Duas for Ramadan

The texts below are offered so a family can read, memorise and understand a few well-known wordings connected with Ramadan. The English under each passage is our own brief meaning, written for this page. It is not taken from a published translation, and it is not a substitute for studying with a teacher or with a translation your family already trusts.

Where a report is a teaching rather than a fixed dua, we say so. We have not added popular wordings whose chains are widely treated as weak as if they were required.

When breaking the fast

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet ﷺ would say, when he broke his fast:

Iftar wording

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

The thirst has gone, the veins are moist again, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.

Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 2357. English meaning in our own words, not a copyrighted translation.

You may also make dua in your own words at iftar. The page does not present a second, weaker wording as if it were required.

A dua for Laylatul Qadr

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet ﷺ what to say if she knew it was the Night of Decree. He taught her this wording. The full context, and how to seek the night, is on our Laylatul Qadr guide.

The dua Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was taught

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

O Allah, You are the One who pardons, and You love to pardon, so pardon me.

Source: Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3513. English meaning in our own words, not a copyrighted translation.

What the Quran says about the month

These passages are quoted so you can read the Arabic and a short sense of the meaning. They are not a complete tafsir.

Fasting was prescribed for you

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become mindful of Allah.

Reference: Quran 2:183. English meaning in our own words, not a copyrighted translation.

Ramadan, in which the Quran was revealed

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

It is the month of Ramadan in which the Quran was sent down, as guidance for people, with clear proofs of that guidance and of the criterion. So whoever of you is present in the month should fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey should make up a number of other days. Allah wants ease for you, not hardship, and He wants you to complete the count, to proclaim His greatness for the guidance He has given you, and to be grateful.

Reference: Quran 2:185. English meaning in our own words, not a copyrighted translation.

He is near, and He answers

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ

When My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the call of the one who calls, when they call on Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, so that they may be rightly guided.

Reference: Quran 2:186. English meaning in our own words, not a copyrighted translation.

These three ayahs sit together in al-Baqarah in the passage on fasting. 2:186 is a comfort in the last third of the night, as well as at iftar: ask, and know that He is near.

A teaching about suhoor, not a dua

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said that you should eat suhoor, for there is blessing in suhoor. That report is in Sahih al-Bukhari 1923. It is a reason to eat a pre-dawn meal when you are fasting; it is not a fixed dua that must be recited. You may say the usual basmala, eat something light, and make any dua you wish.

How to practise these at home

Choose one wording for iftar and, in the last ten nights, the short Laylatul Qadr dua. Read the Arabic slowly, then the meaning in your own words so children are not only copying sounds. If you want everyday (non-Ramadan) duas on a printable page, use the daily dua chart or the duas and tasbih counter.

Quran Arabic on this page follows the Uthmani rasm (as published in standard digital mushafs such as those used on Quran.com). Hadith wording follows the collection named in the source link. If you notice an error, please tell us.