Ramadan is the month of the Quran, fasting and night prayer, but it is also the month of dua.
In the middle of the verses about fasting, Allah says: “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the call of the caller when he calls upon Me.”
The placement of this verse among the fasting verses shows that Ramadan is a special season for calling upon Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ taught that the dua of the fasting person is not rejected, and that in Ramadan the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.
Every day and night of Ramadan is full of opportunities to ask Allah for forgiveness, guidance and every good of this world and the next.
This guide gathers essential duas for Ramadan, with meanings and the best times to recite them.
It also explains the etiquette of dua and offers a practical plan for making the most of every day of the month.
Why Dua Is So Powerful in Ramadan
The fasting person’s dua
The Prophet ﷺ mentioned three people whose duas are not rejected, including the fasting person until they break their fast.
Allah’s nearness
The verse “I am near” is placed among the verses of fasting, reminding believers that Allah hears them closely in this month.
Laylatul Qadr
Ramadan contains Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Decree, which is better than a thousand months. Dua on this night is especially precious.
A heart softened by fasting
Fasting humbles the heart, making it more sincere and attentive in dua.
Dua on Seeing the New Moon
When the new crescent moon is sighted at the start of Ramadan, or of any month, the Prophet ﷺ would say:
“Allahumma ahillahu ʿalayna bil-amni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-islam. Rabbi wa Rabbukallah.”
Meaning: “O Allah, bring it over us with security and faith, with safety and Islam. My Lord and your Lord is Allah.”
Intention for Fasting
The intention for fasting is made in the heart before dawn. There is no specific wording required from the Sunnah.
Simply resolving in your heart to fast the next day of Ramadan is sufficient. Some people say words of intention, but the essential intention is in the heart.
Dua at Suhoor
There is no specific dua narrated for suhoor itself, but the last part of the night before dawn is one of the best times for dua.
The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night and says: “Who is calling upon Me, that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me, that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?”
Use suhoor time to:
- Seek forgiveness: “Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh.”
- Make personal duas for yourself and your family.
- Pray a few rakat of night prayer before eating.
Dua for Breaking the Fast
At iftar, the Prophet ﷺ would say:
“Dhahabadh-dhama’u wabtallatil-ʿuruqu wa thabatal-ajru in sha’ Allah.”
Meaning: “The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.”
Another dua commonly recited at iftar is:
“Allahumma laka sumtu wa ʿala rizqika aftartu.”
Meaning: “O Allah, for You I fasted, and with Your provision I break my fast.”
The moment before iftar
The minutes just before Maghrib are among the best times for dua.
Instead of spending them busy with food preparation alone, try to set aside a few minutes for personal supplication.
Dua When Breaking Fast With Others
When eating at someone’s home for iftar, the Prophet ﷺ would make dua for the host:
“Aftara ʿindakumus-sa’imun, wa akala taʿamakumul-abrar, wa sallat ʿalaykumul-mala’ikah.”
Meaning: “May fasting people break their fast with you, may the righteous eat your food and may the angels send blessings upon you.”
Dua for Laylatul Qadr
Aisha asked the Prophet ﷺ what she should say if she knew which night was Laylatul Qadr. He taught her:
“Allahumma innaka ʿafuwwun tuhibbul-ʿafwa faʿfu ʿanni.”
Meaning: “O Allah, You are the Pardoner, You love to pardon, so pardon me.”
This short dua is perfect to repeat throughout the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Why pardon?
“ʿAfw” means wiping away sins completely, as if they never existed. It is even more than forgiveness, which covers sins.
Asking for ʿafw on Laylatul Qadr is asking for a fresh, clean start.
Duas for Forgiveness
Ramadan is the month of forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and hoping for reward will have their past sins forgiven.
Sayyid al-Istighfar
“Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa ant, khalaqtani wa ana ʿabduk, wa ana ʿala ʿahdika wa waʿdika mastataʿt, aʿudhu bika min sharri ma sanaʿt, abu’u laka biniʿmatika ʿalayya, wa abu’u bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa ant.”
Meaning: “O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant. I abide by Your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.”
The dua of Adam
“Rabbana dhalamna anfusana wa in lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna lanakunanna minal-khasirin.”
Meaning: “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.”
Simple istighfar
“Astaghfirullah” (I seek Allah’s forgiveness), repeated throughout the day.
Quranic Duas for Ramadan
| Dua | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ʿadhaban-nar | Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire |
| Rabbana taqabbal minna innaka antas-Samiʿul-ʿAlim | Our Lord, accept from us; indeed You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing |
| Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana baʿda idh hadaytana | Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us |
| Rabbi-jʿalni muqimas-salati wa min dhurriyyati | My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and from my descendants |
| Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata aʿyun | Our Lord, grant us from our spouses and offspring comfort to our eyes |
| Rabbi zidni ʿilma | My Lord, increase me in knowledge |
“Rabbana taqabbal minna”
This dua of Prophet Ibrahim and Ismaʿil, said while building the Kaʿbah, is especially fitting in Ramadan. After every fast, prayer and good deed, ask Allah to accept it.
Duas for Paradise and Protection From the Fire
“Allahumma inni as’alukal-jannah wa aʿudhu bika minan-nar.”
Meaning: “O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and I seek refuge in You from the Fire.”
