La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka: the du'a of Yunus (AS)
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.
Recite it in distress, after recognising a mistake, while seeking forgiveness, or when a situation feels closed from every direction. The Prophet ﷺ taught that a Muslim who supplicates with these words for a matter is answered. No fixed number is given in the cited sources.
The Arabic and meaning are paired with Quran 21:87. No special promise or count is added without a cited basis.
Qur'an recitation by Mishary Alafasy
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.
Yunus (AS) called upon Allah (SWT) with these words in the darkness while inside the great fish. The next verse states that Allah (SWT) answered him and saved him from distress, and that this is how He saves the believers.
The dua does not open by describing the crisis. It opens with tawhid, then tasbih, then confession. That order turns panic into worship: Allah (SWT) alone can save, He is free of every fault, and the servant returns without making excuses.
Yunus (AS) (Jonah) said this in the belly of the whale. The Prophet ﷺ said no Muslim makes this du'a about any matter without Allah (SWT) answering him. For when the situation feels impossible and the way out is unclear.
When should I recite the dua of Yunus (AS)?
Recite it during distress, while seeking forgiveness, after a mistake, or whenever you need Allah's help and relief.
What makes this dua so powerful?
Its words combine belief in Allah (SWT) alone, glorifying Him, and admitting one's wrong. Jami at-Tirmidhi 3505 records the Prophet's ﷺ teaching about supplicating with it for a matter.
Is there a fixed count such as 40 or 100 times?
The Qur'anic passage and the cited hadith do not prescribe those counts. Repeat it sincerely without attributing an unsupported number to the Sunnah.