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 taqwa (consciousness of You), 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 is not humbled, 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 profoundly beneficial to recite daily, perhaps after the obligatory prayers or upon waking. It's particularly relevant when you feel a need to reconnect with your purpose, or when you notice yourself slipping into complacency or neglecting your spiritual growth. Making it a regular practice helps to instill a continuous mindset of checking oneself and seeking Allah's help in staying on the right path.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a deep sense of humility, reflecting on each phrase. Visualize your soul and ask Allah to imbue it with righteousness and contentment. Focus on the plea for beneficial knowledge and a heart that fears Allah. The act of seeking refuge in Allah from these specific negative traits highlights the importance of active effort in purifying oneself.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua directly addresses the core of self-criticism and accountability by asking Allah to grant our souls Taqwa, which is the very essence of fearing Allah and being mindful of Him in all matters. Seeking purification from Allah acknowledges our own limitations and dependence on His grace. The supplication for protection against useless knowledge, unhumbled hearts, insatiable souls, and unanswered prayers is a powerful way to ensure our actions and intentions are aligned with what is pleasing to Allah. It encourages us to constantly evaluate our pursuit of knowledge, the state of our hearts, our desires, and the efficacy of our supplications.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Zayd ibn Arqam that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught them a supplication to say at the end of their Witr prayer: 'Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'amal al-shaitan wa syfat la yujadduhu qadi. Wa a'udhu bika min khayr an aj'ala ma qad fahamtahu aw ma qad ta'allamtuhu wa ma qad fa'altuhu. 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 qalb la yakhsha', wa min nafsin la tashba', wa min da'watin la yustajabu laha.' (Sahih Muslim 1304) Note: The opening part of the hadith text presented in some sources includes a slightly different wording related to seeking refuge from the deeds and whispers of Shaytan and regarding understanding and actions. The part relevant to self-criticism and accountability, which is a standard form of this dua, is the latter portion.