اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ لَكَ مُلْكُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ وَقَوْلُكَ الْحَقُّ وَلِقَاؤُكَ الْحَقُّ وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ وَمُحَمَّدٌ حَقٌّ وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ أَوْ لاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
O Allah, to You be all praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. To You be all praise; You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. To You be all praise; You are the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. To You be all praise; Yours is the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. To You be all praise; You are the Truth, Your promise is true, Your word is true, the meeting with You is true, Paradise is true, the Fire is true, the Prophets are true, Muhammad is true, and the Hour is true. O Allah, to You I have submitted, in You I have placed my trust, in You I have believed, to You I have turned in repentance, for Your sake I have disputed, and to You I have referred for judgment. Forgive me then, what I have sent forth and what I have held back, what I have hidden and what I have made public. You are the Advancer and You are the Delayer. There is none worthy of worship except You (or 'There is no god other than You').
Allāhumma lakal-ḥamdu anta nūrus-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa man fīhinna, wa lakal-ḥamdu anta qayyimus-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa man fīhinna, wa lakal-ḥamdu anta rabbus-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa man fīhinna, wa lakal-ḥamdu laka mulkus-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa man fīhinna, wa lakal-ḥamdu antal-ḥaqqu wa wa`dukal-ḥaqqu wa qawlukal-ḥaqqu wa liqā'ukal-ḥaqqu wal-jannatu ḥaqqun wan-nāru ḥaqqun wan-nabiyyūna ḥaqqun wa Muhammadun ḥaqqun was-sā`atu ḥaqqun. Allāhumma laka aslamtu, wa `alayka tawakkaltu, wa bika āmantu, wa ilayka anabtu, wa bika khāṣamtu, wa ilayka ḥākamtu, faghfir lī mā qaddamtu wa mā akhkhartu, wa mā asrartu wa mā a`lantu. Antal-Muqaddimu wa Antal-Mu'akhkhiru. Lā ilāha illā Anta (or Lā ilāha ghayruka).
When to Read
This profound supplication was recited by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ during his **Tahajjud prayer**, specifically **at the very beginning of the prayer**, after the opening Takbir (Takbiratul Ihram) and before reciting Surah Al-Fatihah. It sets a powerful tone for the night vigil, focusing your heart and mind on Allah's magnificence and bounties before engaging in further worship. The last third of the night, a blessed time for Tahajjud, is ideal for this reflection.
How to Read
When reciting this dua, strive for **deep reflection and presence of heart**. As you articulate each attribute of Allah – the Light, the Sustainer, the Lord, the Sovereign of all creation – allow yourself to ponder on the vast implications of these qualities for your own existence and the universe around you. Each praise for Allah should ignite a sense of profound gratitude for the countless blessings that emanate from His dominion and mercy. Ensure your pronunciation is clear, and let the words permeate your soul, reaffirming your belief, trust, and submission to Allah, the Exalted.
Virtues & Benefits
Reciting this opening dua during Tahajjud offers immense spiritual benefits. It serves as a powerful affirmation of **Tawhid (the Oneness of Allah)**, establishing a deep, personal connection with your Creator right at the outset of your most intimate prayer. By acknowledging Allah's attributes as the Light and Sustainer of everything, you are naturally led to remember His boundless blessings, mercy, and wisdom, fostering a profound sense of **gratitude and contentment**. This supplication also includes a comprehensive plea for **forgiveness for all your sins**, whether committed intentionally or unintentionally, secretly or openly, making it a holistic appeal for Allah's clemency. Engaging in Tahajjud itself, particularly with such a comprehensive and reflective opening, is a means to draw closer to Allah, earn immense rewards, and experience the special mercy of Allah, as the Prophet ﷺ informed us: "Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when only the last third of the night remains, saying: 'Who will call upon Me, that I may answer him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6321). This specific dua helps prepare your heart to receive from this divine outpouring.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): When the Prophet ﷺ got up at night to offer the Tahajjud prayer, he used to say: "اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ لَكَ مُلْكُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ وَقَوْلُكَ الْحَقُّ وَلِقَاؤُكَ الْحَقُّ وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ وَمُحَمَّدٌ حَقٌّ وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ أَوْ لاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ" (O Allah, to You be all praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. To You be all praise; You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. To You be all praise; You are the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. To You be all praise; Yours is the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. To You be all praise; You are the Truth, Your promise is true, Your word is true, the meeting with You is true, Paradise is true, the Fire is true, the Prophets are true, Muhammad is true, and the Hour is true. O Allah, to You I have submitted, in You I have placed my trust, in You I have believed, to You I have turned in repentance, for Your sake I have disputed, and to You I have referred for judgment. Forgive me then, what I have sent forth and what I have held back, what I have hidden and what I have made public. You are the Advancer and You are the Delayer. There is none worthy of worship except You.) — Sahih al-Bukhari 6317