اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لأَحْسَنِ الأَخْلاقِ، لا يَهْدِي لأَحْسَنِهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا، لا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ.
O Allah, guide me to the best of character, for none can guide to the best of it except You. And turn me away from bad character, for none can turn away bad character except You.
Allahumma ihdini li ahsanil akhlaq, la yahdi li ahsanihā illā anta, waṣrif 'anni sayyi'ahā, la yaṣrifu 'anni sayyi'ahā illā anta.
When to Read
This beautiful dua is for parents and guardians. When a child is born, we instinctively pray for their well-being, health, and future. This prayer, taught by our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, is profoundly relevant for a newborn. You can recite it during pregnancy, upon the birth of your child, or anytime you make supplication for your offspring, asking Allah to preserve and nurture their innate goodness – their *fitrah* – and to guide them towards the noblest of manners throughout their lives.
How to Read
This dua is primarily directed at Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) for *yourself* as a parent, asking Him to grant *you* the ability to embody and teach good character, and to shield your child from bad. Recite it with sincere intention and heartfelt submission. Imagine your newborn being guided by Allah's wisdom and compassion. You can raise your hands in supplication as you normally would for other duas, or recite it after prayers, or at any quiet moment of reflection.
Virtues & Benefits
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua, emphasizing the critical importance of good character (*akhlaq*). By asking Allah to guide your child to the best of manners, you are essentially praying for their *fitrah* – their natural, God-given inclination towards goodness and truth – to be preserved and strengthened. This means praying that they are born with and retain a pure heart, a clear mind, and a disposition that naturally gravitates towards honesty, kindness, patience, and all praiseworthy traits. It’s a prayer for their spiritual and moral well-being, which are the true foundations of a successful life in this world and the next.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Allahumma ihdini li ahsanil akhlaq, la yahdi li ahsanihā illā anta, waṣrif 'anni sayyi'ahā, la yaṣrifu 'anni sayyi'ahā illā anta.' (Sahih Muslim 771). This hadith highlights that good character is not merely learned behavior, but something that requires divine guidance. The Prophet ﷺ, despite being the most perfect of creation, still supplicated for the best of character. This teaches us the humility required in seeking Allah's help for our own spiritual development and for the upbringing of our children.