اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ شَيْئًا وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لَا أَعْلَمُ
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from associating anything with You consciously, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do so unknowingly.
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika an ushrika bika shai'an wa ana a'lam, wa astaghfiruka lima la a'lam
When to Read
This powerful dua is particularly relevant when we catch ourselves acting with ostentation, or even just fearing that our intentions might be impure. It's a profound supplication to make after acts of worship – like prayer, charity, or reciting the Quran – when the temptation to seek people's praise might creep in. Reciting it diligently, especially during our personal supplications (duas) in the quiet of the night or after obligatory prayers, helps purify our intentions for the sake of Allah alone.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a humble heart, acknowledging our weakness and dependence on Allah for guidance and purity of intention. Raise your hands as you would during personal supplication. Truly believe in Allah's power to protect you from shirk (associating partners with Him), both hidden and apparent, and to forgive sins that we may commit without realizing.
Virtues & Benefits
This supplication directly addresses the hidden sin of riya' (showing off), which can invalidate our good deeds. By seeking refuge in Allah from conscious shirk, we're actively protecting our worship from seeking validation from creation. The request for forgiveness for what we don't know acknowledges our human fallibility and the subtle ways ostentation can manifest, asking Allah to cover our shortcomings. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua to his companions, highlighting its critical importance in maintaining the sincerity of our faith and deeds, ensuring they are solely for the pleasure of our Creator.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'O people, beware of this hidden shirk.' They asked: 'O Messenger of Allah, what is the hidden shirk?' He said: 'It is ostentation (riya'), when a person performs some of the deeds which Allah has made obligatory, he beautifies his prayer only because the people look at him. Whoever does this, his deeds are nullified.' And he said: 'Whoever does ostentation, Allah says: Go away, I have nothing to do with you, your deeds are wasted, and you will get no reward for them.' Then he said: 'Allahumma inni a'udhu bika an ushrika bika shai'an wa ana a'lam, wa astaghfiruka lima la a'lam.' (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from associating anything with You consciously, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do so unknowingly.)