Du'as for everyday activities: eating, sleeping, travelling, and more
Upon lying down to sleep
بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Transliteration
Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya.
Meaning
In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.
Virtue
Sleep is referred to as the minor death; this supplication acknowledges that one is entirely in the hands of Allah.
Upon waking from sleep
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Transliteration
Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur.
Meaning
All praise is due to Allah who gave us life after He had caused us to die, and to Him is the resurrection.
Virtue
Recognises that every morning is a gift and that waking up is an act of divine mercy.
Before beginning to eat or drink
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Transliteration
Bismillah.
Meaning
In the name of Allah.
Virtue
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'When any of you eats, he should mention Allah's name. If he forgets to mention Allah's name at the beginning, he should say: Bismillahi fi awwalihi wa akhirihi.'
After finishing a meal
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَجَعَلَنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
Transliteration
Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alana muslimin.
Meaning
All praise is due to Allah who fed us, gave us drink, and made us Muslims.
Virtue
Expresses gratitude to Allah for both physical sustenance and the spiritual blessing of Islam.
Upon entering the home
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ الْمَوْلَجِ وَخَيْرَ الْمَخْرَجِ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَلَجْنَا، وَبِسْمِ اللَّهِ خَرَجْنَا، وَعَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّنَا تَوَكَّلْنَا
Transliteration
Allahumma inni as'aluka khayral-mawlaji wa khayral-makhraji, bismillahi walajjna wa bismillahi kharajna wa 'alallahi rabbina tawakkalna.
Meaning
O Allah, I ask You for goodness in what I enter and what I leave. In the name of Allah we enter and in the name of Allah we leave, and upon Allah our Lord we place our trust.
Virtue
Brings blessings into the home and invites the angels while warding off Shaytan.
Upon leaving the home
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Transliteration
Bismillahi tawakkaltu 'alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
Meaning
In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah. There is no power nor strength except with Allah.
Virtue
The Prophet ﷺ said that upon saying this, the believer is told: 'You are guided, defended, and protected; and the Shaytan keeps away from him.'
Upon entering the mosque, after stepping in with the right foot
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Transliteration
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
Meaning
O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy.
Virtue
The house of Allah is a place of His mercy and this supplication seeks that mercy upon entering.
Upon leaving the mosque, stepping out with the left foot
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Transliteration
Allahumma inni as'aluka min fadlik.
Meaning
O Allah, I ask You from Your bounty.
Virtue
A reminder that after the worship of the mosque, one goes out into the world seeking the provision of Allah.
Upon boarding any vehicle, mount, or means of transport
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ
Transliteration
Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila rabbina lamunqalibun.
Meaning
Glory be to the One who has subjected this to us, for we could never have done so ourselves. And indeed, to our Lord we are returning.
Virtue
A recognition that movement and journeys are facilitated by Allah and a reminder of the ultimate journey to Him.