Best Duas for Laylatul Qadr

The most important dua for the night of Laylatul Qadr is the one that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recited to Aisha رضي الله عنها. You can also formulate authentic duas using verses from the Qur’an and Sunnah for forgiveness, guidance, family, protection and righteousness in both worlds.

There is no specified time limit for dua. You may call out to Allah in Arabic or any other language you wish to speak.

The Primary Dua Taught by the Prophet

This is the most well-known and authentic dua for Laylatul Qadr. It was taught by the Prophet directly to his wife Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her).

The Story Behind It

Aisha asked the Prophet: "O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say on that night?" He replied with this dua.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Transliteration: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni

"O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness, so forgive me."

References:

• Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3513
• Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3850
• Riyad as-Salihin, Hadith 1195

The Extended Version with "Karimun"

Some narrations include the word Karimun (Generous) in the dua, making it even more comprehensive.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Transliteration: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun karimun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni

"O Allah, You are Ever Pardoning and Generous, and You love pardoning, so pardon me!"

Reference:

• Sunan At-Tirmidhi

What This Dua Contains

This dua has the following two beautiful names of Allah, namely Al-Afuww (The Ever Pardoning) and Al-Karim (The Generous). You invoke Allah’s Names, and then proclaim that He loves pardoning and at last request forgiveness from Allah. One who is pardoned by Allah is pardoned, and in addition, he is granted a high rank.

One set of books writes “‘Afuwwun tuḥibbul-‘afwa” while another writes “‘Afuwwun Karīm.” In both the cases, the wording of the dua is the same.

This dua is very appropriate for Laylatul Qadr due to the reason that it seeks wiping away of sins and total forgiveness from Allah.

Quranic Duas for Laylatul Qadr

The following duas are from the Qur’an. They are not limited only to Laylatul Qadr, but they are excellent supplications to recite during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Dua for goodness in both worlds

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Transliteration: Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ‘adhāban-nār.

"Our Lord, grant us good in this world, good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."

Reference: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:201.

Dua for forgiveness

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

Transliteration: Rabbanā ẓalamnā anfusanā wa illam taghfir lanā wa tarḥamnā lanakūnanna minal-khāsirīn.

"Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers."

Reference: Surah Al-A‘raf 7:23.

Dua for a sound heart

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ

Transliteration: Rabbanā lā tuzigh qulūbanā ba‘da idh hadaytanā wa hab lanā mil-ladunka raḥmatan innaka antal-Wahhāb.

"Our Lord, do not let our hearts turn away after You have guided us. Grant us mercy from You. Surely, You are the Bestower."

Reference: Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:8.

Dua for forgiveness and protection from the Fire

رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Transliteration: Rabbanā innanā āmannā faghfir lanā dhunūbanā wa qinā ‘adhāban-nār.

"Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."

Reference: Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:16.

Dua for family and righteous children

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

Transliteration: Rabbanā hab lanā min azwājinā wa dhurriyyātinā qurrata a‘yunin waj‘alnā lil-muttaqīna imāmā.

"Our Lord, bless us with spouses and children who will be the joy of our hearts, and make us an example for the righteous."

Reference: Surah Al-Furqan 25:74.

Dua for parents and all believers

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

Transliteration: Rabbanā’ghfir lī wa liwālidayya wa lil-mu’minīna yawma yaqūmul-ḥisāb.

"Our Lord, forgive me, my parents and all believers on the Day the judgment will be established."

Reference: Surah Ibrahim 14:41.

Dua for relief from hardship

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Transliteration: Lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu minaz-zālimīn.

"There is no god except You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers."

Reference: Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87.

This was the supplication of Prophet Yunus عليه السلام when he was in difficulty.

Dua for acceptance of worship

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Transliteration: Rabbanā taqabbal minnā innaka antas-Samī‘ul-‘Alīm.

"Our Lord, accept this from us. Surely, You are the All-Hearing, All-Knowing."

Reference: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:127.

This dua is useful after prayer, Qur’an recitation, charity and other acts of worship.

Dua for forgiveness for the Muslim community

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ

Transliteration: Rabbanā’ghfir lanā wa li-ikhwāninalladhīna sabaqūnā bil-īmāni wa lā taj‘al fī qulūbinā ghillal-lilladhīna āmanū rabbanā innaka ra’ūfur-raḥīm.

"Our Lord, forgive us and our fellow believers who came before us in faith. Do not place any resentment in our hearts towards those who believe. Our Lord, You are truly Most Compassionate, Most Merciful."

Reference: Surah Al-Hashr 59:10.

Duas from the Sunnah

Dua for forgiveness and mercy

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي

Transliteration: Allāhummaghfir lī warḥamnī wahdinī wa ‘āfinī warzuqnī.

"O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, grant me well-being and provide for me."

Reference: Sahih Muslim 2697, with related wordings reported in the supplications of the Prophet ﷺ.

Dua for forgiveness from major sins

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

Transliteration: Allāhumma innī ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīran wa lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā anta faghfir lī maghfiratan min ‘indika warḥamnī innaka antal-Ghafūrur-Raḥīm.

"O Allah, I have greatly wronged myself, and no one forgives sins except You. So grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy on me. Surely, You are the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 834; Sahih Muslim 2705.

How to Make Dua on Laylatul Qadr

You can make dua at any time during the night, from Maghrib until Fajr. A simple routine may include:

1. Praise Allah.
2. Send blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
3. Ask Allah for forgiveness.
4. Recite the dua for Laylatul Qadr.
5. Ask for guidance, health, safety and lawful provision.
6. Pray for your parents, family and the Muslim community.
7. End by sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ.

You may recite the Arabic duas above and then make personal dua in your own language. Allah knows every language and every need.

Final Advice

The dua specifically taught for Laylatul Qadr is:

Transliteration: Allāhumma innaka ‘afuwwun karīmun tuḥibb al-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘annī.

"O Allah, You are Most Pardoning and Generous. You love to pardon, so pardon me."

Repeat it during the final ten nights of Ramadan, more specifically on odd days.

One can also recite the above mentioned duaa from Quran and Hadith along with seeking the forgiveness, mercy, guidance and acceptance of Allah.

References: The above mentioned duas from the Quran have been quoted according to surah and verse. As hadith references may differ from edition to edition, use both the name and the number together in any publication.

Note: All the dates for Laylatul Qadr (2027 & 2028)have been estimated based on astronomical calculations. The exact day will be known only after the sighting of the moon in one’s own place.

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