Salah Adhkār
Enrich your prayer and deepen your conversation with Allah
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلَىٰ أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika mina-l-bukhl, wa aʿūdhu bika mina-l-jubn, wa aʿūdhu bika min an uradda ilā ardhali-l-ʿumur, wa aʿūdhu bika min fitnati-d-dunyā, wa ʿadhābi-l-qabr.
O Allah, I seek Your protection from miserliness, I seek Your protection from cowardice and I seek Your protection from being sent back to a miserable old age. I seek Your protection from the trials of the world and from the punishment of the grave.
Saʿd b. Abī Waqqāṣ (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) used to teach his children these words just as a teacher teaches young children to write. He said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to seek protection (with them) at the end of the prayer. (Bukhārī 2822)
اَللّٰهُمَّ أَعِنِّيْ عَلَىٰ ذِكْرِكَ ، وَشُكْرِكَ ، وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Allāhumma aʿinnī ʿalā dhikrika wa shukrika wa ḥusni ʿibādatik.
O Allah, help me to remember You, be grateful to You and worship You in an excellent manner.
Muʿādh b. Jabal (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took him by the hand and he said, “O Muʿādh, I swear by Allah that I love you… I advise you not to forget supplicating after every prayer by saying: [the above].” (Abū Dāwūd 1522)
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ ، وَمَا أَسْرَفْتُ وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّـيْ ، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Allāhumma-ghfirlī mā qaddamtu wa mā akh-khart, wa mā asrartu wa mā aʿlant, wa mā asraftu wa mā Anta aʿlamu bihī minnī, Anta-l-Muqaddimu wa Anta-l-Muakh-khir, lā ilāha illā ant.
O Allah, forgive me for what I have done in the past and for what I am yet to do, for what I have done privately and for what I have done publicly, for my excesses and for that which You know more than me. You are the One who brings forward and the One who puts behind, and there is no god worthy of worship except You.
The last thing he would say after the tashahhud and the salām would be [the above]. (Muslim 771)
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنّيْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ ظُلْمًا كَثِيْرًا ، وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ مَغْفِرَةً مِّنْ عِنْدِكَ ، وَارْحَمْنِيْ ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ
Allāhumma innī ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīrā, wa lā yaghfiru-dh-dhunūba illā Ant, fa-ghfir lī maghfirata-m-min ʿindik, war-ḥamnī, innaka Anta-l-Ghafūru-r-Raḥīm.
O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly and no one forgives sins except You; so grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy upon me. You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to teach me a du’ā so that I may invoke Allah with it in my salāh. He told me to say: [the above].” (Bukhārī 834)
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdu-m-Majīd, Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammad, wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdu-m-Majīd.
O Allah, honour and have mercy upon Muḥammad and the family of Muḥammad as You have honoured and had mercy upon Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm indeed, You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muḥammad and the family of Muḥammad as You have blessed Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm indeed, You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.
Kaʿb ibn ʿUjrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) said… “We asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ… how should we invoke ṣalāh upon you…? He ﷺ replied: Say [the above].” (Bukhārī 3370)
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ ، وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lil-lāhi, wa-ṣalawātu, wa-ṭayyibātu, as-salāmu ʿalyaka ayyuha-n-nabiyyu wa raḥmatul-lāhi wa barakātuh, as-salāmu ʿalyanā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhi–ṣāliḥīn, ash-hadu an-lā ilāha illa-l-lāhu wa ash-hadu an-na Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh.
All royal greetings belong to Allah, as do prayers and good deeds and words. May peace, the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you O Prophet. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Ibn Masʿūd (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me the Tashahhud as he taught me a sūrah from the Qur’an, while my hand was between his hands.” (Bukhārī 6265)
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ، وَارْحَمْنِيْ ، وَعَافِنيْ ، وَاهْدِنِيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ
Allāhumma-ghfir lī, war-ḥamnī, wa ʿāfinī, wah-dinī war-zuqnī.
O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me wellbeing, guide me and grant me sustenance.
Abdullah b. ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā): “The Prophet ﷺ used to say [the above] between the two prostrations.” (Abū Dāwūd 850)
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ
Rabbi-ghfir lī, Rabbi-ghfir lī.
O my Lord forgive me. O my Lord forgive me.
Hudhayfah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated: “…he sat as long as he prostrated, and said while sitting [the above].” (Abū Dāwūd 874)
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ ، سَجَدَ وَجْهِيْ لِلَّذِيْ خَلَقَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ ، وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ ، تَبَارَكَ اللّٰهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِيْنَ
Allāhumma laka sajadtu, wa bika āmant, wa laka aslamt, sajada wajhī lil-ladhī khalaqahū wa ṣawwarah, wa shaqqa samʿahū wa baṣarah, tabāraka-llāhu aḥsanu-l-khāliqīn.
O Allah, for You Alone I have prostrated, in You Alone I have believed, and to You Alone I have submitted. My face has prostrated to the One who created and fashioned it, and who formed its hearing and sight. Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.
