6 Dua Iftitah Meaning in English, Arabic, and Transliteration

Dua iftitah (Dua Istiftah) is the supplication at the start of the prayer after takbeer (Allahu Akbar) during the first rak’ah. There are a numbers of supplications that the prophet Muhammad SAW used to say, and this post will look at some of them.

Dua Iftitah is Sunnah, which means that if a person were to miss this supplication, it does not nullify the prayer nor does he/she need to compensate it by performing the Sujud sahwi before ending the prayer.

1. Dua Iftitah In Arabic

The most famous Dua iftitah is;

اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ، اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنْ خَطَايَايَ كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْني مِنْ خَطَايَايَ، بِالثَّلْجِ وَالْماءِ وَالْبَرَدِ

Transliteration

Allaahumma baa’id baynee wa bayna khataayaaya kamaa baa’adta baynal-mashriqi walmaghribi, Allaahumma naqqinee min khataayaaya kamaa yunaqqath-thawbul-‘abyadhu minad-danasi, Allaahum-maghsilnee min khataayaaya, bith-thalji walmaa’i walbarad.

Dua Al Iftitah Meaning in English

Dua Al Iftitah means O Allah, separate me from my sins as You have separated the East from the West. O Allah, cleanse me of my transgressions as the white garment is cleansed of stains. O Allah, wash away my sins with ice and water and frost.

Dua 2

سُبْحانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبارَكَ اسْمُكَ،وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ،وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

Transliteration

Subhaanaka Allaahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta’aalaa jadduka, wa laa ‘ilaaha ghayruka.

Meaning in English

The meaning of this dua is Glory is to You O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty. There is none worthy of worship but You.

Dua 3

This is one of the longest dua Istiftah that the prophet used to say in his night prayer. So it is recommended to memorize this beautiful dua and start reading it at the start of your night prayer (Tahajjud Prayer)

وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ حَنِيفَاً وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، إِنَّ صَلاَتِي، وَنُسُكِي، وَمَحْيَايَ، وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ المَلِكُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، أَنْتَ رَبِّي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبي جَمِيعَاً إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ.

وَاهْدِنِي لِأَحْسَنِ الأَخْلاقِ لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِها إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا، لاَ يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ، وَالخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ بِيَـــــدَيْكَ، وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْـــــــــــكَ، أَنَـا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ، تَبارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ

Transliteration

Wajjahtu wajhiya lillathee fataras-samawati wal-arda haneefan wama ana minal-mushrikeen, inna salatee wanusukee wamahyaya wamamatee lillahi rabbil-AAalameen, la shareeka lahu wabithalika omirtu wa-ana minal-muslimeen.

Allahumma antal-maliku la ilaha illa ant. anta rabbee wa-ana AAabduk, thalamtu nafsee waAAtaraftu bithanbee faghfir lee thunoobee jameeAAan innahu la yaghfiruth-thunooba illa ant.wahdinee li-ahsanil-akhlaqi la yahdee li-ahsaniha illa ant, wasrif AAannee sayyi-aha la yasrifu AAannee sayyi-aha illa ant, labbayka wasaAAdayk,walkhayru kulluhu biyadayk, washsharru laysa ilayk, ana bika wa-ilayk, tabarakta wataAAalayt, astaghfiruka wa-atoobu ilayk.

Meaning in English

I have turned my face sincerely towards He who has brought forth the heavens and the Earth and I am not of those who associate (others with Allah). Indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allah, Lord of the worlds, no partner has He, with this I am commanded and I am of the Muslims.

O Allah, You are the Sovereign, none has the right to be worshipped except You. You are my Lord and I am Your servant, I have wronged my own soul and have acknowledged my sin, so forgive me all my sins for no one forgives sins except You. Guide me to the best of characters for none can guide to it other than You, and deliver me from the worst of characters for none can deliver me from it other than You.

Here I am, in answer to Your call, happy to serve you. All good is within Your hands and evil does not stem from You. I exist by your will and will return to you. Blessed and High are You, I seek Your forgiveness and repent unto You.’

Dua 4

The prophet SAW also used to say this Dua in his tahajjud prayer.

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرَائِيلَ، وَمِيْكَائِيلَ، وَإِسْرَافِيلَ، فاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، عَالِمَ الغَـــيْبِ وَالشَّــــهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ. اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقيمٍ

Transliteration

Allahumma rabba jibra-eel, wameeka-eel, wa-israfeel fatiras-samawati walard, AAalimal-ghaybi washshahadah, anta tahkumu bayna AAibadika feema kanoo feehi yakhtalifoon. ihdinee limakh-tulifa feehi minal-haqqi bi-ithnik, innaka tahdee man tasha-o ila siratin mustaqeem.

