Dua Connect

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَتَرۡحَمۡنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ.

Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.

Rabbana dhalamna anfusana wa illam taghfir lana wa tarhamna lanakunanna minalkhasirin.

These are the words that Allah mentions He taught Prophet Adam so that He might ask for forgiveness and repent. It is worth noting that while Prophet Adam asked Allah’s forgiveness, Satan asked for nothing more than to be reprieved until Judgment Day. Each of them got what they asked for. -At-Tabari.

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا مَعَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ.

Our Lord, do not place us with the wrongdoing people.

Rabbana la tajalna maal qawmizzalimin.

These are words that will be spoken by the People of the A’raaf when they turn to look at the people of Hellfire; they ask Allah to protect them against meeting the same fate.

رَبَّنَا ٱفۡتَحۡ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَ قَوۡمِنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡفَٰتِحِينَ.

Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who give decision.

Rabbana ftah baynana wabayna qawmina bilhaqqi waanta khayru lfatihin

After having advised his people and shown them right from wrong, Prophet Shu’aib saw that they would not accept the truth and that, in fact, they only became more hostile and stubborn. Hence, he invoked Allah to judge between those who upheld the truth from those who rejected it by descending His punishment upon the evildoers.

رَبَّنَآ أَفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡنَا صَبۡرٗا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسۡلِمِينَ.

Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You].

Rabbana afrigh alayna ṣabran watawaffana muslimin

These words were spoken by Pharaoh’s magicians once they had seen and accepted the truth of Prophet Musa’s miracles. Rather than simply asking for patience, they asked Allah to pour patience down upon them abundantly, as this was an enormously difficult moment and they knew that Pharaoh would kill them. Commentators have noted that the magicians were unbelieving magicians at the beginning of that day and martyrs at the end of it. -At-Tabari.

رَبِّ ٱغۡفِرۡ لِي وَلِأَخِي وَأَدۡخِلۡنَا فِي رَحۡمَتِكَۖ وَأَنتَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّـٰحِمِينَ.

My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the most merciful of the merciful.

Rabbi ghfir li waliakhi waadkhilna fi rahmatika waanta arhamu rrahimin

Prophet Musa asks Allah to admit him and his brother, Harun, into His mercy. This is different than simply asking Allah to have mercy upon them. To admit them into his mercy is to allow His mercy to encompass them from all sides so that it protects them completely. -Tafseer As-Sa’di.

أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَاۖ وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡغَٰفِرِينَ.

You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers.

Anta Walliyyuna faghfir lana warhamna wa Anta khayrulghafirin.

Prophet Musa starts this supplication by appealing to Allah and referring to Him as their (i.e. he and the Children of Israel’s) Protecting Guardian. Such an appeal is appropriate before asking for Allah’s forgiveness and mercy. It is also a means by which Prophet Musa reaffirms their sincerity and their resolve to worship no one but Allah as an apology after the Children of Israel had taken the cow for worship. -Ibn ‘Ashoor.

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا فِتۡنَةٗ لِّلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ. وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحۡمَتِكَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ.

Our Lord, make us not [objects of] trial for the wrongdoing people. And save us by Your mercy from the disbelieving people.

Rabbana la tajalna fitnatallilqawmizzalimin. Wa najjina birahmatika minalqawmilkafirin.

One of the ways by which Allah misleads those who reject His signs and deny His right to be worshipped alone is to grant them victory over unrighteous Believers. With these victories, the disbelievers are misled into believing that the truth is with them and that the Believers follow falsehood, for why would their God allow them to be defeated? The Believers then ask Allah to save them from the unbelieving people by His grace and mercy. -Tafseer As-Sa’di and others.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ مَجۡرٜىٰهَا وَمُرۡسَىٰهَآۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَغَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ.

In the name of Allah is its course and its anchorage. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.

Bismi llahi majraha wamursaha inna rabbi laghafurun rahim

Prophet Nuh prays that the ark runs its course and anchors in the Name of Allah so that Allah protects those aboard by protecting the ark at all times. Commentators point out that it was appropriate for Prophet Nuh to choose the attributes All-Forgiving and Especially Merciful at a time when everyone except those saved on the ark would perish. Hence, this is an affirmation that it is mankind who stubbornly chooses evil, misguidance, and to reject faith, and that Allah is All-Forgiving and Merciful to those who accept the Truth that is made plain to them. -Ibn Katheer and others.

رَبِّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُنْ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ.

My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers.

Rabbi inni audhu bika an as’alaka ma laysa li bihi ilm, wa illa taghfir li wa tarhamni akumminalkhasirin.

This supplication made by Prophet Nuh is striking in the way it reveals his humility and fear of Allah. After almost a thousand years of calling people to Allah, Prophet Nuh takes no reassurance in his efforts and still fears that Allah will punish him for making a request without knowledge. Having thought that his son, along with the rest of his family, would be saved, Prophet Nuh appealed to Allah to save his son. But Allah reprimanded him for this, for He had previously told Prophet Nuh not to question Him about the wrongdoers who would all be drowned. In complete compliance with Allah’s command, Prophet Nuh immediately desisted and asked Allah’s forgiveness and mercy. -Tafseer As-Sa’di and others.

(اَللّٰهُمَّ يَا) فَاطِرَ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنْتَ وَلِـيِّيْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ تَوَفَّنِيْ مُسْلِمًا وَّأَلْحِقْنِيْ بِالصَّالِحِيْنَ.

Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous.

(Allahumma ya) Fatirassamawati walarḍi Anta waliyyi fiddunya walakhirah, tawaffani Muslimawwa alhiqni biṣṣalihin.

Prophet Yusuf asks Allah to make him steadfast upon Islam so that he dies a Muslim, just as he was blessed with Islam throughout his entire life. This is an enormous blessing and one that only Allah can grant, for He is our protector in this life and the Hereafter. -Tafseer As-Sa’di and others.

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًا وَٱجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ.

My Lord, make this city [Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.

Rabbi jal hadha lbalada aminan wajnubni wabaniyya an nabuda laṣnam

This supplication made by Prophet Ibraheem was answered by Allah. Allah has protected Makkah throughout the ages against invading enemies, such as the Companions of the Elephant and others, and He will continue to protect it against the Dajjal (false messiah) and other invading armies as is stated in the Sunnah. Prophet Ibraheem also asks Allah to protect him and his children from worshipping idols. From this we learn that he never took confidence in his own strength of faith, in spite of being one of Allah’s most glorious prophets and a staunch upholder of Tawheed. His reliance on Allah was complete. -Tafseer As-Sa’di and others.

رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِى وَمَا نُعْلِنُ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ.

Our Lord, indeed You know what we conceal and what we declare, and nothing is hidden from Allah on the earth or in the heaven.

Rabbana innaka talamu ma nukhfi wama nulinu wama yakhfa ala llahi min shayin fi larḍi wala fi ssamai

Prophet Ibraheem asks Allah to handle all his affairs for him, for Allah knows all that we conceal and all we reveal, and He knows all that lies in the heavens and on the earth. Allah’s complete knowledge and complete power over all things make Him the one and only true God we should seek to handle our affairs and bring us what is best. -Tafseer As-Sa’di.

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ.

My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.

Rabbijalni muqimaṣṣalati wa min dhurriyyati Rabbana wa taqabbal dua’.

Prayers are the most important act of worship in Islam, and to establish prayers means to make sure that all the pillars, mandatories, and other aspects of prayer are practiced properly and with humility. Such was the importance of prayer long before Prophet Muhammad Sallah Allahu ‘alaihi wasallam was sent to us as a prophet.

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ.

Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established.

Rabbanaghfir li wa liwalidayya wa lilmu’minina yawma yaqumulhisab.

This is a very beautiful supplication for forgiveness that includes oneself, one’s parents, and every Believer who will ever live. It also shows Prophet Ibraheem’s care for the Believers and his earnest desire for all Believers to be forgiven.

رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا.

My Lord, have mercy upon them [my parents] as they brought me up [when I was] small.

Rabbirhamhuma kama rabbayani ṣaghira.

This supplication suggests that the more parents do to raise their children, teach them manners, and give them a sound religious upbringing, the more those children become indebted to their parents and should, therefore, supplicate for them as much as possible. In fact, this suggests that anyone who plays a role in someone’s upbringing, nurturing, and mentoring, such as teachers, other members of the family or neighbors, also deserves special prayers and supplications.