When he would do sajdah, he would say [the above]. (Muslim 771)
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذَنْبِيْ كُلَّهُ ، دِقَّهُ وَجِلَّهُ ، وَأَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ ، وَعَلَانِيَتَهُ وَسِرَّهُ
Allāhumma-ghfir lī dhanbī kullah, diqqahū wa jillah, wa awwalahū wa ākhirah, wa ʿalāniyatahū wa sirrah.
O Allah, forgive for me all of my sins: the minor and major, the first and the last, the public and the private.
Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say [the above] in sujūd. (Muslim 483)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna Rabbīya-l-Aʿlā.
How Perfect is my Lord, the Most High.
He then performed sajdah and said [the above], and his prostration lasted nearly the same length of time as his standing. (Muslim 772)
اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَمِلْءَ الْأَرْضِ وَمِلْءَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ بَعْدُ
Allāhumma Rabbanā laka-l-ḥamdu mil’a-s-samāwāti wa mil’a-l-arḍi wa mil’a mā baynahumā wa mil’a mā shi’ta min shay’in baʿd.
O Allah, Our Lord, for You Alone is all praise; praise which fills the heavens, which fills the earth, which fills whatever is in between them, and which fills whatever You wish after that.
When he would raise his head from rukū, he would say [the above]. (Muslim 771)
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ ، خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِيْ وَبَصَرِيْ وَمُخِّيْ وَعَظْمِيْ وَعَصَبِيْ
Allāhumma laka rakaʿtu wa bika āmant, wa laka aslamt, khashaʿa laka samʿī wa baṣarī wa mukhkhī wa ʿaẓmī wa ʿaṣabī.
O Allah, for You Alone I have bowed in prayer, in You Alone I have believed, and to You Alone I have submitted. My hearing, sight, mind, bones and nerves are humble to You.
When he would do rukū, he would say [the above]. (Muslim 771)
سُبُّوْحٌ قُدُّوْسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوْحِ
Subbūḥun Quddūsun Rabbu-l-malā’ikati wa-r-rūḥ.
Most Perfect, Most Holy, Lord of the angels and the Spirit (Jibrīl).
Aisha (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) reported… I found him in a state of bowing, or prostration, saying [the above]. (Muslim 485)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ
Subḥāna Rabbīya-l-ʿAẓīm.
How perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent.
He ﷺ then went into rukū and said [the above]. His bowing lasted about the same length of time as his standing. (Muslim 772)
أَعُوْذُ بِاللّهِ السَّمِيْعِ الْعَلِيْمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ، مِنْ هَمْزِهِ وَنَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثِهِ
Aʿūdhu bi-llāhi-s-Samīʿi-l-ʿAlīmi mina-sh-Shayṭāni-r-rajīm; min hamzihī wa nafkhihī wa nafthih.
I seek protection in Allah, the All-Hearing and All-Knowing from the rejected Shaytān; from him inciting madness, pride and reprehensible poetry.
The Prophet ﷺ said [the above] before reciting. (Abū Dāwūd 775)
اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ x10 ، اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ x10 ، سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ x10 ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ x10 ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ x10 ، اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ، وَاهْدِنِيْ ، وَارْزُقْنِيْ ، وَعَافِنِيْ ، أَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنْ ضِيْقِ الْمَقَامِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
Allāhu akbar (x10), alḥamdu li-llāh (x10), subḥāna-llāh (x10), lā ilāha illā-Allāh (x10), astaghfiru-l-llāh (x10), Allāhumma ghfir lī, wa-hdinī, wa-rzuqnī, wa ʿāfinī, aʿūdhu bi-llāhi min ḍīqi-l-maqāmi yawma-l-qiyāmah.
Allah is the Greatest (x10). All praise be to Allah (x10). Allah is free from imperfection (x10). There is no god but Allah (x10). I seek Allah’s forgiveness (x10). O Allah, forgive me, guide me, grant me sustenance and wellbeing. I seek your protection from the anguish of standing on the Day of Judgement.
ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) said… The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to start his night prayer with [the above]. (Nasā’ī 1617)
سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ ، سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
Subḥānallāhi Rabbi-l-ʿālamīn, subḥānallāhi wa bi-ḥamdih.
Allah is free from imperfection, the Lord of all the worlds. Allah is free from imperfection, and all praise is due to Him.
Rabīʿah bin Kaʿb al-Aslamī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) said: “I used to hear him when he prayed night saying [the above] for a long time.” (Nasā’ī 1618)
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُوْرُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيْهِنَّ ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ ، أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ ، وَوَعْدُكَ حَقٌّ ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ ، وَالنَّبِيُّوْنَ حَقٌّ ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ حَقٌّ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ
Allāhumma laka-l-ḥamdu Anta Nūru-s-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi wa man fīhinn, wa laka-l-ḥamdu Anta Qayyimu-s-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi wa man fīhinn… Allāhumma laka aslamtu wa ʿalayka tawakkaltu wa bika āmantu, wa ilayka anabtu, wa bika khāṣamtu, wa ilayka ḥākamtu.
