The last ten nights of Ramadan carry a weight unlike any other time in the Islamic calendar. Within these nights, Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Decree) falls, a night that Allah تبارك وتعالى describes as better than a thousand months (Quran 97:3). So whatever dua you make on that night, you are making it on a night more valuable than roughly 83 years of worship.
It was reported from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) told us to seek it in the odd nights of the last ten (Bukhari 2017). That means every single night counts, and every dua you raise your hands for could be answered on the greatest night of the year.
Here are 5 duas, from the Quran and Sunnah, that you can repeat throughout these blessed nights.
1. The Dua for Laylatul Qadr
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّا
Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anna
O Allah, indeed You are All-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon us.
The last ten nights are the prime time to seek forgiveness, so make it the backbone of your worship. (Source: Ibn Majah 3850)
2. Dua for Forgiveness
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Rabbana thalamna anfusana wa-in lam taghfir lana watarhamna lanakunanna minal-khasirin.
Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.
This is the dua of Prophet Adam and his wife (peace be upon them both) made after their mistake in Paradise. (Source: Quran 7:23)
3. Dua for Good in This Life and the Next
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana aatina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
This dua is short, comprehensive, and covers everything you could ever need. (Source: Quran 2:201)
4. Dua for Steadfastness
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
Rabbana la tuzigh quloobana ba’da idh hadaytana wa hab lana min ladunka rahmatan innaka antal-Wahhab
Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.
Ramadan is a time when emaan is high, but the real test comes after it ends. Ask Allah تبارك وتعالى in the most blessed nights to keep your heart firm for the rest of the year. (Source: Quran 3:8)
5. Sayyidul Istighfar (The Master Dua for Forgiveness)
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduka, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, a’udhu bika min sharri ma sana’tu, abu’u laka bi ni’matika ‘alayya, wa abu’u bi dhanbi, faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa anta
O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no god except You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I remain faithful to Your covenant and Your promise as much as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge before You Your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, because no one forgives sins except You.
One of the best ways to seek forgiveness from Allah تبارك وتعالى as it combines acknowledging your servitude to Allah تبارك وتعالى, Allah’s favours upon you and the sins you’ve committed. (Source: Bukhari 6306)
Pair Your Duas With Giving
Dua is one of the most personal forms of worship but there is another way to make these nights count and that is through giving. Charity given on Laylatul Qadr potentially carries the reward of charity given for over 83 years.
We, at As-Salaam Foundation, offer humanitarian aid and development projects such as food, water, housing, healthcare, orphan support, masjid building, emergency relief, and UK community programmes.
When you give during these last ten nights, you are planting a seed of Sadaqah Jariyah that continues to earn reward for you long after Ramadan has ended.
