An article aimed at gathering all the various supplications and invocations from the light of the Sunnah. Only those narrations that are collected, that are authentic and agreed upon. Also brief commentary, the Arabic text, its virtue, translation and reference will be given, Insha Allah.
In the name of Allah, most merciful, most compassionate.
Supplications from the Sunnah
[Click the relevant supplication to view]
Contents:
Supplication 1: The Leader of forgiveness
Supplication 2: The verse of the Majestic Throne
Supplication 3: When retiring to bed
Supplication 4: Sunnah method of breaking the fast
Supplication 5: Weighty Scales and forgiveness of sins
Supplication 6: At the time of Distress
[more to come Insha-Allah]
Supplication 1: The Leader of Forgiveness
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا
صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
Transiliteration: Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Khalaqtani wa ana `Abduka, wa ana `ala `ahdika wa wa`dika mastata`tu, A`udhu bika min Sharri ma sana`tu, abu’u Laka bini`matika `alaiya, wa abu’u laka bidhanbi faghfir lee fa innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta
Translation: O Allah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshipped except You, You created me and I am Your servant, and I abide to Your covenant and promise [to honour it] as best I can, I take refuge in You from the evil of which I committed, I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive sins except You.
Virtue: Whoever recites it with firm faith during the morning and dies before the evening, he will be from the people of Jannah. Likewise whoever recites it in the evening and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Jannah.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari-6323
Commentary: This supplication is known as the ‘leader of forgiveness’. A daily routine of reciting it morning and evening should be undertaken. Its virtue is immense and therefore should not be left out. In this Invocation a person is displaying his weakness and humility. He is showing his need and depandancy towards Allah, at the same time acknowledging his weakness. Along with this he is showing his gratitude towards Allah for his infinte favours and blessings. It’s truly an amazing Invocation, with profound meaning.
Supplication 2: The Verse of the Majestic Throne
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Translation: Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who could possibly intercede with Him without His permission? He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but no one can grasp any of His knowledge—except what He wills ˹to reveal˺. His Seat1 encompasses the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of both does not tire Him. For He is the Most High, the Greatest.
Virtue: Whoever recites before going to sleep will be protected from the Devil and from all evil, until morning.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari: 3275
Commentary: Many commentators of the Quran consider this verse to be the most powerful verse in the Quran, and is regarded as one of the best ways of seeking protection from all evil. Reciting this before going to sleep should be adopted and also can be recited during the day for protection till the evening. Like this, one will be protected from all evil and harm throughout the day. Condition is that it should be recited with firm conviction in its words and meanings.
Supplication 3: When Retiring to Bed
اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ، رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ، لاَ مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ، آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ، وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ.
‘Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika, wa fawwadtu ‘amri ilaika wa alja’tu dhahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika, la malja’a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabik al-ladhi anzalta wa binabiyyika al-ladhi arsalta’.
Translation:
Reference: Sahih Bukhari 6311
Virtue: If you should die then (after reciting this) you will die on the religion of Islam (i.e., as a Muslim); so let these words be the last you say (before going to bed)”.
Commentary: This supplication expresses the meanings of humility and complete dependance on Allah. A person while reciting this supplication acknowledges that his matters [both in this world and the next], his protection and his safety all depend on Allah.
Added to that, a person also declares his belief in Allah, his book [Quran] and in the final Messenger ﷺ. Therefore, he has professed his sincere belief [in the oneness of Allah and his Messenger ﷺ] and were he to pass away that night, he will be amongst those who have passed away upon the religion of Islam.
اضْطَجِعْ عَلَى شِقِّكَ الْأَيْمَنِ
This should be recited along with lying down on the right side as our beloved Prophet of Allah ﷺ used to do.
Supplication 4: Sunnah method of breaking the fast
The sunnah method of breaking the fast is firstly to recite:
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ
Translation: In the name of Allah.
Thereafter to have some dates and/or water, then recite the following supplication:
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
Dhahaba adh-dhama’u wabtallatil-‘urooqu wa thabata al-ajru insha-Allah.
Translation: The thirst is gone, the veins are moist, and the reward is established, if Allah wills.
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawud: 2357
Virtue: Following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ hence many virtues such as forgiveness of sins.
Commentary: This supplication like many other supplications shows humility. Exalted is Allah! Just with a few sips of water the thirst is gone. This shows the uncountable blessings of Allah upon us, such that so many blessings we don’t even fathom or ponder upon.
Also in this supplication a person breaks his fast knowing that Allah is the provider and the one sustains us. Allah is the one who has given us this food and water and is the only one who is the provider. Our efforts are not the reason why we have food on the plate, rather there are only means and the provider [ar-Razak] is Allah.
Finally the reward of fasting is from Allah and only Allah knows the reward for fasting. Also whether it has been accepted or not, that is only in the complete knowledge of Allah, hence the added phrase ‘Insha-Allah’.
