سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdik, ash-hadu an la ilaha illa ant, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaik
When to Read
This beautiful dua is perfect for starting any gathering, whether it's a formal meeting, a casual study circle, or even just a discussion among friends. It's a way to purify our intentions and seek Allah's blessing before we begin. Imagine everyone sitting down, ready to start discussing a project or delving into a lesson. Right before the first word is spoken, you can all recite this together, setting a positive and God-conscious tone for the entire session.
How to Read
Recite this with sincerity, ideally with everyone present. It's best to say it aloud if you're in a group, fostering a shared sense of intention. Focus on the meaning of the words: acknowledging Allah's perfection, testifying to His oneness, and seeking His forgiveness for any shortcomings in your own conduct or speech. It's a simple yet profound way to imbue your activities with Barakah (blessing).
Virtues & Benefits
This dua acts as a spiritual 'clean-up' for any unintended wrong speech or actions that might occur during a gathering. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us that this is the 'Kaffarah al-Majlis' or the expiation for the sitting. It cleanses the gathering from idle talk, backbiting, or any other negative speech that might have slipped out unintentionally. By starting with this, we aim to ensure our discussions are beneficial and pleasing to Allah, seeking His forgiveness should anything less than ideal arise.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'Whoever sits in a gathering and has done many vain things therein, and then recites the words: > **Arabic:** سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ > **Translation:** 'Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.' Then he will be forgiven for (the sins committed during) that sitting.' — Sunan Abi Dawud 935, graded Sahih by Al-Albani.