اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ، لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا، لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ.
O Allah, guide me to the best of manners, for none can guide to the best of them except You, and turn me away from bad manners, for none can turn away from bad them except You.
Allahumma ihdini li-ahsani al-akhlaqi, la yahdi li-ahsaniha illa Anta, wasrif 'anni sayyi'aha, la yasrifu 'anni sayyi'aha illa Anta.
When to Read
This is a profound supplication the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would make. It's particularly fitting to recite during Tahajjud, that sacred time when you are alone with Allah, seeking His help for the most intimate aspects of your being – your character and interactions with others. You can make this dua a regular part of your night prayer, especially in the last part of the night when supplications are most likely to be answered.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a focused heart. Imagine yourself standing before Allah, earnestly asking Him to refine your character. It's not just about saying the words; it's about internalizing the request and being ready to act on whatever guidance Allah bestows upon you through His inspiration or through His Messenger's teachings. Reflect on your own manners and identify areas where you need improvement, then present these needs to Allah during your Tahajjud.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua directly addresses the core of our interactions and our inner selves. By asking Allah to guide you to the *best* manners, you are seeking to embody the qualities that are beloved to Him and that foster strong, positive relationships. It acknowledges that perfecting our character is not a human endeavor alone, but a gift and success granted by Allah. Regularly seeking His aid in this way helps purify the heart, improve relationships, and ultimately brings us closer to the Prophet's ﷺ own excellent example. Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: 'The believers most perfect in faith are those best in character.' (Sahih al-Tirmidhi 1162).
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'O Allah, guide me to the best of deeds and the best of manners, for none can guide to the best of them except You. And protect me from evil deeds and evil manners, for none can protect from the evil of them except You.' Another narration added: 'And guide me to the best of characters, for none guides to the best of them except You, and turn me away from bad characters, for none turns away from bad them except You.'