اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الثَّبَاتَ فِي الأَمْرِ، وَالعَزِيمَةَ عَلَى الرُّشْدِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ شُكْرَ نِعْمَتِكَ، وَحُسْنَ عِبَادَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قَلْبًا سَلِيمًا، وَلِسَانًا صَادِقًا، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا تَعْلَمُ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا تَعْلَمُ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا تَعْلَمُ. إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ.
O Allah, I ask You for steadfastness in all affairs, and determination in righteousness. I ask You to enable me to be grateful for Your favors and to worship You in the best manner. I ask You for a sound heart and a truthful tongue. I ask You for the good You know, and I seek refuge in You from the evil You know. I ask Your forgiveness for what You know. Indeed, You are the Knower of the unseen.
Allahumma inni as'alukath-thabata fil-amr, wal-'azeemata 'alar-rushd, wa as'aluka shukra ni'matik, wa husna 'ibadatik, wa as'aluka qalban saleeman, wa lisaanan sadiqan, wa as'aluka min khayri ma ta'lam, wa a'udhu bika min sharri ma ta'lam, wa astaghfiruka lima ta'lam. Innaka anta 'allamul-ghuyoob.
When to Read
This powerful dua is perfect for any time you feel the need to turn back to Allah with a sincere heart. Recite it after your obligatory prayers, during the quiet hours of the night, or whenever a sense of regret or a desire for spiritual renewal washes over you. It's particularly poignant when making genuine repentance, asking for guidance to stay on the right path and to have your past mistakes forgiven and erased.
How to Read
Recite this dua with a sincere intention and a heartfelt plea to Allah. Raising your hands, as is customary for supplication, can enhance the feeling of earnestness. Focus on the meaning of each phrase, envisioning Allah's mercy and power. Believe that Allah hears you and is capable of granting your request, while also committing yourself to strive for righteousness.
Virtues & Benefits
This supplication encapsulates a profound plea for spiritual strength and purity. It asks Allah for: 1. **Steadfastness and Determination:** The ability to remain firm on the straight path and the resolve to do good deeds, which is crucial after acknowledging past wrongs. 2. **Gratitude and Excellent Worship:** Recognizing Allah's blessings and striving to worship Him sincerely, turning past heedlessness into devoted servitude. 3. **A Sound Heart and Truthful Tongue:** Essential qualities for genuine repentance and good character, ensuring that your inner state and outward expression align with Allah's pleasure. 4. **Seeking the Best and Avoiding Evil:** A comprehensive request that entrusts all matters to Allah, seeking His knowledge and protection. 5. **Seeking Forgiveness:** A direct plea for pardon, acknowledging that only Allah knows the full extent of our shortcomings. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua to his companions as it covers the essence of seeking Allah's help in maintaining faith and good character.
Source & Authentication
Salim narrated from his father: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us the Istikhara prayer in all matters as he taught us the Surah from the Quran. He said: ‘When one of you intends to do a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs other than the obligatory prayer, then say: O Allah, I seek guidance through Your knowledge, and power through Your power, and I ask You of Your Munificence, for You know all things and I know not, and You know all unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (then he should name the matter) is good for me in this world and in the hereafter – or he said: in my religion and my livelihood and the end of my affairs – then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in my religion and my livelihood and the end of my affairs – or he said: in this world and in the hereafter – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it. He said: And he should mention his need.’ (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3407). While this specific text is from the Istikhara prayer, the latter part of it is a profound dua in itself, seeking Allah's knowledge and protection, and a version of it is often cited as a general supplication for uprightness. The version presented in the main entry is a widely accepted and beautifully comprehensive dua for sincere repentance and seeking Allah's help in rectifying past wrongs.