اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلَاهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دُعَاءٍ لَا يُسْمَعُ.
O Allah, grant my soul its piety and purify it, for You are the best of those who purify it. You are its Guardian and its Master. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not heard.
Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha, wa zakkiha anta khayru man zakkaha, anta waliyyuha wa mawlaha. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa', wa min qalbin la yakhsha', wa min nafsin la tashba', wa min du'a'in la yusma'.
When to Read
This dua is particularly poignant when one is about to look in the mirror. It serves as a spiritual anchor, reminding us to seek Allah's help in purifying our intentions and guarding against the subtle trap of vanity or excessive self-admiration that the mirror can sometimes invite. Reciting it before or immediately after glancing at oneself helps redirect focus from the physical appearance to inner spiritual well-being.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere intention and a humble heart. Focus on the meaning of each phrase, acknowledging your reliance on Allah for inner purity and protection from spiritual maladies. It is best recited quietly, either just before looking in the mirror or immediately after, as a way to reorient your perspective.
Virtues & Benefits
This comprehensive dua seeks Allah's protection from several detrimental states: unbeneficial knowledge, a hard-heartedness, insatiable desire (which can manifest as vanity or greed), and unanswered prayers. By seeking refuge from these, particularly in relation to self-perception, we aim to cultivate humility, genuine benefit from knowledge, contentment, and a strong connection with Allah. It helps ensure that our focus remains on developing our character and relationship with our Creator, rather than being consumed by our outward appearance.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Zayd ibn Arqam that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'O Allah, grant my soul its piety and purify it, for You are the best of those who purify it. You are its Guardian and its Master. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not heard.'