Before wudu
بِسْمِ الله
TransliterationBismillāh.
EnglishIn the name of Allah.
Roman UrduAllah ke naam se.
Reference: Abu Dawud; Ibn Majah (Hisn al-Muslim 12)
Wudu washes away sins, and the walk to the masjid is full of reward. These short authentic duas, taught by the Prophet, peace be upon him, turn both into acts of remembrance. They are perfect for children learning to pray.
After wudu: the shahada
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلاّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَريكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسولُه
TransliterationAsh-hadu an lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan `abduhū wa rasūluh.
EnglishI bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. The eight gates of Paradise are opened for whoever says this after wudu.
Roman UrduMain gawahi deta hoon ke Allah ke siwa koi mabood nahin, woh akela hai, Us ka koi shareek nahin, aur main gawahi deta hoon ke Muhammad ﷺ Us ke bande aur Rasool hain. Jo wudu ke baad yeh kahe us ke liye jannat ke aathon darwaze khol diye jaate hain.
Reference: Sahih Muslim (Hisn al-Muslim 13)
After wudu: make me among the pure
اللّهُمَّ اجْعَلني مِنَ التَّوّابينَ وَاجْعَلْني مِنَ المتَطَهّرين
TransliterationAllāhummaj`alnī minat-tawwābīna waj`alnī minal-mutaṭahhirīn.
EnglishO Allah, make me among those who turn to You in repentance and make me among those who purify themselves.
Roman UrduAe Allah, mujhe tauba karne walon mein se bana aur mujhe paak saaf rehne walon mein se bana.
Reference: At-Tirmidhi (Hisn al-Muslim 14)
After wudu: glory to You
سُبْحانَكَ اللّهُمَّ وَبِحَمدِك أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتوبُ إِلَيْك
TransliterationSubḥānaka Allāhumma wa biḥamdik, ash-hadu an lā ilāha illā ant, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk.
EnglishGlory be to You, O Allah, and all praise is Yours. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I ask Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
Roman UrduAe Allah, Tu paak hai aur tamam tareef Teri hai. Main gawahi deta hoon ke Tere siwa koi mabood nahin. Main Tujh se maghfirat mangta hoon aur Teri taraf tauba karta hoon.
Reference: An-Nasa'i (Hisn al-Muslim 15)
When leaving home for the masjid
بِسْمِ اللهِ ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلى اللهِ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلاّ بِالله
TransliterationBismillāhi, tawakkaltu `alallāhi, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
EnglishIn the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.
Roman UrduAllah ke naam se, main ne Allah par bharosa kiya, aur Allah ke siwa na koi taaqat hai na quwwat.
Reference: Abu Dawud; At-Tirmidhi (Hisn al-Muslim 16)
Walking to the masjid: the dua of light
اللّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبي نُوراً ، وَفي لِسَانِي نُوراً، وَفِي سَمْعِي نُوراً, وَفِي بَصَرِي نُوراً, وَمِنْ فَوْقِي نُوراً , وَمِنْ تَحْتِي نُوراً, وَعَنْ يَمِينِي نُوراً, وعَنْ شِمَالِي نُوراً, وَمِنْ أَمَامِي نُوراً, وَمِنْ خَلْفِي نُوراً, واجْعَلْ فِي نَفْسِي نُوراً, وأَعْظِمْ لِي نُوراً
TransliterationAllāhummaj`al fī qalbī nūrā, wa fī lisānī nūrā, wa fī sam`ī nūrā, wa fī baṣarī nūrā, wa min fawqī nūrā, wa min taḥtī nūrā, wa `an yamīnī nūrā, wa `an shimālī nūrā, wa min amāmī nūrā, wa min khalfī nūrā, waj`al fī nafsī nūrā, wa a`ẓim lī nūrā.
EnglishO Allah, place light in my heart and light on my tongue, light in my hearing and light in my sight, light above me and light below me, light on my right and light on my left, light in front of me and light behind me. Place light in my soul and make my light great.
Roman UrduAe Allah, mere dil mein noor daal de, meri zabaan mein noor, meri sunne mein noor, meri nazar mein noor, mere upar noor, mere neeche noor, mere daayen noor, mere baayen noor, mere aage noor, mere peeche noor, meri jaan mein noor daal de aur mere noor ko bara kar de.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim (Hisn al-Muslim 19)
When entering the masjid
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
TransliterationAllāhummaftaḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik.
EnglishO Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy. Enter with your right foot first.
Roman UrduAe Allah, mere liye apni rehmat ke darwaze khol de. (Daayan paaon pehle andar rakhein.)
Reference: Sahih Muslim 713 (Hisn al-Muslim 20)
When leaving the masjid
بِسمِ الله وَالصّلاةُ وَالسّلامُ عَلى رَسولِ الله، اللّهُمَّ إِنّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِك، اللّهُمَّ اعصِمْني مِنَ الشَّيْطانِ الرَّجيم
TransliterationBismillāhi waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu `alā rasūlillāh. Allāhumma innī as'aluka min faḍlik. Allāhumma`ṣimnī minash-shayṭānir-rajīm.
EnglishIn the name of Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, I ask You for Your bounty. O Allah, protect me from Shaytan the rejected. Leave with your left foot first.
Roman UrduAllah ke naam se, aur Allah ke Rasool par durood o salam ho. Ae Allah, main Tujh se Tera fazl mangta hoon. Ae Allah, mujhe mardood Shaitan se bacha. (Baayan paaon pehle bahar rakhein.)
Reference: Ibn Majah (Hisn al-Muslim 21)
Learn these duas with a female teacher
Correct Arabic pronunciation, meaning and a daily habit, in live one-to-one lessons for kids and women.
Sources: Arabic of the hadith duas from Hisn al-Muslim and the cited hadith collections (sunnah.com); Quran text from the King Fahd Complex Uthmani script. English and Roman Urdu meanings written by Quran Online Tarteel.