اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ، وَشُكْرِكَ، وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
O Allah, help me to remember You, to thank You, and to worship You in the best manner.
Allahumma a'inni 'ala dhikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni 'ibadatika
When to Read
This beautiful and comprehensive dua is perfect to recite anytime, but it holds special significance during Ramadan. As the hunger and thirst of fasting set in, it's easy for our patience to wear thin and for complaints to slip out. Making this dua before or during your fast can be a powerful reminder to focus on the spiritual purpose of abstaining, rather than the physical discomfort. You can make it a habit to recite it after Fajr prayer each day of Ramadan, or whenever you feel the urge to complain arising.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a focused heart. Understand the meaning of each part: asking for help to remember Allah (dhikr), to be grateful to Him (shukr), and to perfect your worship of Him (husni 'ibadah). When you feel the pangs of hunger or thirst, and the thought of complaining enters your mind, consciously bring this dua to your tongue and heart. Redirect your focus from what you are lacking physically to what you are gaining spiritually through your worship.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is a distillation of what true servitude entails. By asking for help in remembering Allah, we're seeking His guidance to keep Him present in our minds, which naturally leads to greater awareness of His blessings and our duties. Asking for help to thank Him cultivates gratitude, a powerful antidote to complaining. When we are grateful, we see the good in every situation, even the difficulty of fasting. Finally, asking for help in worshipping Him in the best way reminds us that the purpose of our worship, including fasting, is to draw closer to our Creator and perfect our connection with Him. It shifts our perspective from enduring hardship to actively striving for excellence in our devotion.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised a man, 'When you go to your bed, recite the Verse of the Throne (Ayat al-Kursi) and the Surah 'Qul Huwallahu Ahad' (The Sincerity) and 'Qul A'udhu bi Rabbil Falaq' and 'Qul A'udhu bi Rabbin Nas' (The two protections). For if you recite them in the night, Allah will appoint a guard for you who will not leave you, and Satan will not come near you till morning.' He then said: 'O Allah, help me to remember You, and to thank You, and to worship You in the best manner.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 1522, graded Hasan by Al-Albani)