سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ
Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise is Yours. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdik, ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaik.
When to Read
This profound dua is perfect to recite after completing any act of worship, like prayer (salah) or reciting the Quran. It's especially fitting after you've made sincere repentance (tawbah) and sought Allah's forgiveness. Think of it as a closing remark to your worship, acknowledging Allah's perfection and your own need for His mercy. It's also a beautiful way to start your day, setting a tone of humility and reliance on Him, or to end your day, reflecting on your actions.
How to Read
Recite this with a humble heart, raising your hands slightly as you do when making supplication. Focus on the meaning of each word: acknowledging Allah's glory, testifying to His oneness, and admitting your need for His forgiveness and guidance. The intention (niyyah) is key – it should be a genuine expression of gratitude for the opportunity He has given you to turn back to Him.
Virtues & Benefits
This supplication encapsulates the essence of gratefulness for two immense blessings: Allah's absolute perfection (Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdik) and the unparalleled opportunity He grants us to repent and seek His forgiveness (astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaik). The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua to be recited after finishing prayer, signifying that even our acts of worship may contain shortcomings, and we must seek Allah's pardon for them. It is a powerful statement that earns Allah's forgiveness for whatever might have occurred during the gathering or session. It reminds us that repentance is not a one-time event but a continuous journey, and Allah's door is always open for those who turn to Him.
Source & Authentication
Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, whenever he said the prayer, would not sit down except at the end of his prayer, and he would say: 'Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdik, la ilaha illa Anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaika' (Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise is Yours. There is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance). When the prayer was said when it was hot, he would say this supplication twice, or three times. (Sunan Abi Dawud 3914, Classified as Sahih by Al-Albani. Also found in Sunan An-Nasa'i 1303, graded Sahih)