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 دَعْوَةٍ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا.
O Allah, grant my soul its piety and purify it, for You are the Best Purifier. 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 fear (You), from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered.
Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha, wa zakkiha anta khairu 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 da'watin la yustajabu laha.
When to Read
This powerful dua is ideally recited immediately after Fajr prayer, as part of your morning remembrance. It's a moment of fresh resolve, asking Allah to guide your inner self throughout the day and protect you from internal struggles.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere intention and heartfelt conviction. Focus on the meaning of each phrase as you utter it. Picture yourself asking Allah directly, acknowledging His power to purify and guide your soul. Raising your hands slightly can also enhance the feeling of supplication.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is comprehensive. It directly asks Allah to bestow taqwa (God-consciousness and righteousness) upon our souls and to purify them – a task only Allah can truly accomplish. It acknowledges Him as our Protector and true Master. Furthermore, it seeks refuge from four dangerous states: useless knowledge that leads astray, a heart devoid of reverence, an insatiable soul prone to greed and desire, and prayers that go unanswered due to our own shortcomings. By reciting this, we proactively shield ourselves from internal vices and seek divine assistance in living a life pleasing to Allah.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say: 'O Allah, grant my soul its piety and purify it, for You are the Best Purifier. 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 fear (You), from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered.' (Sahih Muslim 6306)