10 Essential Duas Every Muslim Should Know
Duas are the heart of a Muslim's connection with Allah. Here are ten short, authentic supplications every Muslim should memorize for everyday moments.
The Meaning and Etiquette of Dua
The word dua means to call upon, to ask, to invoke. It is the act of turning directly to Allah with our needs, our gratitude, and our hopes. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Dua is worship." It needs no intermediary and no fixed schedule — Allah is always near and always listening.
There is a simple etiquette to dua that increases its weight: begin by praising Allah, send blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), face the Qibla where possible, raise the hands, ask with humility and certainty that Allah will respond, and persist without despair. Sincere duas made at blessed times — such as the last third of the night, between the Azan and Iqamah, while fasting, and in prostration — are especially hoped to be accepted.
The most beautiful duas are the ones the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself taught. Below are ten short, authentic supplications drawn from the Quran and Sahih hadith. They are easy to memorize and tied to moments you experience every single day.
1. Dua Before Eating
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Transliteration: Bismillah
Meaning: In the name of Allah.
Recite this before you begin eating. If you forget at the start, say: "Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu" (In the name of Allah at its beginning and its end). Taught by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a hadith reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi.
2. Dua After Eating
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ
Transliteration: Alhamdulillahil-ladhi at'amani hadha wa razaqanihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah
Meaning: All praise is for Allah who fed me this and provided it for me, without any might or power on my part.
Recite this when you finish your meal as an expression of gratitude. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said whoever says it will have their past sins forgiven (reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi).
3. Dua Before Sleeping
بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Transliteration: Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya
Meaning: In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.
Recite this as you lie down to sleep. Sleep is a small death, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) would say this before resting (reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari).
4. Dua on Waking Up
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Transliteration: Alhamdulillahil-ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur
Meaning: All praise is for Allah who gave us life after He caused us to die, and to Him is the resurrection.
Recite this the moment you wake. It begins your day with gratitude and a reminder of the life to come (reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari).
5. Dua When Entering the Home
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ الْمَوْلِجِ وَخَيْرَ الْمَخْرَجِ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni as'aluka khayral-mawliji wa khayral-makhraji
Meaning: O Allah, I ask You for the best of entering and the best of leaving.
Recite this as you enter your house, then greet your household with the salam. Taught by the Prophet (peace be upon him) and reported by Abu Dawud.
6. Dua When Leaving the Home
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Transliteration: Bismillahi tawakkaltu 'alallahi wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
Meaning: In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might nor power except with Allah.
Recite this every time you step out of your home. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said whoever says it is guided, protected, and shielded from harm (reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi).
7. Dua Before Entering the Bathroom
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-khubuthi wal-khaba'ith
Meaning: O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the male and female evil ones.
Recite this before entering the bathroom. Upon leaving, say "Ghufranaka" (I seek Your forgiveness). Both are reported in the Sunan collections and Sahih Al-Bukhari.
8. Dua for Anxiety and Distress
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazani wal-'ajzi wal-kasal
Meaning: O Allah, I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from helplessness and laziness.
Recite this when you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or burdened. It is part of a longer supplication the Prophet (peace be upon him) regularly made, reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari.
9. Dua for Forgiveness
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Transliteration: Astaghfirullaha wa atubu ilayh
Meaning: I seek the forgiveness of Allah and turn to Him in repentance.
Recite this often throughout the day. The Prophet (peace be upon him) sought Allah's forgiveness more than seventy times a day (reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari). For a deeper supplication, learn Sayyid al-Istighfar — the master of seeking forgiveness — which the Prophet promised admits to Paradise whoever says it sincerely.
10. Morning and Evening Remembrance
حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ
Transliteration: Hasbiyallahu la ilaha illa huwa, 'alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa rabbul-'arshil-'azim
Meaning: Allah is sufficient for me; there is no god but Him. Upon Him I rely, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.
Recite this seven times in the morning and seven times in the evening. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that whoever says it will have Allah suffice them in all that worries them (reported by Abu Dawud). It is a verse from the Quran (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:129).
Tip: Build a daily dua habit by attaching each supplication to an action you already do — waking, eating, leaving home, sleeping. Start with just one or two, recite them sincerely until they become automatic, then add more. Consistency, even in small amounts, is more beloved to Allah than occasional bursts.
Carry Your Duas With You
Memorizing these ten duas transforms ordinary moments into acts of worship. Each meal, each doorway, each night becomes a quiet conversation with your Creator.
The free, ad-free Muslim Now app makes this easy with a built-in duas collection — authentic supplications with Arabic, transliteration, and translation, organized by occasion so you can find the right dua at the right moment. The app also includes accurate prayer times, the full Quran, a Qibla compass, Azan notifications, a digital tasbeeh for counting your dhikr, and an AI Imam to answer your questions — all completely free, with no advertisements. May Allah accept your duas and make remembrance of Him a constant on your tongue.
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