اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لأَحْسَنِ الأَخْلاقِ لا يَهْدِي لأَحْسَنِها إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَها لا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَها إِلَّا أَنْتَ.
O Allah, guide me to the best of conduct and good character, for none can guide to the best of it except You. And divert me from bad conduct and character, for none can divert from bad conduct and character except You.
Allahumma ihdini li-ahsanil-akhlaq, la yahdi li-ahsaniha illa Anta, wasrif 'anni sayyi'aha la yasrifu 'anni sayyi'aha illa Anta.
When to Read
This is a foundational dua that can be recited at any time, especially after Salah, during the night, or whenever you feel a struggle with honesty. It's particularly relevant when facing situations where telling the truth might lead to personal difficulty, such as admitting a mistake, standing up for what is right, or avoiding gossip.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and conviction, focusing on the meaning. Raise your hands as is customary for supplication, and seek Allah's help with a humble heart. Repeat it regularly to entrench the request in your mind and heart.
Virtues & Benefits
Seeking Allah's guidance to attain the best character is a sign of understanding that true strength and integrity come from Him alone. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself constantly sought the best character, and this dua embodies that aspiration. By asking Allah to guide you to the best and protect you from the worst, you are essentially asking for the internal fortitude and moral compass necessary to always speak the truth, even when it's challenging.
Source & Authentication
Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: He (the Prophet ﷺ) never used to occupy himself with anything else on the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah. He observed fasting for these days and he said: 'O Aishah, do you remember what happened last year?' I said: 'What?' He said: 'Were it not that the people would be given the opportunity to offer sacrifices, I would have sacrificed it (the sheep) for the sake of Allah. And this is the day of the feast, the day of eating the meat of the sacrificial animals. And the last ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah are the days of voluntary fasting. And the month of Ramadan and the month of Dhu al-Hijjah and Dhu al-Qadah, are all of them (in regard to virtue) the same as far as the (voluntary) fasting is concerned, and they are.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'O Allah, guide me to the best of conduct and good character, for none can guide to the best of it except You. And divert me from bad conduct and character, for none can divert from bad conduct and character except You.'