اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَأْوَاهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا
O Allah, grant my soul its piety and purify it, for You are the Best to purify it. You are its Guardian and its Protector. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not fear (You), from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered.
Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha, wa zakkiha anta khayru man zakkaha, anta waliyyuha wa mawaha. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa', wa min qalbin la yakhsha', wa min nafsin la tashba', wa min da'watin la yustajabu laha.
When to Read
This comprehensive dua can be recited daily, especially in the morning or evening. It's particularly beneficial when you feel a need to improve your inner state, which is the foundation for all positive interactions, including with your neighbors. Reciting it with intention can help you cultivate the qualities necessary for building harmonious relationships.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and focus on the meaning of each phrase. Reflect on the requests you are making of Allah. Visualize yourself embodying the piety, humility, and contentment that lead to good character and strong community bonds. Raising your hands in supplication is a recommended practice when making dua.
Virtues & Benefits
While this specific dua is a general supplication for inner purity and protection from harmful knowledge, states, and unanswered prayers, its benefits extend to all aspects of life, including our interactions with neighbors. By seeking Allah's help in purifying our hearts and souls, we become more inclined towards kindness, empathy, and good conduct. A person with a pious heart is more likely to be a good neighbor, extending greetings, offering help, and avoiding harm, thus fulfilling the Islamic injunctions regarding neighborly rights. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the rights of neighbors extensively, and cultivating a good inner state through such duas is the first step to fulfilling them.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu 'Abdullah an-Nadri bin 'Abdullah al-Khath'ami who said: I asked 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) about the supplication of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he woke up at night. She said: "He would say: 'O Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, Lord of the Mighty Throne, our Lord and the Lord of all things, the One Who causes the seeds and kernels to sprout, the One Who revealed the Tawrah, the Injeel and the Furqan, I seek refuge in You from the evil of every creature which You seize by its forelock. O Allah, You are the First, there is nothing before You; You are the Last, there is nothing after You; You are the Apparent, there is nothing above You; You are the Hidden, there is nothing below You. Settle our debt and enrich us from poverty.'" (He mentioned: 'And he would say: 'O Allah, grant my soul its piety and purify it, for You are the Best to purify it. You are its Guardian and its Protector. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not fear (You), from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered.'")