Daily duas

Sayyid al-Istighfar (master of asking forgiveness)

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

Allahumma anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduk…

O Allah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshipped except You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I keep Your covenant and pledge as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the favours You have bestowed on me, and I acknowledge my sins, so forgive me — for none can forgive sins but You.

Source: Bukhari

Daily protection (3×)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Bismillahi alladhi la yadurru ma‘asmihi shay’un fi’l-ardi wa la fi’s-sama’i wa huwa as-Sami‘ al-‘Alim.

In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in heaven can cause harm — He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (Recited three times morning and evening.)

Source: Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi

Refuge from anxiety

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ

Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min al-hammi wa’l-hazan…

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief, from weakness and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being overcome by debt and overpowered by men.

Source: Bukhari

Before sleeping

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya.

In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.

Source: Bukhari

Upon waking

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

Alhamdu lillahi alladhi ahyana ba‘da ma amatana wa ilayhi an-nushur.

All praise is for Allah who gave us life after taking it from us, and to Him is the resurrection.

Source: Bukhari

Before eating

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

Bismillah.

In the name of Allah. (If forgotten at the start, say: Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu — In the name of Allah at its beginning and its end.)

Source: Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi

After eating

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا، وَرَزَقَنِيهِ، مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ

Alhamdu lillahi alladhi at‘amani hadha wa razaqaneehi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah.

All praise is for Allah, who fed me this and provided it for me, without any might or power on my part.

Source: Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud

Boarding a vehicle

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ

Subhana alladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina la-munqalibun.

Glory be to Him who has subjected this to us — we could never have done it ourselves. And to our Lord we shall surely return.

Source: Muslim

When the journey begins

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا، وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ

Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wa’t-taqwa…

O Allah, we ask You on this journey of ours righteousness and piety, and deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us, and fold up its distance.

Source: Muslim

When in distress

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ

La ilaha illa Allah al-‘Adheem al-Haleem…

There is no god but Allah, the Magnificent, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the Mighty Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens and earth, Lord of the Noble Throne.

Source: Bukhari, Muslim

When struck by misfortune

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي، وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un. Allahumma ajurni fi musibati, wa akhlif li khayran minha.

Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return. O Allah, reward me for my affliction and replace it for me with what is better.

Source: Muslim

Most concise

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ

Astaghfirullah.

I seek forgiveness from Allah. (Recommended often, especially after each prayer.)

Source: Muslim

For mercy and goodness in both worlds

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbana atina fi’d-dunya hasanatan wa fi’l-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhab an-nar.

Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

Source: Quran 2:201