رَبِّ أَدْخِلْنِى مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِى مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَٱجْعَل لِّى مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَٰنًا نَّصِيرًا.

My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority.

Rabbi adkhilni mudkhala ṣidqin waakhrijni mukhraja ṣidqin wajal li min ladunka sultanan naṣira

While many scholars state that the context of this supplication was the Prophet Muhammad’s, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, migration from Makkah to Madeenah, it can also be used in other situations. Indeed, it is a supplication whereby a Muslim asks Allah to grant him or her sincerity in everything they do and in every aspect of their lives. Whatever we seek to undertake and whatever we seek to leave should all be done for the sake of Allah, and so this is a supplication that brings great benefit in almost any situation, by the grace of Allah. It is also a means of asking Allah for strength in carrying out one’s affairs. -At-Tabari and others.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا.

Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair, right guidance.

Rabbana atina milladunka rahmatan wa hayyi’ lana min amrina rashada.

These beautiful words were spoken by the People of the Cave as they sought Allah’s aid in escaping harm and against being forced back into unbelief, just as they asked Allah to grant them the means by which they might attain guidance and wellbeing in this life and the next. Hence, Allah answered their prayers, and we ask Allah to answer our prayers whenever we utter the words they spoke. -Tafseer As-Sa’di.

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي. وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى. وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِى. يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى.

My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance]. And ease for me my task. And untie the knot from my tongue. That they may understand my speech.

Rabbishshrah li ṣadri. Wa yassir li amri. wahlul uqdatan min lisani. yafqahu qawli

This is a particularly helpful supplication for anyone seeking to advise others or help them see right from wrong. A person who lacks patience and forbearance when dealing with others is not someone who is fit for advising others or for helping them to learn. Likewise, to be able to articulate one’s thoughts is also a necessary quality for the same objective. -Tafseer As-Sa’di and others.

 رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَآ أَوْ أَن يَطْغَىٰ.

Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress.

Rabbana innana nakhafu an yafruta alayna aw an yatgha

Spoken by Musa and Harun, this supplication is a means by which Allah protects His believing servants from the undeserved punishment and unjust transgression of tyrants and other evildoers. -Most tafseer state the same general meanings.

رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا.

My Lord, increase me in knowledge.

Rabbi zidni ilma.

Scholars point out that knowledge is the only thing the Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, was commanded to ask for more of. This is indicative of the importance and honor of knowledge, and shows that it is the starting point for every act of worship. Indeed, the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam continued to seek knowledge from Allah until his death.

(رَبِّ) أَنِّيْ مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ.

Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.

(Rabbi) Anni massaniyaḍḍurru wa Anta Arhamurrahimin.

This supplication shows the manners with which Prophet Ayyub dealt with Allah. Despite being tested with enormous hardship in the form of disease, the loss of all his wealth, and the loss of all his children, Prophet Ayyub remained patient and accepted everything that was decreed for him. Rather than overtly ask Allah to heal him, Ayyub simply described his hardship in a way that understated its severity, and then described Allah as being the Most Merciful of those who are merciful. Indeed, Allah seeks no compensation for His mercy from His creation. A merciful person, on the other hand, will always seek some form of recompense, whether it is compensation in this life or the Hereafter, or non-material compensation such as a compliment or an honorable reputation. -Ibn ‘Ashoor.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ.

There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.

La ilaha illa Anta subhanaka inni kuntu minadh dhalimin.

In the context of this supplication, “La ilaha illa anta” is an affirmation that Allah’s unique mercy, graciousness, and benevolence are all part of why He is the only deity deserving of worship, love ,and veneration. “Subhanak” states that Allah is free of any form of injustice or wrongdoing, or any other quality that is inappropriate to the Only Deity worthy of worship. Hence, in this supplication, Prophet Yunus states unequivocally that the hardship and difficulty that he was inflicted with was a product of his own doing and not something that Allah could be accountable for in any way. Prophet Yunus affirms his guilt explicitly and says, “I was of the wrongdoers”, and so all affirmations in this invocation were the means by which Prophet Yunus sought and received Allah’s deliverance and forgiveness. Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, authentically stated that anyone who makes this supplication will be granted deliverance from their hardship or tribulation, and so it is important to keep these meanings in mind when supplicating using these words. -Majmoo’ Fatawa Ibn Taymiyah.

رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ.

My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while you are the best of inheritors.

Rabbi la tadharni fardawwa Anta khayrulwarithin.

While Prophet Zakariyyah knew that Allah would convey the message of Tawheed to later generations, one way or another, he still wanted his own offspring to have a share in this honor and privilege. Hence, in his old age, and out of fear that he might die without being granted an heir to prophethood, he made this supplication and asked Allah for a child. Allah blessed him with Prophet Yahya who continued to carry the message to the Children of Israel. -Tafseer As-Sa’di and others.

رَبِّ أَنزِلْنِى مُنزَلًا مُّبَارَكًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ.

My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to accommodate [us].

Rabbi anzilni munzalan mubarakan waanta khayru lmunzilin

A “blessed landing place” can be any arrival destination or place that a person may visit and ask that Allah bless and protect against calamity or any evil. -Tafseer Tantawi.

رَبِّ فَلَا تَجْعَلْنِى فِى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ.

My Lord, then do not place me among the wrongdoing people.

Rabbi fala tajalni fi lqawmi zzalimin

Allah commanded the Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, to make this supplication after he had made every possible effort to warn the pagans of Makkah against the consequences of their Kufr. The supplication is a means of being spared Allah’s punishment when it descends upon a transgressive and evil people. -Ibn Katheer and others.

رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ. وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ.

My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils, And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me.

Rabbi audhu bika min hamazatishshayatin. Wa audhu bika Rabbi ayyahḍurun.

The incitements of devils take on different forms, and this supplication is to seek refuge in Allah from them all. Further, the only reason a devil might be present with a person is to lead them to evil or urge them to commit sin. For this reason, there is a form of Dhikr (religious utterance) for every situation or instance in a Muslim’s life: whether waking up or going to sleep, beginning or finishing to eat, walking into the bathroom or leaving it, intercourse with one’s spouse or just sitting with companions, or leaving one’s house or entering it. All such forms of Dhikr are prescribed to protect against the presence of devils and to seek Allah’s help and aid. -Ibn Katheer and others.

رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of the merciful.

Rabbana amanna faghfir lana warhamna wa Anta khayrurrahimin.

Before asking Allah’s forgiveness and mercy, the Believers appeal to Him by means of their faith and their belief in Him, in His prophets, and in His books. Eman is the single greatest act of worship, and so it is appropriate that a Believer would use it to appeal to Allah. They end the supplication by appealing to Allah by means of His mercy and by acknowledging that He is the best and Most Merciful of those who are merciful.

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful.

Rabbighfir warham wa Anta khayrurrahimin.

In this supplication, Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, to ask for forgiveness and mercy, but the supplication does not specify an exact recipient for that forgiveness or mercy. Hence, scholars have stated that it might be a supplication for Allah to forgive and have mercy upon all Believers. -Ibn ‘Ashoor.

رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا. إِنَّهَا سَاءَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا.

Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering; Indeed, it is evil as a settlement and residence.

Rabbanaṣrif anna adhaba Jahannam, inna adhabaha kana gharama. Innaha sa’at mustaqarrawwa muqama.

To ask Allah’s protection against Hellfire is, effectively, to ask Him for the means against being punished with it. Hence, it is to ask Allah for protection against sins and to ask Him to facilitate righteous deeds and all acts of worship. -Ibn ‘Ashoor.

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا.

Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.

Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhuriyyatina qurrata ayuniwwajalna lilmuttaqina imama.

While the word “Azwaaj” has been translated here as wives, it also refers to companions, peers, and Muslim brothers and sisters. This is why Allah describes the Believers who make this supplication as being among the best of His righteous servants. They take comfort in seeing that their wives, brothers, sisters, children and any other Muslims are pious, righteous Believers. To them this is the greatest form of comfort and contentment. And so they ask Allah to make them leading examples for everyone else by blessing them with piety and righteousness as well. -Tafseer As-Sa’di, Ibn Katheer and others.

وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ.

And when I am ill, it is He [Allah] who cures me.

