اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لأَحْسَنِ الأَخْلاَقِ لا يَهْدِي لأَحْسَنِهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا لا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
O Allah, guide me to the best of character, for no one can guide to the best of it except You. And turn me away from bad character, for no one can turn me away from bad character except You.
Allahumma ihdini li-ahsani al-akhlaaq, la yahdi li-ahsaniha illa anta, wa-srif 'anni sayyi'aha, la yasrifu 'anni sayyi'aha illa anta.
When to Read
This dua is profound because it directly asks Allah to align our inner being with the excellence of the companions. We can make it a part of our daily supplications, especially after our obligatory prayers, or at times when we feel we need a spiritual boost to improve our character and interactions with others. Think about times you might have fallen short in patience, kindness, or truthfulness – that's a prime moment to turn to this dua.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a focused heart. Imagine yourself embodying the noble traits of the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them all) – their patience, their truthfulness, their generosity, their unwavering faith. Understand that 'akhlaaq' encompasses not just our outward behavior but our inner disposition and intentions. By asking Allah to guide us to the best, we are seeking His help in purifying our hearts and actions, mirroring the excellence of those who were closest to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is incredibly powerful as it seeks the very essence of righteousness. The companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were lauded for their exceptional character, their deep faith, and their unwavering commitment to Islam. By asking Allah to guide us to the 'best of character,' we are essentially asking to be molded into individuals who reflect the noble example of the Sahabah. This includes virtues like patience (sabr), gratitude (shukr), truthfulness (sidq), humility (tawadu'), kindness (ihsan), and courage (shaja'ah). Striving for such character is a direct path to pleasing Allah and earning His pleasure, as our character is a significant aspect of our faith.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'O Allah, guide me to the best of character, for no one can guide to the best of it except You. And turn me away from bad character, for no one can turn me away from bad character except You.'