There are moments when you don't know which door to walk through. The Quran teaches us to ask Allah (SWT) Himself to make the path obvious. His guidance is the way out of every dead-end.
Rabbana atina min ladunka rahmatan wa hayyi' lana min amrina rashada.
“Our Lord, give us from Yourself mercy, and prepare for us right guidance in our affair.”
The du'a of the young men of the Cave, said when they chose faith over an impossible situation. For when you don't see the way forward yet.
La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu mina-dh-dhalimin.
“There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
The prayer of Prophet Yunus (AS) in profound distress: it begins with Allah's oneness, glorifies Him above every imperfection, and honestly admits one's own wrong. It is a sound dua when you feel trapped, regretful, or desperate for relief.
Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana ba'da idh hadaytana, wa hab lana min ladunka rahmah, innaka anta-l-Wahhab.
“Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.”
A du'a against the worst kind of loss: losing iman after you've tasted it. Say it when you feel your heart drifting, or when you fear it might.
Rabbana atmim lana nurana wa-ghfir lana, innaka 'ala kulli shay'in qadir.
“Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”
A prayer for complete light and forgiveness on the Day believers will need both. It asks Allah (SWT) to carry faith to its good completion, not merely to give a promising beginning.
Ihdina-s-sirata-l-mustaqim, sirata-lladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayri-l-maghdubi 'alayhim wa la-d-dallin.
“Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who are astray.”
The request at the heart of al-Fatihah, which follows praise of Allah (SWT) and the pledge to worship Him alone and seek help from Him alone.
Rabbana wa-b'ath fihim rasulan minhum yatlu 'alayhim ayatika wa yu'allimuhumu-l-kitaba wa-l-hikmata wa yuzakkihim, innaka anta-l-'Azizu-l-Hakim.
“Our Lord, send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite Your verses to them, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”
The closing part of the du'a of Ibrahim (AS) and Isma'il (AS) at the House, asking Allah (SWT) to send a messenger to their descendants.
'Ala-llahi tawakkalna. Rabbana-ftah baynana wa bayna qawmina bi-l-haqqi wa anta khayru-l-fatihin.
“Upon Allah we have relied. Our Lord, judge between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who judge.”
Shu'ayb (AS) said this when the arrogant leaders of his people threatened to expel the believers unless they returned to their religion.
Rabbi inni a'udhu bika an as'alaka ma laysa li bihi 'ilm, wa illa taghfir li wa tarhamni akun mina-l-khasirin.
“My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking You for that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers.”
Nuh (AS) said this after Allah (SWT) told him not to ask about his son, who had drowned with the disbelievers.
Allahumma Fatira-s-samawati wa-l-ard, 'Alima-l-ghaybi wa-sh-shahadah, anta tahkumu bayna 'ibadika fi ma kanu fihi yakhtalifun.
“O Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You will judge between Your servants in what they used to differ over.”
Allah (SWT) commands the Prophet ﷺ to call on Him with these words, in a passage about those who recoil when Allah (SWT) alone is mentioned.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi-'ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratik, wa as'aluka min fadlika-l-'adheem. Fa-innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa Anta 'Allamu-l-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-l-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, fa-qdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-l-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, fa-srifhu 'anni wa-srifni 'anhu, wa-qdur liya-l-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih.
“O Allah, I seek the good through Your knowledge and ability through Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. You are able and I am not; You know and I do not; You know the unseen. O Allah, if You know this matter is good for my religion, livelihood, and outcome, decree it for me, make it easy, and bless it for me. If You know it is harmful for my religion, livelihood, and outcome, turn it away from me and turn me away from it. Decree the good for me wherever it is, then make me content with it.”
Istikhara asks Allah (SWT), who knows what you cannot know, to facilitate a choice if it is good and turn both you and the choice away from each other if it is harmful.
Ya Muqalliba-l-qulub, thabbit qalbi 'ala dinik.
“O Changer of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.”
A frequent supplication of the Prophet ﷺ asking Allah (SWT) to keep the heart steady upon faith despite how quickly hearts can change.
Allahumma alhimni rushdi, wa a'idhni min sharri nafsi.
“O Allah, inspire me with sound guidance, and protect me from the evil of my own soul.”
A compact request for sound judgement and protection from the impulses, bias, and desires within yourself that can distort a decision.
Allahumma musarrifa-l-qulub, sarrif qulubana 'ala ta'atik.
“O Allah, Turner of hearts, turn our hearts to obedience to You.”
The Prophet ﷺ said that the hearts of all the children of Adam (AS) are between two of the fingers of the Most Merciful, like a single heart which He turns as He wills. Then he made this du'a.