Opening Supplication for Prayer — Iftitah Salat
Source: Sahih Muslim 771
((وَجَّهْتُوَجْهِيَلِلَّذِيفَطَرَالسَّمَوَاتِوَالأَرْضَحَنِيفَاًوَمَاأَنَامِنَالْمُشْرِكِينَ،إِنَّصَلاَتِي،وَنُسُكِي،وَمَحْيَايَ،وَمَمَاتِيلِلَّهِرَبِّالْعَالَمِينَ،لاَشَرِيكَلَهُوَبِذَلِكَأُمِرْتُوَأَنَامِنَالْمُسْلِمِينَ.اللَّهُمَّأَنْتَالمَلِكُلاَإِلَهَإِلاَّأَنْتَ،أَنْتَرَبِّيوَأَنَاعَبْدُكَ،ظَلَمْتُنَفْسِيوَاعْتَرَفْتُبِذَنْبِيفَاغْفِرْلِيذُنُوبيجَمِيعَاًإِنَّهُلاَيَغْفِرُالذُّنوبَإِلاَّأَنْتَ.وَاهْدِنِيلِأَحْسَنِالأَخْلاقِلاَيَهْدِيلِأَحْسَنِهاإِلاَّأَنْتَ،وَاصْرِفْعَنِّيسَيِّئَهَا،لاَيَصْرِفُعَنِّيسَيِّئَهَاإِلاَّأَنْتَ،لَبَّيْكَوَسَعْدَيْكَ،وَالخَيْرُكُلُّهُبِيَـــــــدَيْكَ،وَالشَّـــــرُّلَيْسَإِلَيْــــــكَ،أَنَابِكَوَإِلَيْكَ،تَبارَكْتَوَتَعَالَيْتَ،أَسْتَغْفِرُكَوَأَتوبُإِلَيْكَ)).
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Transliteration
Wajjahtu wajhiya lilladhi fatara as-samawati wal-ardi hanifan wa ma ana minal-mushrikeen. Inna salati wa nusuki wa mahyaya wa mamati lillahi Rabbil-'alamin. La shareeka lah, wa bidhalika umirtu wa ana minal-muslimeen. Allahumma Antal-Malik, la ilaha illa Anta. Anta Rabbi wa ana 'abduk. Zalamtu nafsi wa'taraftu bidhanbi, faghfir li dhunubi jamee'an, innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta. Wahdini li ahsanil-akhlaqi la yahdi li ahsaniha illa Anta, wasrif 'anni sayyi'aha, la yasrifu 'anni sayyi'aha illa Anta. Labbaik wa sa'daik, wal-khayru bi yadayk, wash-sharru laysa ilayk. Ana bika wa ilayk. Tabarakta wa ta'alayt. Astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk.
Translation
I have turned my face, purely devoted, towards the One who originated the heavens and the Earth, and I am not among those who associate partners with Allah. Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of all worlds. He has no partner, and this is what I have been commanded, and I am of those who submit. O Allah, You are the Sovereign; there is no deity worthy of worship except You. You are my Lord, and I am Your servant. I have wronged my soul and have confessed my sin, so forgive me all my sins. Indeed, no one forgives sins except You. Guide me to the best of character, for none guides to it except You, and turn me away from the worst of character, for none turns away from it except You. I am here, at Your service, happy to obey. All goodness is in Your Hands, and evil does not stem from You. I exist by You and will return to You. Blessed and Exalted are You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
Context
This is one of the supplications the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would recite after commencing his prayer, before reciting the Quran. It's a profound declaration of pure devotion and submission to Allah, acknowledging His absolute sovereignty and seeking His guidance in all aspects of life.
Benefit
Reciting this dua establishes a sincere connection with Allah at the very beginning of prayer, affirming one's faith, acknowledging dependence on Him, and seeking His help for moral excellence.
When to Recite
After the initial Takbir (Allahu Akbar) and before reciting Surah Al-Fatihah in every prayer.