اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and contentment.
Allahumma inni as'alukal-huda wat-tuqa wal-'afafa wal-ghina
When to Read
This is a comprehensive dua that can be recited at any time, but is particularly beneficial when you feel your resolve weakening, or when you are in a situation where you might be influenced by negative company. It's excellent to make this part of your daily supplications, especially after your obligatory prayers, asking Allah to safeguard your heart and actions.
How to Read
Raise your hands as you would for any dua, facing the Qiblah if possible, and recite with sincerity and conviction. Believe that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) is the only one who can grant true guidance and protect you from harm. Utter the words clearly, focusing on the meaning of each request.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encompasses profound requests that lead to a righteous life. 'Guidance' (Al-Huda) means being shown the straight path and being enabled to follow it. 'Piety' (At-Tuqa) refers to having Taqwa, the consciousness of Allah, which is the best provision. 'Chastity' (Al-'Afaf) means abstaining from what is unlawful, both in deeds and desires. 'Contentment' (Al-Ghina) signifies being free from need of others, content with what Allah has provided. By asking for these, we are essentially asking Allah to shield us from the negative influences of bad company that can lead us astray from these very qualities.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abdullah, he said: The Prophet ﷺ, and he was the truthful, the believed (in his Message), narrated to us: "Verily, the creation of each one of you is collected in the womb of his mother for forty days, or forty nights, then he becomes an 'alaqah (a piece of thick blood) for a similar period, then he becomes a mudghah (a lump of flesh) for a similar period. Then Allah sends an angel to him with four words and commands him to write down his deeds, his (lifespan), his livelihood and whether he will be miserable or happy. Then the soul is blown into him. And, verily, a man (or a woman) may do deeds of the people of Paradise as regards outward appearances, though they inwardly deserve the Hell-fire, and vice versa. (Then the Prophet ﷺ added): Verily, you are doing good deeds in front of people to the extent of the patience of one of you, and in front of Allah, it is less than that.' " Then he narrated: "Verily, each of you is constituted in his mother's womb for forty days, then he becomes of the nature of a clot for a similar period, then of the nature of a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then an angel is sent to him with Ruh (i.e. spirit) and is ordered to write two things: To write down his livelihood, and (the second thing) to make him a happy or a wretched person. And the angel writes. And the angel writes: Your deeds, your laziness, what you will do, and the good or bad fate will be decided. Then the angel blows the Ruh into him, and he is a human being. And, verily, or, a man (among you) may do the deeds of the people of Paradise until there is but an arm's length between him and Paradise, when what is decreed will overcome him and he will do the deeds of the people of Hellfire and enter Hellfire. And a man (among you) may do the deeds of the people of Hellfire until there is but an arm's length between him and Hellfire, when what is decreed will overcome him and he will do the deeds of the people of Paradise and enter Paradise. (This is the narration of Ibn 'Ubaid from the Prophet ﷺ). This hadith is the culmination of a longer narration discussing the decree of Allah and the importance of good deeds. The dua mentioned is a beautiful supplication for comprehensive well-being.