The Six Opening Duas of Prayer (Du’a al-Istiftah)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
After the opening takbir of prayer and before beginning recitation of Al-Fatihah, the Sunnah preserves not one but six distinct opening supplications (du’a al-istiftah) — a fact that surprises many practicing Muslims who were only ever taught a single version. Understanding why six exist, and how they were used, resolves a common point of confusion for those newly studying the fiqh of prayer.
Why Six Different Opening Duas of prayer Exist
Hadith scholars are clear that these are not six required dua to be said together, but six independently authenticated narrations of what the Prophet ﷺ himself said to open his prayer on different occasions. A worshipper says one of them per prayer — varying between them is itself following the Sunnah, since the Prophet ﷺ is not reported to have restricted himself to only one.
Opening Dua (1): Allahumma Baid Bayni
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَاىَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ، اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَاىَ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ ”.
Translation: “O Allah, separate me from my sins as You have separated the East from the West. O Allah, cleanse me of my transgressions as the white garment is cleansed of stains. O Allah, wash away my sins with ice and water and frost.”
Reference: Hisn al-Muslim 27; Sahih al-Bukhari 1/181; Sahih Muslim 1/419.
Recorded in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, this is likely the most widely taught of the six, built on three vivid metaphors for the removal of sin: physical distance, the cleansing of a white garment, and washing with ice, water and frost — an image emphasizing thoroughness rather than literal temperature.
Opening Dua (2): Subhanaka Allahumma
Arabic: سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ ”
Translation: “Glory is to You O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty. There is none worthy of worship but You.”
Reference: Hisn al-Muslim 28; Sunan Abu Dawud; Sunan Ibn Majah; Sunan an-Nasa’i; Jami’ at-Tirmidhi; Al-Albani, Sahih at-Tirmidhi 1/77.
Considerably shorter than the first, this version is widely used precisely for its brevity, making it a common choice for congregational prayer
Opening Dua (3): Wajjahtu Wajhi: Complete Submission (from Surah Al-An’am)
وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ . أَنْتَ رَبِّي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَاهْدِنِي لأَحْسَنِ الأَخْلاَقِ لاَ يَهْدِي لأَحْسَنِهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا لاَ يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ وَالْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِي يَدَيْكَ وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ ” .
I turn my face in complete devotion to One Who is the Originator of the heaven and the earth and I am not of the polytheists. Verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds; There is no partner with Him and this is what I have been commanded (to profess and believe) and I am of the believers. O Allah, Thou art the King, there is no god but Thee, Thou art my Lord, and I am Thy bondman.
I wronged myself and make a confession of my Sin. Forgive all my sins, for no one forgives the sins but Thee, and guide me in the best of conduct for none but Thee guideth anyone (in) good conduct. Remove sins from me, for none else but Thou can remove sins from me. Here I am at Thy service, and Grace is to Thee and the whole of good is in Thine hand, and one cannot get nearneststo Thee through evil. My (power as well as existence) is due to Thee (Thine grace) and I turn to Thee (for supplication). Thou art blessed and Thou art exalted. I seek forgiveness from Thee and turn to Thee in repentance: and when he would bow, he would say: O Allah, it is for Thee that I bowed. I affirm my faith in Thee and I submit to Thee, and submit humbly before Thee my hearing, my eyesight, my marrow, my bone, my sinew; and when he would raise his head, he would say: O Allah, our Lord, praise is due to Thee, (the praise) with which is filled the heavens and the earth, and with which is filled that (space) which exists between them, and filled with anything that Thou desireth afterward.
Reference: Hisn al-Muslim 29; Sahih Muslim 1/534.
This opening draws directly on Qur’anic language (cf. Al-An’am 6:79, 6:162-163), extending the frame of the prayer to encompass the worshipper’s entire life and death.
Opening Dua (4): Allahumma rabba Jibrail: Specific to Tahajjud
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرَائِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ ” .
Translation (excerpt): “O Allah, Lord of Jibrail, Mikail and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the Earth, Knower of the seen and the unseen. You are the arbitrator between Your servants. Guide me to the truth by Your leave…”
Reference: Hisn al-Muslim 30; Sahih Muslim 1/534.
