بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

As we saw in the last post of As-Salat, Allah taught Adam ‘words’ to ask forgiveness and when Adam prayed with these words, Allah accepted his supplication (2:37). In this post we will see some duas/prayers in Quran which we can use in various situations normally encountered in life. By identifying our situation and appropriate prayer/dua in Quran for the situation, we can pray to Allah in Quranic words. We should honestly mean these words, and repeat these words/ayahs in As-Salat.

7:55 ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ

Call on your Lord with humility and privately, for Allah does not like those who trespass beyond bounds.

2:186  وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ

When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me. Let them also respond to Me, and believe in Me, so that they get the wisdom.

Supplication to Allah to increase our knowledge:

20:114   رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

“O my Lord! Advance me in knowledge.”

Prayers to make us and our offspring steadfast in As-Salat and asking forgiveness for ourselves and our parents:

14:40-41  رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ  رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

“O’ my Lord! Make me the one who establish As-salah/the prayer and also from my offspring and O my Lord! You accept my call.”

Asking for betterment in this world and hereafter:

2:201   رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

“Our Lord! give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of the fire!”

When engulfed in problems in life, the below supplication makes us realize that the problems will not exceed our capacity to handle them and we supplicate to Allah to lessen our burden and grant us His forgiveness, blessings and help.

2:286  لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ ۖ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Allah does not put to task a nafs/soul except to his capacity;  what he earns is for him, and what he has earned is on him.  O’ our Lord, do not catch us if we forget and we make a mistake , O’ our Lord, do not load a burden on us like you burdened on those from before us ,  O’ our Lord, do not burden us with that we do not have the strength to bear, pardon us, and forgive us and have mercy on us! ,  You are our protector, so help us over the nation of rejecters.

On realization of a committed blunder and honestly seeking forgiveness and turning back to the Lord:

7:23  رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

O Our Lord! We have oppressed our nafs/pshyce and if You do not have forgiveness for us and mercy for us, definitely we will be from the losers.”

On seeking Allah’s intervention for providing right guidance in an affair:

18:10  رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

“Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Yourself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!”

Supplication  to keep us steadfast after we receive guidance from our Lord:

3:8  رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ

“Our Lord!, Let not our hearts be crooked after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from Your nearness; for You are the Grantor.”

When persecuted by rejecters, facing difficulties in life , prayers to Allah to grant patience, perseverance and help against the oppressors.

2:250  رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

“Our Lord! Pour out patience on us and make our steps firm. Help us against the nation of rejecters.”

3:147 … رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

“Our Lord! forgive us our sins and our transgressions in our orders and establish our feet firmly, and help us against the nation of rejectors.”

Prayers asking for authority and joining with the righteous people:

26:83  رَبِّ هَبْ لِي حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ

“O my Lord! Grant me authority, and join me with the righteous/reformers

Prayers to make one’s family a source of pride and for one to become a guide to  righteous people.

25:74  وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

And those who say, “O’ our Lord, grant for us the cooling of eyes from our pairs and our offspring and make us an Imam / Leader for those who guard.”

Prayers on start of travel:

43:13-14   سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ

Glory to Him, Who has subjected these to our (use), for we could never have accomplished this (by ourselves), “And to our Lord, surely, we are to go back!”

When taking up a challenging task or speaknig to a formidable audience:

20:25-28   رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي  وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي  وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي  يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

“O! my Lord expand my chest for me and make my task easy and open the knot from my tongue So they may understand what I say.”

For lessening of parents’ difficulties in their old age:

17:24  رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

“My Lord! bestow on them your Mercy as they cherished me in childhood.”

To become grateful for the blessings that Allah bestowed on us and our parents:

27:19   رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ

“O my Lord! direct me that I should be grateful for your favours, which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee. And admit me, by your Grace, to the ranks of your righteous Servants.”

After getting blessings from the Lord:

27:40   هَٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ

“This is by the Grace of my Lord!- to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! And if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own self; but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of all needs and is Gracious !”

Seeking guidance from the Lord:

37:99   إِنِّي ذَاهِبٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ

“I am a goer towards my Lord! He will surely guide me!

Seeking help from oppressive surroundings and country:

4:75   رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِيرًا

Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and appoint from your nearness a wali/protector/guardian for us; and appoint  from your nearness a helper for us!”

10:85   عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

“In Allah do we put out trust. Our Lord! make us not a trial for those who practise oppression;

When being ousted of the circles of faith because of one’s beliefs:

7:89   وَسِعَ رَبُّنَا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا ۚ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْفَاتِحِينَ

Our Lord can reach out to the utmost recesses of things by His knowledge. In Allah is our trust. our Lord! decide Thou between us and our people in truth, for You are the best to decide.”

After getting out of a sad and painful situation in life:

35:34   الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَذْهَبَ عَنَّا الْحَزَنَ ۖ إِنَّ رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ

And they will say. “Praise be to Allah, Who has removed from us (all) sorrow. for our Lord is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Appreciative.

For recovery from illness:

26:80  وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ

“And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me;

Childless couples desiring children can make below supplication:

21:89 رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ

O my Lord! leave me not without offspring, and thou art the best of inheritors.”

3:38 رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ

“O my Lord! Grant me from Your nearness, fair off-spring; for You is the One who hears the prayers!

After making the prayers/supplications we may ask for acceptance.

2:124  رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Our Lord! Accept from us for you are All hearing, All knowing.”

When in distress:

27:62 أَمَّن يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ …..

Or, Who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes the evil/suffering…

21:83 أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

 Indeed distress has touched me and You are most Merciful of those who are the Merciful.

Responding to invitation of path towards the Lord:

3:193 رَّبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا ۚ رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ

“Our Lord! We heard one caller inviting to Faith, ‘Believe in your Lord,’ thus we have believed. Our Lord! forgive our sins, blot out from us our evils, and make us die/recompense our souls with the righteous ones.

When consoling your self in order to heal psychological would inflicted by unjust actions.

14:42 وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ غَافِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّالِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الْأَبْصَارُ

And don’t think that Allah is oblivious of what the unjust people do. He only gives them respite against a Day when the eyes will fixedly stare (in horror),-

When longing for a relationship/getting married or some thing you like and would like Allah to bestow upon you.

28:24 رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ….

“O my Lord! truly am I in dire need of any good that You sends towards me!”

When supplicating Allah to support in a difficult situation, handle the matters with truth fullness and recite the below dua:

17:80 وَقُل رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَل لِّي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا

Say. “O my Lord! Let my entry be by the entrance of Truth, and my exit be the exit of Truth; and grant me from your presence an authority for (my) help.”