اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَولاهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لا يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لا يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لا تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا.
O Allah, grant my soul its piety, and purify it, for You are the best to purify it. You are its Guardian and its Master. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered.
Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha, wa zakkiha anta khairu man zakkaha, anta waliyyuha wa mawlaha. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa', wa min qalbin la yash-a', wa min nafsin la tashba', wa min da'watin la yustajabu laha.
When to Read
This dua is profoundly relevant when you feel your heart hardening, becoming indifferent to remembrance of Allah, or when you notice a lack of spiritual sensitivity. It's a powerful supplication to recite during your daily prayers, after Salah, or at any time you feel distant from your Deen. It’s particularly beneficial when you’re seeking to cleanse your inner self from worldly distractions and seek Allah's help in cultivating true taqwa (God-consciousness).
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a focused heart. Understand that the 'sickness of the heart' refers to spiritual ailments like arrogance, envy, heedlessness, or lack of sincerity. Raising your hands (as you would in supplication) is appropriate here. Reflect on each part of the dua: asking Allah to grant your soul piety, purify it, and acknowledging His sole power to do so. Seek refuge specifically from the four things mentioned: useless knowledge, a heart devoid of khushu' (humility), an insatiable soul, and unanswered duas, all of which can be signs of spiritual imbalance.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua directly addresses the spiritual well-being of the heart, which is the core of our faith. By asking Allah to grant piety and purify the soul, we are seeking the highest form of spiritual health. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who was the most pious and pure, used to make this supplication. This indicates its immense importance. Seeking refuge from useless knowledge prevents us from accumulating information that doesn't bring us closer to Allah. A humble heart (khashia') is one that is receptive to Allah's guidance and fearful of His displeasure. A soul that is not satisfied with what Allah has decreed can lead to constant dissatisfaction and covetousness. And asking for our duas to be answered is a sign of our reliance on Allah and a path to spiritual fulfillment. Ultimately, this dua helps in maintaining a pure, receptive, and God-conscious heart.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say: "O Allah, grant my soul its piety, and purify it, for You are the best to purify it. You are its Guardian and its Master. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered."