اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِعْلَ خَيْرَاتِ، وَتَرْكَ مُنْكَرَاتِ، وَحُبَّ الْمَسَاكِينِ، وَأَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي، وَتَرْحَمَنِي، وَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ فِتْنَةً فِي قَوْمٍ فَتَوَفَّنِي غَيْرَ مَفْتُونٍ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ، وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ، وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُنِي إِلَى حُبِّكَ
O Allah, I ask You to enable me to do good deeds, and to abandon evil deeds, and to love the poor. And I ask You to forgive me and have mercy on me. And when You intend to try a people, take me to Yourself without putting me to trial. And I ask You for Your love, and the love of those who love You, and the love of deeds which bring me closer to Your love.
Allahumma inni as'aluka fi'la khayrat, wa tarkal munkarat, wa hubbal masakin, wa an taghfira li, wa tarhamani, wa idha aradta fitnatan fi qawmin fa tawaffani ghaira maftun. Wa as'aluka hubbak, wa hubba man yuhibbuk, wa hubba 'amalin yuqarribuni ila hubbik.
When to Read
This dua is excellent to recite at any time, especially when reflecting on the importance of good companions and seeking Allah's help to be a good friend ourselves. It's particularly fitting after salaah, during the night, or anytime one feels the need to draw closer to Allah and His beloved.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere intention and conviction, raising your hands as you would for other supplications. Focus on the meaning of each phrase, asking Allah to instill in you the love for good deeds, the avoidance of sin, and compassion for the less fortunate. The request for His love and the love of those who love Him is central to seeking good qualities that attract righteous people. Ensure you are in a state of wudu if possible, and face the Qiblah.
Virtues & Benefits
This comprehensive dua, though not explicitly about 'friendship' in terms of selecting friends, encompasses the very qualities that attract and sustain trustworthy relationships. By asking Allah for the ability to do good deeds and avoid evil, we become individuals of good character. Loving the poor and needy cultivates empathy and humility, essential traits for genuine connection. The core of the dua, seeking Allah's love and the love of those who love Him, naturally draws one towards righteous company. As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, 'A person is on the religion of his friend, so let one of you look carefully at whom he takes as a close friend.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 4833, Hasan). Therefore, by embodying these divine qualities, one becomes a desirable and trustworthy friend.
Source & Authentication
The hadith refers to the supplication of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The full context is that the Prophet ﷺ used to say when he woke up at night: 'O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mikail, Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your servants about that wherein they differed. Guide me to the truths about which they differed by Your permission. Indeed, You guide whom You will to a straight path.' (Sahih Muslim 770). The specific portion of the dua relevant here is often found in other collections like Tirmidhi, emphasizing actions, love, and seeking Allah's protection.