Everyday supplications connect meals, entering and leaving home, and other ordinary occasions with remembrance of Allah. These short words express gratitude, seeking refuge and reliance upon Him.
This selection preserves the Arabic text and provides English meanings. Other authentic wordings may exist. Do not assign an unsupported count and describe it as Sunnah.
Beginning a meal
When: When beginning to eat. Eat with your right hand and from what is nearest to you.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
English meaning: In the name of Allah.
If you forget at the beginning
When: When you remember during the meal.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ
English meaning: In the name of Allah at its beginning and its end.
After eating
When: After eating.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا الطَّعَامَ وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ
English meaning: All praise belongs to Allah who fed me this food and provided it for me without any power or strength of my own.
Significance: An expression of gratitude, remembering that food is Allah’s provision.
Leaving home
When: When leaving home.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
English meaning: In the name of Allah. I place my trust in Allah. There is no power or strength except through Allah.
Significance: The report mentions guidance, sufficiency and protection.
Entering home
When: Remember Allah’s name when entering home.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
English meaning: In the name of Allah.
Significance: The report describes the protection associated with remembering Allah when entering home and eating. The wording here is a simple way to mention Allah’s name.
Before entering the toilet
When: Before entering the toilet.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ
English meaning: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from male and female devils.
After leaving the toilet
When: After leaving the toilet.
غُفْرَانَكَ
English meaning: I seek Your forgiveness.
Waking from sleep
When: When waking from sleep.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا، وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
English meaning: All praise belongs to Allah who gave us life after causing us to die in sleep; to Him is the resurrection.
After completing wudu
When: After completing wudu well.
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
English meaning: I testify that none is worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
Entering the mosque
When: When entering the mosque.
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
English meaning: O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy.
Leaving the mosque
When: When leaving the mosque.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
English meaning: O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty.
Stopping at a place
When: When stopping at a place; the report does not specify a repetition count.
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
English meaning: I seek refuge in Allah’s perfect words from the evil of what He created.
Significance: The hadith promises protection until leaving that place. Reliance is upon Allah.
Make remembrance part of life
Remember the meaning as you recite. Refuge is sought from Allah; the words are not an independently acting spell. Bring your attention back gently if it wanders. Continuing difficulty alone does not prove weak faith.
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