Narrated from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ specifically in the night voluntary prayer (tahajjud), asks specifically for guidance amid matters of scholarly or doctrinal difference — a fitting supplication for a prayer often performed by those seeking clarity in worship or life.
Ref : ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Auf reported: I asked ‘A’isha, the mother of the believers, (to tell me) the words with which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commenced the prayer when he got up at night. She said: When he got up at night he would commence his prayer with these words: O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, and Michael, and Israfil, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who knowest the unseen and the seen; Thou decidest amongst Thy servants concerning their differences. Guide me with Thy permission in the divergent views (which the people) hold about Truth, for it is Thou Who guidest whom Thou wilt to the Straight Path.Sahih Muslim 770
Opening Dua (5): Allahuakbar Kabeera: Takbir, Tahmid and Tasbih
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبيرا (ثلاثاً)، وَالحَمْدُ للهِ كَثيرا (ثلاثاً)، وَسُبْحانَ اللهِ بكْرَةً وَأَصيلا (ثلاثاً)، أَعوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطانِ مِنْ نَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثِهِ وَهَمْزِه
Translation (excerpt): “Allah is the Greatest, Most Great (3x). Praise is to Allah, abundantly (3x). Glory is to Allah, at the break of day and at its end (3x). I seek refuge in Allah from Satan…”
Reference: Hisn al-Muslim 31; Sunan Abu Dawud 1/203; Sunan Ibn Majah 1/265; Musnad Ahmad 4/85; Sahih Muslim 1/420.
this opening was reported by a Companion who noticed a man reciting it and was told by the Prophet ﷺ that he had seen twelve angels competing to raise it to Allah ﷻ — a narration recorded with the takbir, tahmid and tasbih repeated three times each.
Ibn ‘Umar reported:
While we said prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), one among the people said: Allah is truly Great, praise be to Allah in abundance. Glory be to Allah in the morning and the evening. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon, him) said: Who uttered such and such a word? A person among the people said: It is I, Messenger of Allah (who have recited these words). He (the Holy Prophet) said: It (its utterance) surprised me, for the doors of heaven were opened for It. Ibn ‘Umar said: I have not abandoned them (these words) since I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying this. Sahih Muslim 601
Opening Dua (6): Allahumma Lakal Hamd
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ وَقَوْلُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ، اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، أَنْتَ إِلَهِي، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ”.
Translation : O Allah! All the Praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. And all the Praises are for You; You are the Keeper of the Heavens and the Earth. All the Praises are for You; You are the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is therein. You are the Truth, and Your Promise is the Truth, and Your Speech is the Truth, and meeting You is the Truth, and Paradise is the Truth and Hell (Fire) is the Truth and all the prophets are the Truth and the Hour is the Truth. O Allah! I surrender to You, and believe in You, and depend upon You, and repent to You, and in Your cause I fight and with Your orders I rule. So please forgive my past and future sins and those sins which I did in secret or in public. It is You Whom I worship, None has the right to be worshipped except You
Reference: Hisn al-Muslim 32; Sahih al-Bukhari 3/3, 11/116, 13/371; Sahih Muslim 1/532.
Also used by the Prophet ﷺ in tahajjud, this is among the longest and most theologically dense of the six, naming Allah ﷻ as Light, Truth, Sovereign, and the source of all guidance in a single sustained address.
How to Choose
Since all six are authentically established, a worshipper is not bound to a single version. Many students of hadith rotate between them deliberately — the first for its brevity and familiarity, the third and sixth for tahajjud and moments of longer, unhurried prayer, and the fifth or second when praying in congregation.
Reflection: That the Sunnah preserves six distinct openings rather than one is itself instructive: even the words that begin the most repeated act of worship in a Muslim’s life were never meant to be recited by rote alone, but chosen with awareness of their meaning.
References cited: Hisn al-Muslim 27-32; Sahih al-Bukhari 1/181, 3/3, 11/116, 13/371; Sahih Muslim 1/419, 1/420, 1/532, 1/534; Sunan Abu Dawud; Sunan Ibn Majah; Musnad Ahmad; Jami’ at-Tirmidhi; Sunan an-Nasa’i.