"Allāhumma innī as'aluka al-hudā wa't-tuqā wa'l-'afāfa wa'l-ghinā" asks Allah for guidance, piety, chastity and self-sufficiency in one breath. It's recorded in Sahih Muslim (2721) and is a fitting dua to say before Dhul Hijjah, or any time you want to enter a period of good deeds with the right heart, not just a longer to-do list.
Why This Dua Matters
Dhul Hijjah starts next week. Before the best days of the year arrive, it is worth asking: what kind of heart do you want to enter them with? Not just a busy heart, a hopeful heart, or a heart with a list of things it wants to do, but a heart that is guided, that has taqwa, that is protected from what pulls it away, and that feels rich with Allah (SWT) even before anything in life changes.
This is the dua you make before the days begin: before the fasting, before the takbīr, before the extra giving, before the deeds you hope Allah (SWT) will accept.
Because Dhul Hijjah is not just about doing more. It is about becoming more guided in what you do.
The Dua in Arabic, Transliteration & Translation
Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
Transliteration
Allāhumma innī as'aluka al-hudā wa't-tuqā wa'l-'afāfa wa'l-ghinā.
“O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and self-sufficiency.”
How to Make This Dua Part of Your Week
When you need guidance more than motivation
Motivation comes and goes. Guidance carries you when your energy does not. Ask Allah (SWT) for al-hudā, to be shown what matters, and to not waste the days He has allowed you to reach.
When taqwa becomes the real goal
The best deeds are not always the biggest ones. They are the ones done with sincerity, restraint and awareness of Allah (SWT). Ask for at-tuqā, the kind that follows you beyond Dhul Hijjah.
When your Friday sadaqah becomes part of your intention
Giving every Friday is already a habit of khayr. But as Dhul Hijjah begins, your sadaqah enters the most beloved days for righteous deeds; let your giving be part of this dua.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Allahumma inni as'aluka al-huda wattuqa wal 'afafa wal ghina" mean?
It means "O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and self-sufficiency," a compact request covering four things a believer needs to live well: right direction, God-consciousness, restraint, and contentment.
Where does this dua come from?
It's recorded in Sahih Muslim (hadith 2721), among the duas the Prophet ﷺ used to make.
Why say this dua specifically before Dhul Hijjah?
Because Dhul Hijjah is about the quality of deeds, not just the quantity. This dua asks for the inner qualities, guidance and taqwa, that make the outer deeds (fasting, giving, dhikr) meaningful.