Meaning in English

The meaning of this supplication is O Allah, Lord of Jibra-eel, Meeka-eel and Israfeel (great angles), Creator of the heavens and the Earth, Knower of the seen and the unseen. You are the arbitrator between Your servants in that which they have disputed. Guide me to the truth by Your leave, in that which they have differed, for verily You guide whom You will to a straight path.

Dua 5

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرَاً، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيراً، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيراً، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثيراً، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثيراً، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثيراً، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً . ( ثَلاثاً ) أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ: مِنْ نَفْخِهِ، وَنَفْثِهِ، وَهَمْزِهِ

Transliteration

Allaahu ‘Akbar Kabeera, Allaahu ‘Akbar Kabeera, Allaahu ‘Akbar Kabeera, walhamdu lillaahi katheera, walhamdu lillaahi katheera, walhamdu lillaahi katheera, wa Subhaanallaahi bukratan wa’aseela. ‘A ‘oothu billaahi minash-Shaytaan: min nafkhihi, wa nafthihi, wa hamzihi.

Meaning in English

This dua means Allah is the Greatest, Most Great. Allah is the Greatest, Most Great. Allah is the Greatest, Most Great. Praise is to Allah, abundantly. Praise is to Allah, abundantly. Praise is to Allah, abundantly. Glory is to Allah, at the break of day and at its end. [Recite three times in Arabic.] I seek refuge in Allah from Satan. From his breath and from his voice and from his whisper.

Dua 6

This is also one of the famous duas that the prophet used to open the prayer with.

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ، أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، [وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ السَّمَواتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ] [وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ لَكَ مُلْكُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ] [وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ مَلِكُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ] [وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ] [أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَقَوْلُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقاؤُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، وَمحَمَّدٌ صَلى اللهُ عَليْهِ وَسَلمَ حَقٌّ، وَالسّاعَةُ حَقٌّ]

[اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خاصَمْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ حاكَمْتُ. فَاغْفِرْ لِي [مَا قَدَّمْتُ، وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ، وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ] [أَنْتَ المُقَدِّمُ، وَأَنْتَ المُؤَخِّرُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ] [أَنْتَ إِلَهِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ

Transliteration

Allaahwnma lakal-hamdu ‘Anta noon samaawaati wal’ardhi wa man feehinna, wa lakal-hamdu ‘Anta qayyimus-samaawaati wal’ardhi wa man feehinna, [wa lakal-hamdu ‘Anta Rabbus-samaawaati wal’ardhi wa man feehinna] [wa lakal-hamdu laka mulkus-samaawaati wal’ardhi wa man feehinna]

[wa lakal-hamdu ‘Anta Malikus-samaawaati wal’ardhi] fwa lakal-hamdu] [‘Antal-haqq, wa wa’dukal-haqq, wa qawlukal-haqq wa liqaa’ukal-haqq, waljannatu haqq, wannaaru haqq, wannabiyy oona haqq, wa Muhammadun (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) haqq, wassaa’atu haqq] [Allaahumma laka ‘aslamtu, wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu, wa bika ‘aamantu, wa ‘ilayka ‘anabtu, wa bika khaasamtu, wa ‘ilayka haakamtu.

Faghfir lee maa qaddamtu, wa maa ‘akhkhartu, wa maa ‘asrartu, wa maa ‘a’lantuj [‘Antal-Muqaddimu, vua ‘Antal-Mu’akhkhiru laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa ‘Anta] [‘Anta ‘ilaahee laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa ‘Anta].

Meaning

O Allah, praise is to You. You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and all that they contain. Praise is to You, You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all they contain. [Praise is to You, You are the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all they contain.]

[Praise is to You, Yours is dominion of the heavens and the earth and all they contain.] [Praise is to You, You are the King of the heavens and the earth.] [And praise is to You.] [You are the Truth, Your Promise is true, Your Word is true, Your audience is true, Paradise is true, Hell is true, the Prophets are true , and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is true, and the Hour of Judgment is true.]

[O Allah, to You I have submitted, and upon You I depend. I have believed in You and to You I turn in repentance. For Your sake I dispute and by Your standard I judge. Forgive me what I have sent before me and what I have left behind me, what I have concealed and what I have declared.]

[You are the One Who sends forth and You are the One Who delays, there is none who has the right to be worshipped but You .] [You are my God , there is none who has the right to be worshipped but You.]

Note that it is only required to say one Dua at a time, you don’t have to read more than one at the opening of your prayers. But it is Sunnah to memorize more than one so that you could avoid sticking to only one since they are all authentic from the prophet SAW.

It is only allow to read Dua iftitah silently. Dua Iftitah can be recited in any prayers, be it five obligatory (fardhu) or voluntary (sunnah) prayer, and whether we are praying individually or in congregation.

May Allah accept our good deeds.