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever asks Allah for Paradise three times, Paradise says: “O Allah, admit him into Paradise.”
And whoever seeks refuge from the Fire three times, the Fire says: “O Allah, protect him from the Fire.”
Dua for Guidance and Steadfastness
“Ya Muqallibal-qulub, thabbit qalbi ʿala dinik.”
Meaning: “O Turner of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.”
The Prophet ﷺ frequently made this dua. It is an excellent dua for Ramadan, asking Allah to keep the faith and good habits of this month alive afterwards.
Dua for the Ummah
Ramadan is also a time to make dua for others: for family, friends, the sick, the oppressed and the whole Ummah.
The Prophet ﷺ said that when a Muslim makes dua for his brother in his absence, an angel says, “And for you the same.”
The Best Times for Dua in Ramadan
| Time | Why |
|---|---|
| Before iftar | The fasting person’s dua is not rejected |
| Last third of the night | Allah descends to the lowest heaven |
| Between adhan and iqamah | A time when dua is not rejected |
| In sujud | The servant is closest to Allah |
| Laylatul Qadr | Better than a thousand months |
| Friday, especially the last hour before Maghrib | A special hour of acceptance |
| After completing the Quran | A time of blessing |
Etiquette of Dua
- Begin with praise of Allah and salawat on the Prophet ﷺ.
- Face the qiblah and raise your hands.
- Be sincere and humble.
- Be certain that Allah will answer.
- Use Allah’s names that relate to your request.
- Ask for the good of this world and the next.
- Repeat your dua, especially three times.
- Do not be hasty; do not say “I prayed and was not answered”.
- End with salawat on the Prophet ﷺ.
How Duas Are Answered
The Prophet ﷺ explained that every sincere dua is answered in one of three ways: Allah grants what was asked, He stores the reward for the Hereafter or He turns away an equivalent harm. No sincere dua is ever wasted.
A Ramadan Dua Plan
First ten days: mercy
Focus on duas asking for Allah’s mercy and blessings.
Middle ten days: forgiveness
Increase istighfar and duas for forgiveness.
Last ten days: freedom from the Fire
Increase duas for Paradise, protection from the Fire and the Laylatul Qadr dua.
Daily dua list
Write a personal list of duas at the start of Ramadan:
- Duas for yourself: faith, health, knowledge, forgiveness
- Duas for parents
- Duas for spouse and children
- Duas for relatives and friends
- Duas for those who are sick or in difficulty
- Duas for the Ummah
Read through your list every day before iftar.
Teaching Children Ramadan Duas
- Start with short duas: “Allahumma laka sumtu” and “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah”.
- Make dua together before iftar: Let children add their own requests.
- Create a dua jar: Children write duas on slips of paper and add them to a jar to read before iftar.
- Explain meanings: Help children understand what they are asking.
Common Mistakes in Ramadan Dua
- Spending the time before iftar only in the kitchen. Set aside a few minutes for dua.
- Only asking for worldly things. Balance worldly and spiritual requests.
- Giving up when duas seem unanswered. Every sincere dua is answered.
- Forgetting others. Include family, friends and the Ummah.
- Rushing. Make dua with presence of heart.
Keeping the Habit of Dua After Ramadan
The habits of Ramadan should not end with Eid. The same Lord who answers in Ramadan answers throughout the year.
Keep a short daily dua time, perhaps after Fajr or before Maghrib, and continue using your personal dua list.
Fast the six days of Shawwal and the Sunnah fasts on Mondays and Thursdays, and use those days for extra dua, since the dua of the fasting person is not rejected.
Keep asking Allah to accept your Ramadan, as many of the early Muslims spent months after Ramadan asking Allah to accept it, and months before it asking Him to let them reach it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What dua should I say when breaking my fast?
“Dhahabadh-dhama’u wabtallatil-ʿuruqu wa thabatal-ajru in sha’ Allah.”
Is there a specific dua for suhoor?
No specific dua is narrated, but the time before dawn is excellent for any dua and istighfar.
What is the best dua for Laylatul Qadr?
“Allahumma innaka ʿafuwwun tuhibbul-ʿafwa faʿfu ʿanni.”
Can I make dua in my own language?
Yes. Personal dua can be made in any language, though learning the prophetic duas in Arabic brings additional reward.
When is the best time for dua in Ramadan?
Before iftar, the last third of the night, in sujud and on Laylatul Qadr.
Preparing Your Heart Before Ramadan
The best Ramadan duas come from a prepared heart. In the weeks before the month, begin making dua that Allah allows you to reach Ramadan in good health and faith.
Repent from sins, mend relationships and clear any grudges, because a heart free of resentment is more ready for sincere dua.
Learn the key Arabic duas listed in this guide, with their meanings, so that when the month arrives you can use them easily rather than searching for words.
Write your personal dua list early and keep it in your Mushaf or prayer space.
When the crescent is sighted, you will step into the month ready to make the most of every precious moment.
Final Thoughts
Ramadan is a month of nearness to Allah, and dua is the bridge of that nearness.
Every fast, every night prayer and every moment before iftar is an invitation to ask Allah for everything you need.
Learn the essential Ramadan duas, prepare a personal dua list, teach your children and use the blessed times wisely.
May Allah accept our fasting, prayers and duas, and make us among those freed from the Fire.
Learn Ramadan duas with correct Arabic before the month begins.