Seven Qur’anic Duʿās Every Muslim Should Know

The Qur’an teaches believers how to speak to Allah with humility, hope and trust. These seven supplications cover many of life’s most important needs. Each Arabic passage below is the complete āyah, so you can see the duʿā in its own context.

1. For goodness in both worlds — Qur’an 2:201

Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ʿadhāban-nār.

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

Our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and in the Hereafter, and protect us from the Fire. This was among the most frequent supplications of the Prophet ﷺ.

2. For a steadfast heart — Qur’an 3:8

Rabbanā lā tuzigh qulūbanā baʿda idh hadaytanā wa hab lanā min ladunka raḥmah.

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ

Our Lord, do not allow our hearts to deviate after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You.

3. Before speaking or facing a difficult task — Qur’an 20:25–28

Rabbi-shraḥ lī ṣadrī, wa yassir lī amrī, waḥlul ʿuqdatan min lisānī, yafqahū qawlī.

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِى يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى

My Lord, open my heart, make my task easy and allow my words to be understood. This was the prayer of Mūsā when Allah commanded him to confront Pharaoh.

4. During distress and repentance — Qur’an 21:87

Lā ilāha illā Anta, subḥānaka innī kuntu minaẓ-ẓālimīn.

وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

None has the right to be worshipped except You. You are perfect and free of every imperfection. I was among the wrongdoers. These were the words of Prophet Yūnus in the darkness.

5. When asking Allah for provision and help — Qur’an 28:24

Rabbi innī limā anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqīr.

فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

My Lord, I am truly in need of whatever good You send to me. Mūsā made this duʿā’ while alone, exhausted and in need of Allah’s help.

6. For forgiveness and mercy — Qur’an 23:118

Rabbi-ghfir warḥam wa Anta khayrur-rāḥimīn.

وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ وَٱرْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

My Lord, forgive and have mercy, for You are the best of those who show mercy.

7. When afraid of failure or being overwhelmed — Qur’an 2:286

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ

Al-Baqarah 2:286 ends with a comprehensive prayer asking Allah not to hold us accountable for forgetfulness or mistakes, not to place unbearable burdens upon us, and to pardon, forgive and have mercy upon us.

These duʿās can be made in Arabic or in a language you understand. What matters is sincerity, humility and awareness of what you are asking Allah to grant. To read them in place, open Sūrah al-Baqarah in the calm reader.