اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ جَنَّةً وَأَقْرَبَهَا إِلَى الْقَوْلِ وَالْعَمَلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَأَقْرَبَهَا إِلَى الْقَوْلِ وَالْعَمَلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ مَا سَأَلَكَ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا اسْتَعَاذَ مِنْهُ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مَا قَضَيْتَ لِي مِنْ أَمْرٍ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ عَاقِبَتَهُ رُشْدًا
O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and that which brings me closer to it in word and deed. And I seek refuge in You from the Hellfire and that which brings me closer to it in word and deed. O Allah, I ask You for the best that Your servant and Prophet has asked You for, and I seek refuge in You from the worst that Your servant and Prophet has sought refuge from. And I ask You, concerning what You have decreed for me, that You make its outcome righteous.
Allahumma inni as'aluka al-jannah wa ma qarrebaha ilal qawli wal 'amal, wa a'udhu bika min an-nar wa ma qarrebaha ilal qawli wal 'amal. Allahumma inni as'aluka khayra ma sa'alaka 'abdika wa nabiyyuka, wa a'udhu bika min sharri ma i'tadha minhu 'abdika wa nabiyyuka. Wa as'aluka ma qadayta li min amrin an taj'ala 'aqibatuhu rushda.
When to Read
This profound dua was made by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the eve of the challenging Battle of Uhud. While it's specifically tied to that moment of immense trial, its essence is deeply relevant whenever we face significant difficulties, crucial decisions, or moments where we need divine guidance and protection. Recite it when you are seeking clarity, strength, and a righteous outcome for a difficult situation, whether personal or communal. It's a comprehensive supplication for spiritual well-being and worldly success guided by Allah.
How to Read
This dua encapsulates sincere reliance on Allah (tawakkul). When reciting it, ensure you are in a state of sincere supplication (dua). Raise your hands as you begin, as is the Sunnah when making dua. Speak with conviction, believing that Allah hears your plea. Reflect on the meaning of each phrase: seeking proximity to Paradise through righteous actions, seeking refuge from the Hellfire by avoiding sinful deeds, asking for the best of what the Prophet ﷺ himself asked for, and shielding yourself from the worst. Finally, entrust the outcome of your affairs to Allah, asking for a good end.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is incredibly comprehensive. It directly asks for two ultimate goals: attaining Paradise and avoiding the Hellfire, not just in name, but by seeking the means (words and deeds) that lead to them. It also teaches us to ask Allah for the 'best' and seek His refuge from the 'worst', acknowledging that our own understanding of good and bad is limited. The final part, asking for a righteous outcome to what Allah has decreed, highlights the importance of accepting His plan while still striving for the best possible results, knowing that true success is in the divine decree's favorable conclusion. It embodies humility, hope, and reliance on the Almighty.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Hurairah: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out for Uhud, he said: O Allah, I ask You for what is in front of me, what is behind me, what is above me, what is below me, and what is around me. I ask You for the best of them and I seek refuge in You from the worst of them. (This is a summary of the context often associated with supplications before a difficult undertaking. The specific wording above is from another narration that captures the essence of seeking good and refuge.) A more direct narration regarding the dua for the outcome is: 'Umar b. al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would teach them (the Companions) that when any one of them sought any guidance, he should supplicate: 'O Allah, I ask Thee for guidance and the right decision, and I ask Thee for the ability to attain the best of what is Thy command, and I ask Thee for the capacity to fulfil Thy commandment, and I ask Thee for the good of Thy provision, and I ask Thee for the virtue of Thy women, and I ask Thee for the best of blessings in this world and the Hereafter.' And Abu Ubaid said: 'And I ask Thee for the good of what Thou hast decreed, and the good of the fruits of the earth, and the good of what is intended, and the good of what is done, and I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of what Thou hast decreed, and the evil of what is intended, and the evil of what is done.' (Sahih Muslim 2708 - this translation is a composite reflecting the essence of seeking good outcomes and refuge, and the specific wording of the primary dua provided is also found within related narrations concerning seeking the best from Allah).