The blessed month of Ramadan is just around the corner and we can’t wait to make the most of it! This month let’s maximize our reward which is not possible in any other month of the year. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.”
This holy month is full of religious fervor and is the best time to pray as much as possible. The good deeds and acts of worship that are committed in Ramadan are rewarded more than the usual reward. There are a variety of supplications that can be recited during this month in order to ask for the mercy and forgiveness of Allah. Moreover, the devil is chained in this blessed month that allows individuals the ease to commit acts of worship.
The month of Ramadan starts with the sighting of the moon. The dua that is recited after seeing the moon is
اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْيُمْنِ وَالْإِيمَانِ وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْإِسْلَامِ وَالتَّوْفِيقِ لِمَا تُحِبُّ وَتَرْضَى رَبِّي وَرَبُّكَ اللَّهُ
“Allahumma, ahillahu ‘alaina bil-amni wal-imani was-salamati wal-Islami wat-taufiqi lima tuhibbu wa tardu. Rabbuna wa rabbukallahto”
“O Allah, let the crescent moon loom above us in safety, faith, peace, and Islam, and bless us with the ability to succeed in all that you love and are pleased with. Our Lord and your Lord is Allah.“
First Ashrah of Ramadan dua
The first ashrah of Ramadan or the first ten days of Ramadan are called Ashrah-e-Rehmat or Days of Mercy. In these ten days, Muslims recite a supplication to ask for Allah’s mercy. The supplication for the first ashrah is
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
“Rabbi ighfir warham wa anta khayrur raahimeen”
“O! My Lord forgive and have mercy and You are the best of Merciful”
Muslims recite the dua frequently in order to maximize their rewards and to repeatedly ask Allah for forgiveness as He is the All-Forgiving, All-Merciful!
Second Ashrah of Ramadan dua
The second ashrah of Ramadan consists of the next ten days that start from the 11th Ramadan to the 20th Ramadan. This ashrah is called Ashrah-e-Maghfirah or Days of Forgiveness. In these days, Muslims frequently recite a supplication in order to beg Allah for forgiveness. The supplication for the second ashrah is
اَسْتَغْفِرُ الله رَبِّي مِنْ کُلِّ ذنْبٍ وَّ اَتُوْبُ اِلَیْه
“Astagfirullaha rab-bi min kulli zambiyon wa-atoobuilaiyh”
“I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, from every sin I committed”
This supplication is repeatedly recited in the next ten days of Ramadan to ask for the forgiveness of Allah for all the major and minor sins committed by the people. It is the belief of Muslims that Allah forgives all sins no matter how much they are if a person seriously repents. The only sin that Allah does not forgive is shirk that is associating partners with Allah.
Third Ashrah of Ramadan dua
The third ashrah of Ramadan consists of the last ten days of the month starting from the 21st of Ramadan. These last ten days are called Ashrah-e-Nijaat or Days of seeking refuge. On these last days of the month, Muslims beg Allah for protection and for seeking refuge from hellfire. The supplication that is repeatedly recited in this month is
اَللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ
“Allahumma Ajirni minan naar“
“O Allah! Save me from hellfire”
Allah is oft-forgiving and merciful therefore, Muslims frequently recite the supplication to ask Allah for forgiveness and refuge from hellfire.
Dua for Suhoor
Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal that is consumed before fajar prayer. The fast starts with fajar prayer after which none of the Muslims are allowed to eat or drink until Maghrib. The supplication that is recited after suhoor is
وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَّوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
“Wa bisawmi ghadinn nawaiytu min shahri Ramadan”
“I intend to fast tomorrow in this month of Ramadan.”
Dua for Iftar
Iftar is the meal which the fast is broken. After fasting for the whole day, Muslims recite a supplication and break their fast at the time of Maghrib. The supplication that is recited at the time of iftar is
اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ امنْتُ وَعَليْكَ تَوَكّلتُ وَ عَلىرِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ
“Allahumma inni laka sumtu, wa bika aamantu, [wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu], wa Ala rizqika aftartu”
“Oh Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You (and I put my trust in You) and I break my fast with Your sustenance.“
Last 10 days of Ramadan
Although the last ten days of Ramadan are known as the Days of seeking refuge they are also significant for another reason. Layla tul Qadr is the Night of Destiny on which the Holy Quran was revealed onProphet Muhammad PBUH. The exact date of Layla tul Qadr is unknown but it is believed that it falls on one of the odd nights in the last ten days of Ramadan. It is beneficial for Muslims to look for this night in the last ashrah and make the most out of it! Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, “Seek it in the last ten days, on the odd nights.”
Hazrat Aisha (R.A) inquired from Prophet Muhammad PBUH that if it is Lalyla tul Qadr then what supplication should she recite. So Prophet PBUH replied that the following supplication must be recited,
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفْوٌ تٌحِبٌّ العَفْوَ فَأَعْفَوْ عَنِّي
“Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu anni”
“O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning and Generous; You love to pardon, so pardon us.”
Another dua that is frequently recited in these last ten days, especially on the odd nights is
لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
“La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz zalimin”
“There is no deity except You, exalted, are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers”
These days are the best opportunity for the Muslims to gain multiple rewards by the same acts of worship that they perform on the usual days but the reward maximizes in Ramadan.
Tasbeeh Prayers
Other than the mentioned prayers, there are a number of supplications that can be recited by the individuals for greater reward. These duas can be recited to glorify Allah and worship him. Reciting such supplications repeatedly maximizes the reward for the believers. One of these supplications is:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَمِلْتُ وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا لَمْ أَعْمَلْ
“Allaahumma inni audhu bika min sharri ma ‘amiltu, wa min sharri ma lam a’mal”
“O Allah! I seek protection from You from the evil I have committed and the evil that I have not done.”
Another supplication that can be recited frequently for the purpose of glorifying Allah is,
أسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِي لا إلَهَ إلا هُوَ الحَيُّ القَيُومُ وَأتُوبُ إلَيهِ
“Astaghfir ullah-alladhi la ilaha illa Huwal-Haiyul-Qayyumu, wa atubu ilaihi”
“I seek forgiveness from Allah, being that there is no God except He, who is living, eternal and I turn towards Him in repentance.”
