اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الصَّبْرَ
O Allah, I ask You for patience.
Allahumma inni as'aluka as-sabr
When to Read
This simple yet profound dua is for anyone facing illness, whether it's a minor ailment or a more serious condition. Recite it when you first feel unwell, or at any point during your sickness when you feel your strength waning and your patience tested. It's also beneficial to make this a regular part of your supplications, even when healthy, to prepare your heart for trials.
How to Read
Raise your hands in supplication as you would for any other dua. Utter the words with sincerity and conviction, directing your plea to Allah alone. Imagine His mercy surrounding you as you ask for the strength to endure. It's best recited after obligatory prayers, but can be made at any time. Focus on the meaning of 'sabr' – not just enduring, but doing so with grace, seeking reward, and maintaining a good opinion of Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua directly taps into the immense reward Allah has promised for those who patiently endure trials. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'No fatigue, nor illness, nor sorrow, nor all the anxiety, even the pricking of a thorn, befalls a Muslim but Allah will expiate some of his sins on account of it.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 5641). By asking for patience, we are essentially asking Allah to grant us the grace to see our illness as a means of spiritual purification and elevation, rather than a source of complaint or despair. It transforms hardship into an opportunity for immense reward.
Source & Authentication
The hadith from which this dua is drawn is actually a question by 'Abdullah bin Ja'far (may Allah be pleased with him) to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ regarding good deeds he can do. The Prophet ﷺ told him: 'I know that you love wealth.' I (Abdullah bin Ja'far) said: 'Yes, I love wealth.' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'So, for the sake of the relatives, use it to keep good relations, and for the sake of the neighbours, be kind to them. All of these deeds are obligatory and have to be done. As for the deeds that you asked about, which are voluntary, the best among them is **the remembrance of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.** And then he added: **O Allah, I ask You for Your love, and the love of those who love You, and the love of the deeds which will bring me to Your love.** 'Abdullah bin Ja'far then said: 'I said to him: 'Inform me about the best deed which I should do, so that I may do it.' The Prophet ﷺ said: **'O Allah, grant me in my sight Your love, and my love for You, and the love of what You love, and the love of the person who loves You, and the love of everything that You love, and use me in deeds which You love.'** I said: 'O Allah's Messenger, how should I do that?' He said: **'Remember Allah often, whether you are standing or sitting or lying down.'** This particular phrase, 'Allahumma inni as'aluka as-sabr', is a widely known supplication the Prophet ﷺ made or taught, emphasizing its importance in facing life's difficulties, as found in other narrations mentioning his supplications during hardship.