O Allah, for You Alone is all praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth… You are the Maintainer… You are the Truth… O Allah, I surrender myself to You Alone, I put my trust in You Alone…
Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhum) narrates: “When the Prophet ﷺ would stand for the night (tahajjud) prayer, he would say [the above].” (Bukhārī 6317)
وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيْفًا وَّمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ ، إِنَّ صَلاَتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِيْ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ، لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ
Wajjahtu wajhiya lil-ladhī faṭara-s-samāwāti wal-arḍa ḥanīfan wa mā ana mina-l-mushrikīn, inna ṣalātī, wa nusukī, wa maḥyāya, wa mamātī lil-lāhi Rabbi-l-ʿālamīn, lā sharīka lahū wa bi-dhālika umirtu wa ana mina-l-muslimīn.
I have turned my face towards the One who created the heavens and the earth, turned away from all that is false having surrendered to Allah, and I am not of the polytheists. My ṣalāh, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds, who has no partners. I have been commanded of this, and I am of those who submit.
ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would stand for prayer, he would say [the above].” (Muslim 771)
اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ جَبْرَائِيْلَ وَمِيْكَائِيْلَ وَإِسْرَافِيْلَ ، فَاطِرَ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ، عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ ، أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيْمَا كَانُوْا فِيْهِ يَخْتَلِفُوْنَ ، اِهْدِنِيْ لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيْهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ ، إِنَّكَ تَهْدِيْ مَنْ تَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيْمٍ
Allāhumma Rabba Jabrā’īla, wa Mīkā’īla, wa Isrāfīl, fāṭira-s-samāwāti wa-l-arḍ, ʿālima-l-ghaybi wa-sh-shahādah, Anta taḥkumu bayna ʿibādika fīmā kānū fīhi yakhtalifūn, ihdinī lima-khtulifa fīhi mina-l-ḥaqqi bi-idhnik, innaka tahdī man tashā’u ilā ṣirāṭi-m-Mustaqīm.
O Allah, Lord of Jabrā’īl, Mīkā’īl and Isrāfīl; Creator of the heavens and the earth; Knower of the unseen and seen… Guide me to the truth in matters over which there is disagreement, by Your permission. Certainly, You guide whomsoever You will to a straight path.
ʿAbdur Raḥmān b. ʿAwf asked ʿĀ’isha to tell him words the Prophet ﷺ commenced night prayer with. She said: “When he got up at night he would commence his ṣalāh with [the above].” (Muslim 770)
اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيْرًا ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ كَثِيْرًا ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ بُكْرَةً وَّأَصِيْلًا
Allāhu akbaru kabīrā, wa-lḥamdu li-llāh kathīrā, wa subḥāna-llāhi bukratan wa aṣīlā.
Allah is Greater, the Greatest: abundant praise is for Allah, and how Perfect is Allah in the morning and the evening.
A man said [the above]. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “I was amazed by them – the doors of heaven were opened for them.” Ibn ʿUmar said: “I have not stopped saying these words since I heard this…” (Muslim 601)
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيْرًا طَيِّبًا مُّبَارَكًا فِيْهِ
Alḥamdu li-llāh ḥamdan kathīran ṭayyiban mubārakan fīh.
All praise is for Allah; an abundant, sincere and blessed praise.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “…I saw twelve angels competing with each other to ascend with it.” (Muslim 600)
اَللّٰهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِـيْ وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَاىَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ نَقِّنِيْ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَاىَ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ
Allāhumma bāʿid baynī wa bayna khaṭāyāya kamā bāʿadta bayna-l-mashriqi wa-l-maghrib, Allāhumma naq-qinī min khaṭāyāya kamā yunaq-qa-th-thawbul-abyaḍu mina-d-danas, Allāhumma-ghsilnī min khaṭāyāya bil-māi’ wa-th-thalji wal-barad.
O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the East from the West. O Allah purify me from my sins as white cloth is purified from dirt. O Allah wash away my sins with water, hail and snow.
Abū Hurayrah asked the Prophet ﷺ about his silent pause between Takbīr and Recitation. He replied: “I say [the above].” (Bukhārī 744, Muslim 598)
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa bi-ḥamdika wa tabāraka-smuka wa taʿālā jadduka wa lā ilāha ghayruk.
How Perfect are You O Allah, and all praise is Yours. Your Name is most blessed, Your majesty is exalted and there is no god worthy of worship except You.
Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up to pray at night he uttered the takbīr and then said [the above]. (Abū Dāwūd 775)
Within ṣalāh, our beloved Prophet ﷺ taught us a variety of remembrances and supplications to be recited at its different stages. These adhkār enrich the prayer and deepen our conversation with Allah.
From his practice ﷺ, we learn the beauty of varying these adhkār rather than restricting ourselves to just one form. Memorising and alternating between them especially in voluntary prayers revives the Sunnah and brings freshness to our worship. This variety nurtures khushūʿ (humility), allows us to experience the sweetness of ṣalāh, and helps us truly reflect on the words we recite.