (ʿazza wa jall) can forgive. You are simultaneously humbling yourself, admitting your shortcomings and asking Him (ʿazza wa jall) through His Blessed Names.
References
Bukhārī 834
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٤٠
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ ، وَمِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيْحِ الدَّجَّالِ.
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.
Virtue
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)
References
Muslim 588
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٤١
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيْحِ الدَّجَّالِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَفِتْنَةِ الْمَمَاتِ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْمَأْثَمِ وَالْمَغْرَمِ.
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.
Virtue
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)
References
Bukhārī 832
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٤٢
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أعْلَنْتُ ، وَمَا أَسْرَفْتُ وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّيْ ، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ ، وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا 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.
Virtue
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)
References
Muslim 771
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٤٣
اَللّٰهُمَّ أَعِنِّيْ عَلَىٰ ذِكْرِكَ ، وَشُكْرِكَ ، وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ.
O Allah, help me to remember You, be grateful to You and worship You in an excellent manner.
Virtue
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)
References
Abū Dāwūd 1522
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٤٤
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلَىٰ أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ.
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.
Virtue
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)
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٤٥
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْألُكَ الْجَنَّةَ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ.
O Allah, I beg You for Paradise and I seek Your protection from Hell-fire.
Virtue
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)
References
Abū Dāwūd 792
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٤٦
اَللّٰهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ الْغَيْبَ ، وَقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ ، أَحْيِـنِـيْ مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَـيَاةَ خَيْرًا لِّيْ ، وَتَوَفَّنِيْ إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْرًا لِّيْ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ وَأَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الْقَصْدَ فِي الْفَقْرِ وَالْغِنَىٰ ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيْمًا لَّا يَنْفَدُ ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَّا تَنْقَطِعُ ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضَا بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ بَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَىٰ وَجْهِكَ ، وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَىٰ لِقَائِكَ ، فِيْ غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ ، وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُّضِلَّةٍ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ زَيِّنَّا بِزِيْنَةِ الْإِيْمَانِ ، وَاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُّهْتَدِيْنَ.
O Allah, with Your knowledge of the unseen and Your absolute power over the creation, let me live in this world as long as You know my living is good for me; and give me death when You know death is better for me. 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. O Allah, adorn us with the beauty of faith, and make us those who guide others and are guided themselves.
Virtue
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)
References
Nasā’ī 1305
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٤٧
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ بِأَنَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدَ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْمَنَّانُ ، بَدِيْعُ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ، يَا ذَا الْجَلاَلِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ ، يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّوْمُ.
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.
Virtue
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)
Explanation
Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrated that he was sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ whilst a man was praying. The man went on to supplicate [with the above]. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “He has certainly invoked Allah by His Greatest Name. When He is supplicated by it, He responds; and when asked by it, He gives” (Abū Dāwūd).
References
Abū Dāwūd 1495
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٤٨
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ بِأَنِّيْ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، الْأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ الَّذِيْ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُوْلَدْ ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ.
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.
Virtue
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)
Explanation
Buraydah al-Aslamī (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard a man supplicating [with the above]. He 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 by it, He gives” (Tirmidhī).
References
Tirmidhī 3475
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٤٩
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ.
May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you. May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.
Virtue
ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ would do salām to his right and left until the whiteness of his cheek was seen, while saying [the above]. (Abū Dāwūd 996)
Explanation
Thank Allah for allowing you to complete your ṣalāh and to be among those who remember Him. However carefully you prayed, be humble about its shortcomings and hope that He accepts it, so seek His forgiveness by saying أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ three times. Then remain seated for a while in your place of prayer and recite the adhkār after ṣalāh Pray each ṣalāh as though it may be your last and beware of becoming pleased with yourself (ʿujb) about your devotion in it
References
Abū Dāwūd 996
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٥٠
اَللّٰهُمَّ اهْدِنِيْ فِيْمَنْ هَدَيْتَ ، وَعَافِنِيْ فِيْمَنْ عَافَيْتَ ، وَتَوَلَّنِيْ فِيْمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ ، وَبَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْمَا أَعْطَيْتَ ، وَقِنِيْ شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ ، إِنَّكَ تَقْضِيْ وَلَا يُقْضَىٰ عَلَيْكَ ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَّالَيْتَ ، وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ.
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.
Virtue
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)
References
Abū Dāwūd 1425
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٥١
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِيْنُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ ، وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنُثْنِيْ عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ ، وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَّفْجُرُكَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ ، وَلَكَ نُصَلِّيْ وَنَسْجُدُ ، وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعَىٰ وَنَحْفِدُ ، نَرْجُوْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشَىٰ عَذَابَكَ ، إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ الْجِدَّ بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحِقٌ.
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.
Virtue
Abū ʿAbdur Raḥmān relates: “Ibn Masʿūd (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) taught us that we read [the above] in the qunūt.” (Ibn Abī Shaybah 518/4)
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٥٢
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوْبَتِكَ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ ، لَا أُحْصِيْ ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ ، أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِكَ.
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.
Virtue
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)
References
Abū Dāwūd 1427, Tirmidhī 3566, Ibn Mājah 1179; Muslim 486
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