In the rich tapestry of Islamic spirituality, the Holy Quran serves not only as a guide for daily life but also as a boundless reservoir of profound supplications, or duas, imbued with profound meaning and spiritual potency.
These sacred invocations, drawn from the timeless verses of the Quran, offer solace, guidance, and a direct connection to the Divine.
In this article, we explore some of the most powerful and beautiful duas from the Holy Quran, delving into their meanings, significance, and the transformative impact they hold for those who seek to deepen their spiritual practice and draw closer to Allah.
Why make Duas?
وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُۥ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱلزَّكَوٰةِ وَكَانَ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ مَرْضِيًّۭا ٥٥
He commanded his household to pray and give alms, and his Lord was well pleased with him. 19:55
تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًۭا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ١٦
Their sides shun their beds in order to pray to their Lord in fear and hope; they give to others some of what We have given them. 32:16
Pray to whom?
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَدْعُوا۟ رَبِّى وَلَآ أُشْرِكُ بِهِۦٓ أَحَدًۭا ٢٠
Say, ‘I pray to my Lord alone; I set up no partner with Him.’ 72:20
رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا بِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ وَٱتَّبَعْنَا ٱلرَّسُولَ فَٱكْتُبْنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ ٥٣
They prayed to Allah,˺ “Our Lord! We believe in Your revelations and follow the messenger, so count us among those who bear witness.” 3:53
Also Read| Who is Allah? Definition and Attributes of God in Islam
Praying for Forgiveness
إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَرِيقٌۭ مِّنْ عِبَادِى يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ١٠٩
Indeed, there was a group of My servants who used to pray, ‘Our Lord! We have believed, so forgive us and have mercy on us, for You are the best of those who show mercy. 23:109
Tum wahi log to ho ke mere kuch banday jab kehte thay ke aye hamare parwardigar, hum iman laye, humein maaf karde, humpar reham kar, tu sab raheemon se accha raheem hai 23:109
وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ وَٱرْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ١١٨
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the best of those who show mercy.” 23:118
(Aey Muhammad) kaho, “Mere Rubb darguzar farma, aur reham kar, aur tu sab raheemon se accha raheem hai. 23:118
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى فَٱغْفِرْ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ١٦
He prayed: “O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul! Do Thou then forgive me!” So (Allah) forgave him: for He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. 28:16
ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ١٦
These are the ones who pray: ‘Our Lord! We do indeed believe, so forgive us our sins and keep us safe from the chastisement of the Fire’; 3:16
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِأَخِى وَأَدْخِلْنَا فِى رَحْمَتِكَ ۖ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ١٥١
Moses prayed, “My Lord! Forgive me and my brother! And admit us into Your mercy. You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.” 7:151
Indeed you have an excellent example in Abraham and those who followed him, when they said to their people, ‘We disown you and whatever you worship besides God. We renounce you. Enmity and hatred shall endure between us and you, until you believe in the one God.’ [The exception was] when Abraham said to his father, ‘I shall indeed pray for [God’s] forgiveness for you; although I do not have it in my power to obtain anything from God on your behalf.’ They prayed, ‘O our Lord, in You we have placed our trust and to You we turn in repentance and to You is the final return. 60:4
Why hope for Forgiveness?
It is right to hope for forgiveness from God almighty because God himself says so in the Holy Quran.
فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَعْفُوَ عَنْهُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًۭا ٩٩
It is right to hope that Allah will pardon them. For Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Forgiving. 4:99
Baeed nahin ke Allah unhein maaf karde, Allah bada maaf karne wala aur darguzar farmane wala hai 4:99
Their sides shun their beds in order to pray to their Lord in fear and hope; they give to others some of what We have given them. 32:16
For Knowledge and Wisdom
رَبِّ هَبْ لِى حُكْمًۭا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ٨٣
And then Abraham prayed): “My Lord, endow me with knowledge and wisdom and join me with the righteous, 26:83
Praying against Tyranny & Oppression
The messenger prayed, “My Lord! Help me, because they have denied ˹me˺.” 23:39
Noah prayed, “My Lord! My people have truly rejected me. 26:117
Noah had prayed, “My Lord! Do not leave a single disbeliever on earth. 71:26
And pray: “My Lord! I seek Your refuge from the suggestions of the evil ones; 23:97
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱنصُرْنِى عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ ٣٠
Lot prayed, “My Lord! Help me against the people of corruption.” 29:30
So he prayed to his Lord saying, “I am overpowered, so defend (me).” 54:10
They are˺ those who pray, “Our Lord! Keep the punishment of Hell away from us, for its punishment is indeed unrelenting. 25:65
Moses prayed, “My Lord! Uplift my heart for me, 20:25
So Moses departed from the city, fearful and vigilant, and prayed, ‘My Lord, save me from these unjust people.’ 28:21
Praying for Parents
وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًۭا ٢٤
And be humble with them out of mercy, and pray, “My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.” 17:24
They said, “O father, pray for the forgiveness of our misdeeds; we were indeed wrongdoers.” 12:97
Against Idol Worshipping
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًۭا وَٱجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ ٣٥
And call to mind when Abraham prayed: “My Lord! Make this city secure, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping the idols. 14:35
And when Abraham and Ishmael were laying the foundations of the House, [they prayed], ‘Our Lord, accept this from us; for You are All Hearing, All Knowing. 2:127
Praying for Spouses and Children
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍۢ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ٧٤
They are˺ those who pray, “Our Lord! Bless us with ˹pious˺ spouses and offspring who will be the joy of our hearts, and make us models for the righteous.” 25:74
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ ٣٨
Then and there Zachariah prayed to his Lord, saying, “My Lord! Grant me—by your grace—righteous offspring. You are certainly the Hearer of ˹all˺ prayers.” 3:38
And call to mind when Abraham prayed: “My Lord! Make this city secure, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping the idols. 14:35
Praying for Provisions
فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَقِيرٌۭ ٢٤
So he watered ˹their herd˺ for them, then withdrew to the shade and prayed, “My Lord! I am truly in ˹desperate˺ need of whatever provision You may have in store for me.” 28:24
And pray, “My Lord! Allow me a blessed landing, for You are the best accommodator.” 23:29
He prayed, ‘Lord forgive me! Grant me such power as no one after me will have—You are the Most Generous Provider.’ 38:35
And pray: “My Lord! Cause me to enter wherever it be, with Truth, and cause me to exit, wherever it be, with Truth, and support me with authority from Yourself.” 17:80
