اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلَاهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا.
O Allah, grant my soul its piety, and purify it, for You are the best of those who purify it. You are its Guardian and its Master. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered.
Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha, wa zakkiha anta khayru man zakkaha, anta waliyyuha wa mawlaha. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa', wa min qalbin la yakhsha', wa min nafsin la tashba', wa min da'watin la yustajabu laha.
When to Read
This dua is comprehensive and can be recited anytime, particularly in the morning and evening. It's especially relevant when we feel our words might stray into falsehood, gossip, or backbiting, as it covers seeking Allah's protection against all forms of unrighteousness, including the misuse of the tongue.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and heartfelt conviction. Focus on the meaning of each phrase, asking Allah directly to imbue your soul with taqwa (consciousness of Him) and to purify your intentions and actions. Raising your hands during the supplication is a sunnah, though not strictly required for this specific dua. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would often repeat his duas three times, so repeating this is also beneficial.
Virtues & Benefits
This powerful dua, taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself, encompasses seeking Allah's protection in several crucial areas that directly relate to guarding our tongue. By asking for taqwa and purification of the soul, we are essentially asking for the inner strength to refrain from lies and harmful speech. The supplication against 'knowledge that does not benefit' and 'a heart that does not feel humble' are directly linked to the mindset that can lead to arrogance and the justification of falsehood. A purified heart and beneficial knowledge naturally lead to truthful and constructive speech. This dua helps cultivate the inner discipline necessary to uphold the truth, a cornerstone of good character in Islam.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Zayd ibn Arqam that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught them this supplication: 'Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha, wa zakkiha anta khayru man zakkaha, anta waliyyuha wa mawlaha. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa', wa min qalbin la yakhsha', wa min nafsin la tashba', wa min da'watin la yustajabu laha.' (Sahih Muslim 1576)