An important lesson we learn from this is never be proud regarding your good actions, rather show humility and ask for acceptance from Allah, and indeed this is a sign of acceptance and sincerity.
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ١٢٧
And ˹remember˺ when Abraham raised the foundation of the House with Ishmael, ˹both praying,˺ “Our Lord! Accept ˹this˺ from us. You are indeed the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
[Quran: 2:127]
Note: This supplication should be recited anytime when one breaks the fast, in Ramadan or outside of Ramadan.
Supplication 5 – Weighty righteous action and forgiveness of sins
The virtues of remembering Allah are abundant such that one can’t enumerate them all. Below a few virtues are mentioned:
- Abundant reward [Riyadh 1410]
- Allah will bestow his mercy and blessings on you. [Quran]
- Forgiveness of sins [Riyadh 1410]
- The pleasure of Allah [Riyadh 1412]
- Weighty scales of righteous actions.
To expound on the last virtue, on The Day of Judgement when all our deeds will be weighed. Those whose righteous actions are heavier, then he will be successful. Those whose evil actions are heavier, then they are surely from the losers.
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم told us a statement that is light on the tongue and heavy on the scales. Consider the following Hadith:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ كَلِمَتَانِ خَفِيفَتَانِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ، ثَقِيلَتَانِ فِي الْمِيزَانِ، حَبِيبَتَانِ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira [Allah bless him]:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “There are two expressions which are very easy for the tongue to say, but they are very heavy in the balance and are very dear to The Beneficent (Allah), and they are, ‘Subhan Allah Al- `Azim and ‘Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi.'” [6406 – Sahih Bukhari]
Also this same statement (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ) expiates one’s sins:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَنْ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ. فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ حُطَّتْ خَطَايَاهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ ”.
Reference: [6405 – Sahih Bukhari]
Narrated Abu Huraira [Allah bless him]:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever says, ‘Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi,’ one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.
Virtue: Weighty scales on the day of Judgement and forgiveness of one’s sins.
Commentary: The statement [سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ] is most beloved to Almighty Allah. The one who frequently recites it will surpass others on The Day of Judgement. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would frequently recite this phrase. Also a date palm would be planted for him in Jannah each time he recites this phrase. Added to that the Angels also recite this in praise of Almighty Allah.
In this phrase the reciter is declaring the perfection of Almighty Allah, and that he is free from all defects. Also the reciter is declaring that true praise is for Allah and Allah only. Finally the reciter is also affirming his belief in the oneness of Allah and that he has no partners. Thus, understanding his purpose in creation, which is to worship Allah only.
Supplication 6: At the time of Distress
Supplication
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ، وَرَبُّ الأَرْضِ، وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
“La ilaha illal-lahu Rabbul-l-‘arsh il-‘azim, La ilaha illallahu Rabbu-s-samawati wa Rabbu-l-ard, Rabbu-l-‘arsh-il-Karim.”
Translation
Narrated Ibn `Abbas [Allah bless him]:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to say at a time of distress, “There is none worthy of worship but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, and Lord of the Noble Throne.“
[Sahih Bukhari: 6345]
Commentary
Distress, anxiety or worry is something we all go through. We learn from this narration that even the beloved of Allah ﷺ had worry. The worry of the beloved of Allah ﷺ was the guidance of his nation. As recalled in the noble Quran:
فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌۭ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ٦
Now, perhaps you ˹O Prophet˺ will grieve yourself to death over their denial, if they ˹continue to˺ disbelieve in this message. [18:6]
At any instance when we feel sad or worried then this supplication should be recited. Allamah Ayni [876 AH] in his commentary on Sahih Bukhari [Umdatul Qari] mentions an incident of a certain Hadith scholar who was imprisoned. He recited this supplication continuously and was soon released. [Dalil Faliheen, Vol:5, pg:41]
The first part of this supplication consists of phrases of Tawhid [The oneness of Allah] which is the origin of all the righteous qualities. Along with this are phrases of the exalted qualities of Allah. Such as:
الْعَظِيمُ – This indicates to towards the great power and might of Almighty Allah. The wisdom behind why this quality is specified is due to the fact that only Allah has the power to remove hardships from a person.
الْحَلِيمُ – This indicates towards the forbearance of Almighty Allah. Despite our sins we are not recompensed accordingly, rather Allah delays and gives us an opportunity to return to him in repentance. The wisdom behind why this quality is specified is because the worry of a believer is generally his deficiencies in his obedience to Allah. Therefore, this supplication gives him hope of forgiveness and the essence of [حلم] is contentment [at the time of anger].
In one narration related by Imam Bukhari in his book al-Adab from Abdullah Ibn Abbas [Allah bless him] there is an extra phrase at the end:
اَللّهُمَّ اصْرِفْ عَنِّيْ شَرَّهٌ
Allahumasrif ‘ani sharahu
‘O Allah keep away from me its evil’
[Zad al-Muslim, pg:1333]
