سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ 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.
Subhanakallāhumma wa bihamdik, ash-hadu allā ilāha illā anta, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilaik.
When to Read
This beautiful dua is specifically recommended to be recited at the end of any gathering, meeting, or council session, especially one that involved discussion, decision-making, or the implementation of any matter, including matters related to Islamic law. It serves as a beautiful way to conclude, acknowledging any shortcomings and seeking Allah's acceptance. Imagine finishing a crucial meeting where you've discussed ways to apply Allah's commands in your community – this is the perfect utterance to seal that effort.
How to Read
Recite this dua once after the gathering has concluded, ideally just before everyone disperses. It is said once, with sincerity and reflection on the words. Take a moment to consider the meaning: you are glorifying Allah, testifying to His oneness, admitting any unintentional mistakes or misspoken words during the meeting, and seeking His forgiveness and acceptance of your efforts. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us this specific phrasing to purify our gatherings.
Virtues & Benefits
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua, indicating its profound significance. Its primary benefit is the expiation of any unintentional flaws or shortcomings that may have occurred during the gathering. Whether it was idle talk, a mistake in judgment, or simply the nature of human imperfection, this dua cleanses the record of the meeting. The Prophet ﷺ said regarding this dua: 'Whoever says this in a gathering, it will be a seal for them (i.e., a means of expiation for whatever flaws occurred in the gathering). And whoever says it in relation to a message he uttered, it will be a seal for that message.' (Sahih al-Tirmidhi 3433). For a council meeting focused on implementing Islamic law, this dua is particularly vital, ensuring that even our sincere efforts are purified and accepted by Allah.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'If anyone sits in a gathering and there is much promiscuous talk in it, and before leaving the place he says: *Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdik, ash-hadu allā ilāha illā anta, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilaik* (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 it will be an expiation for what took place in the gathering. And if anyone sits in a gathering for the purpose of business or anything else, and he says the same words, then it will be an expiation for whatever took place in the gathering.' (Sahih al-Tirmidhi 3433).