لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، اللَّهُمَّ لاَ مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَلاَ مُعْطِىَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، وَلاَ يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ
There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs sovereignty and to Him belongs praise, and He is over all things competent. O Allah, none can withhold what You grant, and none can grant what You withhold. The wealth and the prestige of the wealthy avail nothing against You.
*La ilaha ill-Allahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir. Allahumma la mani'a lima a'tayta, wa la mu'tiya lima mana'ta, wa la yanfa'a dhal-jaddi minka al-jadd.*
When to Read
This dua is particularly potent after breaking an oath, especially one made in a fit of anger. When you realize you've sworn by Allah's name to do something you either cannot or should not do, or have sworn not to do something that is necessary or good, reciting this should be your immediate step. It's about acknowledging your mistake and seeking Allah's forgiveness and mercy for acting rashly under the influence of emotion.
How to Read
Recite this supplication with sincerity and a humbled heart. Understand the meaning of each phrase: affirming Allah's uniqueness, power, and control over all affairs, and then acknowledging that whatever He gives cannot be prevented, and whatever He prevents cannot be given. This recognition of divine decree is key to true repentance. Ideally, say it immediately after realizing the broken oath, ideally while still seated or in a position to seek forgiveness, though the mercy of Allah is vast. Some scholars suggest that breaking an oath, even one made in anger, requires both repentance and expiation (kaffarah), and this dua forms the heart of the repentance. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that whoever says this after breaking an oath will have their oath expiated.
Virtues & Benefits
The primary benefit of this dua is that it serves as the prescribed expiation for breaking an oath, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. By reciting it with sincere belief, one can be forgiven and absolved of the sin associated with the broken oath. It also strengthens your connection with Allah by reaffirming His absolute power and your dependence on Him. It's a powerful reminder that our own efforts and status mean nothing without His grace, helping to temper anger and impulsive swearing in the future.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'Whoever swears an oath and then breaks it, should say: *La ilaha ill-Allahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir. Allahumma la mani'a lima a'tayta, wa la mu'tiya lima mana'ta, wa la yanfa'a dhal-jaddi minka al-jadd.* (There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs sovereignty and to Him belongs praise, and He is over all things competent. O Allah, none can withhold what You grant, and none can grant what You withhold. The wealth and the prestige of the wealthy avail nothing against You.) And this would be an expiation for his oath.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6615)