اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلاَهَا، 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 is of no 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 nafsil-la tashba', wa min du'ain la yusma'.
When to Read
This dua is particularly poignant when you look in the mirror and find yourself being overly critical or engaging in negative self-talk. It's a moment where our inner dialogue can become amplified. Recite this before or as you begin your reflection, asking Allah to help you see yourself with a balanced and righteous perspective.
How to Read
Stand before the mirror, take a deep breath, and recite this supplication with sincerity. Focus on the meaning of each phrase. Ask Allah to grant your soul Taqwa (consciousness of Him), to purify your inner self, and to protect you from the harmful aspects of knowledge, a restless heart, insatiable desires, and unanswered prayers. Visualise your negative thoughts being replaced by a sense of peace and acceptance granted by Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
This powerful dua directly addresses the internal struggle of self-perception. By asking Allah to 'grant my soul its piety and purify it,' we are essentially asking Him to align our inner state with His will, which inherently combats negative self-talk. Seeking refuge from 'knowledge that is of no benefit' and a 'heart that does not feel humble' helps redirect our focus from superficial criticisms to deeper self-improvement. The plea against a 'soul that is not satisfied' and 'a supplication that is not heard' helps us cultivate contentment and reliance on Allah, diminishing the space for self-doubt and dissatisfaction.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Zayd ibn Arqam that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say: '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 is of no benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not heard.' (Sahih Muslim 2722)