Waidha mariḍtu fahuwa yashfin

While any affliction or disease is decreed by Allah, Prophet Ibraheem only verbally attributes the “healing” to Allah, out of his manners and veneration. In other words, he does not say, “And if He causes me to become ill, He cures me.”

رَبِّ هَبْ لِي حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ. وَاجْعَلْ لِي لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ فِي الْآخِرِينَ. وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ وَرَثَةِ جَنَّةِ النَّعِيمِ.

My Lord, grant me authority and join me with the righteous. And grant me a reputation of honor among later generations. And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of Pleasure.

Rabbi hab li hukmawwa alhiqni biṣṣalihin. Wajalli lisana ṣidqin filakhirin. Wajalni miwwarathati JannatinNaim.

Wisdom is the result of a proper understanding of the knowledge that a Muslim acquires. In this context, wisdom and knowledge pertain to understanding what Allah has prohibited and made permissible, and other aspects of Allah’s bounds and commands. With this knowledge, a person can judge between others and become a means of serving justice and spreading fairness. Because a person is gathered on Judgment Day with those whom he loved in this life, Prophet Ibraheem asks Allah to join him with the righteous, just as he asks Allah to grant him an honorable reputation and rank among later generations. These are all honorable requests that only the honorable among Allah’s creation seek in this life. In the Hereafter, the ultimate reward is Paradise, and hence, Prophet Ibraheem asks Allah to be admitted into it along with its other righteous inheritors. -Kalemtayeb.com (collected tafseers).

وَلَا تُخْزِنِي يَوْمَ يُبْعَثُونَ. يَوْمَ لَا يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ. إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ.

And do not disgrace me on the Day they are [all] resurrected – The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children, But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.

Wa la tukhzini yawma yubathun. Yawma la yanfau maluwwa la banun. Illa man atallaha biqalbin salim.

Just as Prophet Ibraheem asked for what is good and honorable in this life and the next, he also prayed that Allah would protect him against disgrace and dishonor. Neither one’s wealth nor deeds will be of any avail on Judgment Day, and so to waste one’s time acquiring wealth and raising children to do nothing more than the same is a calamitous waste of time and life. Prophet Ibraheem makes specific mention of the heart because if it is sound, then one’s deeds are sound, but if it is corrupt, then one’s deeds can only be corrupt. -Kalemtayeb.com (collected tafseers).

رَبِّ نَجِّنِى وَأَهْلِى مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ.

My Lord, save me and my family from [the consequence of] what they do.

Rabbi najjini waahli mimma yamalun

This supplication, spoken by Prophet Lut, is an appeal for Allah’s protection against evil deeds and the consequences or punishment of those deeds. -Tafseer As-Sa’di.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ.

Praise [is due] to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants.

Alhamdu lillahi lladhi faḍḍalana ala kathirin min ibadihi lmuminin

Prophet Dawood and his son Sulayman were gifted with blessings that no other prophet was granted by Allah. Knowing this, they expressed their gratitude and praised Allah for having raised them, by means of their special knowledge, above many of His other believing servants. Indeed, knowledge is one of the greatest gifts that Allah can bestow upon anyone, and this Ayah is a testimony to that fact. -Al-Qurtubi and others.

رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ.

My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants.

Rabbi awzini an ashkura nimatakallati anamta alayya wa ala walidayya wa an amala ṣalihan tarḍah, wa adhkilni birahmatika fi ibadikaṣṣalihin.

This supplication was spoken by Prophet Sulayman when he heard the ant warn the other ants that Sulayman’s army was approaching and that they should seek shelter lest they be crushed. Indeed, to be able to hear, let alone understand the words of this tiny creature and to appreciate that it has a mind that allows it to warn others of imminent danger is a remarkable gift. And so Prophet Sulayman asks Allah to enable him to show thanks for this blessing and for the blessings that He bestowed upon his parents. After asking Allah to enable him to do righteous deeds, Sulayman asks Allah to include him among His righteous servants by means of His Mercy. Hence, Sulayman acknowledges that all good comes from Allah and that to be included among Allah’s righteous servants is another blessing that Allah bestows, and not something that can be essentially attributed to one’s deeds or one’s righteousness. All good is a gift from Allah.

رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي.

My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me.

Rabbi inni dhalamtu nafsi faghfirli.

