الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ
All praise is due to Allah, who has guided us to this, and we would never have been guided had Allah not guided us.
Alhamdulillah alladhi hadana li-hadha wa ma kunna li-nahtadiya lawla an hadana Allah
When to Read
This powerful declaration of gratitude should be recited whenever you find yourself reflecting on your journey, realizing the immense blessing of being guided to Islam and to righteous deeds. It’s particularly fitting after completing an act of worship, or when observing the steadfastness of yourself or others in obedience. Think of it as a moment to pause and acknowledge the Divine source of all good.
How to Read
Recite this with a sincere heart, fully embracing the meaning. Understand that every good deed, every step towards righteousness, is solely by Allah's grace. Let the words flow from a place of genuine humility and thankfulness, recognizing your own dependence on Him.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is a profound expression of gratitude for the greatest blessing any human can receive: guidance to the truth (Hidayah). It acknowledges that all our efforts in worship and good deeds are only possible because Allah has opened our hearts to them. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself taught this specific phrasing. Reflecting on this reminder can increase our appreciation for Islam and motivate us to remain steadfast, knowing that this guidance is a precious gift that needs to be cherished and maintained through continued obedience and dua.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Al-Bara' bin 'Azib that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was brought to his deathbed, he started putting his cloak on his face, and when he felt hot, he removed it from his face. While in that state, he said: 'Alhamdulillah alladhi hadana li-hadha wa ma kunna li-nahtadiya lawla an hadana Allah. Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. I ask Allah for forgiveness for my shortcomings.' Then he said: 'O Allah, indeed I ask for good in this life and the hereafter. O Allah, I ask of You to forgive me my error and my ignorance, and my extremism in all my affairs. Indeed, I know that You are the most knowledgeable of what is in my chest, and You are the Knower of the unseen.' He said: 'He repeated three times: O Allah, I ask of You to enable me to establish the prayer, and I ask of You to keep me mindful of it, so long as You keep me alive. And I ask of You to make me someone who is very grateful and who is obeyed, and to make me someone who is remembered for good, and to make the [burden of] the family easy for me, and to grant me provision which is pure.' Then he said: 'O Allah, I ask of You the good of the decree, and the [good] life after death.' He said: 'And I seek refuge in You, O Allah, from the torment of the Fire, and from the torment of the grave, and from the trial of the wealth [of this world], and from the trial of poverty, and from the trial of the Dajjal.' He said: 'O Allah, I ask of You to grant me the ability to thank You, to remember You, and to worship You well.' He said: 'Then he began to supplicate with these words.' - Sahih al-Bukhari 4478