اللَّهُمَّ أَحْيِنِي مَا كَانَتِ الْحَيَاةُ خَيْرًا لِي، وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا كَانَتِ الْوَفَاةُ خَيْرًا لِي
O Allah, keep me alive so long as life is good for me, and cause me to die when death is better for me.
Allahumma ahyini ma kanatil-hayatu khairan li, wa tawaffani idha kanatil-wafatu khairan li.
When to Read
This profound dua is particularly relevant when you find yourself wrestling with thoughts of mortality, feeling anxious about death's inevitability, or struggling with an underlying fear of what awaits. It is a supplication taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ not to wish for death due to distress, but rather to express complete trust and submission to Allah's divine decree concerning the duration of your life and the timing of your death. Recite it when you are overwhelmed by the unknown, seeking peace and contentment in Allah's perfect plan, and desiring goodness in whatever state He wills for you.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity, allowing your heart to acknowledge Allah's perfect knowledge and wisdom over what is truly best for you in both life and death. When you say it, you are asking Him to grant you a life that is beneficial, filled with good deeds, and pleasing to Him. Simultaneously, you are asking Him to take your soul when death itself becomes better for you, perhaps as a means of saving you from greater trials or ushering you into a higher state. Focus on the deep meaning, letting it soothe your anxieties and remind you that your ultimate fate rests in the Most Merciful hands.
Virtues & Benefits
The primary benefit of this dua is the cultivation of **peace of mind and contentment with Allah's divine decree (qadar)**. By uttering these words, you align your will with Allah's, accepting that He alone knows what is truly good for you, whether it be a longer life or an earlier passing. This helps you to navigate fears surrounding death by placing your complete **trust (tawakkul)** in Allah. The hadith context highlights that it is a **permissible and recommended way to address thoughts about death**, especially if you are facing hardships, guiding you to seek goodness in all of Allah's dispensations rather than succumbing to despair or improperly wishing for death.
Source & Authentication
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: > **Arabic:** "لاَ يَتَمَنَّيَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ الْمَوْتَ مِنْ ضُرٍّ أَصَابَهُ، فَإِنْ كَانَ لاَ بُدَّ فَاعِلاً فَلْيَقُلْ: اللَّهُمَّ أَحْيِنِي مَا كَانَتِ الْحَيَاةُ خَيْرًا لِي، وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا كَانَتِ الْوَفَاةُ خَيْرًا لِي" > > **Translation:** "None of you should wish for death because of a calamity that has befallen him, but if he must wish, let him say: 'O Allah, keep me alive so long as life is good for me, and cause me to die when death is better for me.'" > > — Sahih al-Bukhari 5671