Prophet Musa spoke these words immediately after accidentally killing the Coptic man who was fighting with a man from the Children of Israel. Hence, he wasted no time seeking Allah’s forgiveness, and so, on account of his genuine regret, Allah forgave him for what he had done. -Tafseer As-Sa’di and others.

رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ.

My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.

Rabbi najjini mina lqawmi zzalimin

Having been brought up in Pharaoh’s home, Musa grew up amidst royalty, rank, and eminence. Now that he was a fugitive, he knew full well Pharaoh’s capacity for evil, and so he invoked Allah for safety using these words. -Ibn Katheer and others.

رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ.

My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.

Rabbi inni lima anzalta illayya min khayrin faqir.

Musa was in need of food, water, shelter, a family, and safety. With one prayer he was granted all of that. -‘Abdullah Bilqassim.

رَبِّ انْصُرْنِي عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْمُفْسِدِينَ.

My Lord, support me against the corrupting people.

Rabbinṣurni alalqawmilmufsidin.

Prophet Lut calls his people “the corrupting people” because they corrupted themselves and others with their evil actions.

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا ٱلْحَزَنَ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ.

Praise to Allah, who has removed from us [all] sorrow. Indeed, our Lord is Forgiving and Appreciative.

Alhamdu lillahi lladhi adhhaba anna lhazana inna rabbana laghafurun shakurun

“Sorrow” or sadness refers to every form of sorrow that is the product of all the hardships, difficulties, trials, and tribulations that a person might face in this life. The people of Paradise experience no sadness related to their health, the loss of life, the loss of wealth, or any other affliction. Nor do they have to worry that the comfort and bliss that they experience will ever end or even diminish. -Tafseer As-Sa’di.

رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ.

My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous.

Rabbi hab li minaṣṣalihin.

Always vigilant and ever keen to be a means by which Allah guides and benefits others, Prophet Ibraheem asks Allah to grant him a righteous child who might continue to carry the message of Tawheed. Allah answered his prayer and blessed him with Isma’eel.

رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا. فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ.

Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire.

Rabbana wasita kulla shay’irrahmatawwa ilma, faghfir lilladhina tabu wattabau sabilaka wa qihim adhabaljahim.

One of the tremendous benefits of Eman is that Allah’s angels ask forgiveness for the Believers. The angels, of course, are a creation that can only do as Allah commands, and so they are sinless. Furthermore, they appeal to Allah by means of His all-encompassing mercy and knowledge. And so, the sheer breadth of His mercy is enough to wipe out the sins of those who repent with sincerity, and He is all knowing of everything His servants say and do. -Tafseer As-Sa’di, Ibn Katheer and others.

رَبَّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي وَعَدْتَهُمْ وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ. وَقِهِمُ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ وَمَنْ تَقِ السَّيِّئَاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ.

Our Lord, and admit them to gardens of perpetual residence which You have promised them and whoever was righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their offspring. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. And protect them from the evil consequences [of their deeds]. And he whom You protect from evil consequences that Day – You will have given him mercy. And that is the great attainment.

Rabbana wa adkhilhum jannati adninillati waadtahum wa man ṣalaha min aba’ihim wa azwajihim wa dhurriyyatihim, innaka AntalAzizulhakim. Wa qihimussayyi’at, wa man taqissayyi’ati yawma’idhin faqad rahimtah, wa dhalika huwalfawzulAzim.

Sa’eed Ibn Jubair narrates that when a Believer is admitted into Paradise and doesn’t find his family, he will say, “Where is my father? Where is my mother? Where is my child? Where is my wife (or husband)?” And so it will be said to him (or her), “They did not do what you did.” And so he will say, “I did what I did for myself and for them.” And so it will be said, “Admit them to Paradise.” -Al-Baghawi.

سُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقْرِنِينَ. وَإِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ.

Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it. And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return.

Subhana lladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wama kunna lahu muqrinina. wainna ila rabbina lamunqalibun.

Different modes of transportation that make travel easier, faster and more comfortable have always been one of Allah’s gracious blessings. It is flagrantly ungrateful to attribute modern forms of transport to human effort – for human effort and thought are nothing more than blessings from Allah, and so too are the materials that modern transport is constructed with. After mentioning modes of transport created for this life, Allah mentions that the ultimate journey will be back to Him. -Ibn Katheer and others.

رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ.

My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.

Rabbi awzini an ashkura nimatakallati anamta alayya wa ala walidayya wa an amala ṣalihan tarḍah, wa aṣlih li fi dhuriyyati, inni tubtu ilayka wa inni minalmuslimin.

Scholars mention various reasons why this Ayah was revealed, and some of them contend that it is about Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq. Both Abu Bakr’s parents and all of his children accepted Islam, and no one was more active in doing righteous deeds than he was. Righteous offspring are a beautiful blessing to their parents and the wording, “make righteous for me my offspring” suggests that the benefit of raising righteous children bears fruit for the parents as well as the children. -Tafseer As-Sa’di, Al-Baghawi and others.

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا. رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ.

Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful.

Rabbanaghfir lana wa liikhwaninalladhina sabaquna biliman, wa la tajal fi qulubina ghillallilladhina amanu Rabbana innaka Ra’ufurRahim.

Because this beautiful supplication is an expression of the love that bonds all Believers in every age, it is appropriate that it should end with an invocation whereby we ask Allah to keep our hearts free of any resentment or ill will for other Believers. -Tafseer As-Sa’di.

رَبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ.

Our Lord, upon You we have relied, and to You we have returned, and to You is the destination.

Rabbana alayka tawakkalna wa ilayka anabna wa ilaykalmaṣir.

This supplication is an affirmation and reaffirmation of different aspects of Tawheed. To rely on Allah and no one or nothing else is Tawheed. To return to Allah by means of repentance and to acknowledge that no one is capable of forgiving sins but Allah is also Tawheed. Finally, to acknowledge that our final destination is to Allah for our Judgment and reckoning is also an expression of Tawheed. Hence, this supplication is a means by which a Muslim re-emphasizes one’s complete trust in and dependence on Allah, seeking strength from no one but Allah in all matters.

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ.

Our Lord, make us not [objects of] torment for the disbelievers and forgive us, our Lord. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

Rabbana la tajalna fitnatallilladhina kafaru waghfir lana Rabbana innaka AntalAzizulhakim.

Just as Allah guides people in accordance with His Mercy and Judgment, He also misguides those who deserve misguidance on account of what their own hands have wrought and the rejection of His signs. One of the means by which Allah misguides the disbelievers is to grant them victory over sinful and transgressive Muslims. Hence, on the one hand, Muslims are punished for their sins and for turning their backs on Allah’s commands, while on the other hand, the Unbelievers are led further astray, for their victory and authority over Muslims cause them to think that they have the truth. -Tafseer As-Sa’di and others.

رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ.

Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent.

Rabbana atmim lana nurana waghfir lana innaka ala kulli shay’in Qadir.

Scholars state that the Believers will utter these words on Judgment Day when they see the light of the hypocrites being extinguished. Because hypocrites only falsely declare their faith without ever truly believing, they live this life and benefit from the light of the Believers without having the light of faith themselves. This reality will be exposed on Judgment Day, and their borrowed light will abandon them and leave them in darkness. Hence, the Believers ask Allah to complete and perfect their light for them, and to forgive their sins. -Ibn Katheer.

رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِنْدَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ.

My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise.

Rabbibni li indaka baytan filJannah.

These words spoken by Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, are part of a supplication that exemplifies her faith and dependence on Allah. She was neither affected by her husband’s hatred for the truth nor by his efforts to destroy the Believers. Instead, she recognized the truth when she saw it and accepted it. She then sought Allah’s help against the evil of her people and asked Him to grant her a home near Him in Paradise. -Ibn Katheer and others.

رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِىَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًۢا.

My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction.

Rabbi ghfir li waliwalidayya waliman dakhala baytiya muminan walilmuminina walmuminati wala tazidi zzalimina illa tabara

After warning and advising his people for close to a thousand years, Prophet Nuh finally invoked Allah and asked him to forgive him, those who accepted faith with him, and every other Believer who was to come from then on afterwards. After Allah had told him that no one else would accept faith among his people, Prophet Nuh invoked Allah to destroy the Unbelievers for their evil and their stubborn rejection of the truth lest future generations be misguided by them. -Various Tafseer.