Wazaif

Time-honoured wazaif with their benefits and how many times to recite.

Benefit is from Allah alone. These are recitations with their sources — not formulas that compel an outcome. Avoid invented repetition counts, amulets and practices with no basis. Where an entry is marked mujarrab it is an experiential practice of the pious, not an established Sunnah.

Ayat al-Kursi after every prayer

From the Qur’ān

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ

Benefit: Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death. The logic: affirming Allah's absolute sovereignty places one under His protection.

Recite once after each of the five obligatory prayers.

an-Nasa'i · al-Sunan al-Kubra 9848

The three Quls, morning & evening

From the Qur’ān

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ · قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ · قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ said: "Recite them three times in the morning and evening; they will suffice you against everything." A complete daily shield by the words of Allah.

Recite Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas three times each, morning and evening.

Abu Dawud 5082 · Tirmidhi 3575 (sahih)

In the name of Allah, nothing harms

Established Sunnah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Benefit: Whoever says this thrice each morning and evening, nothing will harm him. Trust in Allah's name as the cause of safety.

Say three times in the morning and three times in the evening.

Abu Dawud 5088 · Tirmidhi 3388 (sahih)

I take refuge in the perfect words of Allah

Established Sunnah

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ said whoever says this three times in the evening, no harm (such as a poisonous sting) will afflict him that night. Refuge in Allah's perfect, unfailing words.

Say three times in the evening; also when stopping at any place.

Muslim 2709 · Tirmidhi 3437 (sahih)

Du'a of refuge for the family (children)

Established Sunnah

أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ would seek refuge for al-Hasan and al-Husayn with these words, saying Ibrahim ؑ used them for Isma'il and Ishaq — refuge from every devil, vermin and evil eye.

Recite over your children for their protection.

Bukhari 3371

Master of glorification & tawhid in the morning

Established Sunnah

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Benefit: "Whoever says it a hundred times has a reward like freeing ten slaves, a hundred good deeds recorded, a hundred sins erased, and a shield from Satan that day until evening."

Say one hundred times in a day.

Bukhari 3293 · Muslim 2691

The Du'a of Yunus ؑ

From the Qur’ān

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ said: "No Muslim ever supplicates with it for anything but Allah answers him." Prophet Yunus was saved from the darkness of the whale by these very words.

Recite abundantly in any hardship or distress.

Tirmidhi 3505 (sahih) · Al-Anbiya 21:87

Allah is sufficient for us

From the Qur’ān

حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

Benefit: Ibrahim ؑ said it when thrown into the fire, and the believers when warned of their enemies — and Allah turned harm into safety. A declaration of total reliance (tawakkul).

Recite when facing fear, opposition or worry.

Aal-i-Imran 3:173 · Bukhari 4563

Hasbiyallah seven times

From the Qur’ān

حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

Benefit: Reported that whoever says this seven times, morning and evening, Allah will suffice him in whatever worries him of the matters of this world and the next — built on the words of 9:129.

Recite seven times in the morning and seven times in the evening.

At-Tawbah 9:129 · Abu Dawud 5081 (athar, mawquf)

Du'a for worry & grief

Established Sunnah

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ frequently sought refuge from worry, grief, helplessness and laziness. Naming the burden and handing it to Allah brings relief.

Recite morning and evening, and whenever anxious.

Bukhari 6369

The great du'a of distress (du'a al-karb)

Established Sunnah

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ would say this at times of distress. Glorifying Allah's greatness and forbearance at the moment of hardship draws down His relief.

Recite at times of severe distress and grief.

Bukhari 6346 · Muslim 2730

There is no power except with Allah

Established Sunnah

لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ said it is "a treasure from the treasures of Paradise." Admitting our own powerlessness opens the door to Allah's strength.

Repeat often, especially when overwhelmed.

Bukhari 6384

O Ever-Living, O Sustainer — I seek Your mercy

Established Sunnah

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ وَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ taught Fatimah ؓ to say this morning and evening. Calling on Allah by His names al-Hayy and al-Qayyum, begging not to be left to oneself for even a blink.

Recite in times of worry and at moments of need.

an-Nasa'i · al-Sunan al-Kubra 10405 (hasan)

Abundant Istighfar for provision

From the Qur’ān

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ

Benefit: Allah relates of Nuh ؑ: "Seek your Lord's forgiveness… He will send rain, increase you in wealth and children." Istighfar is a Qur'anic cause of provision and ease.

Make istighfar a constant habit, morning and evening.

Nuh 71:10-12

Whoever fears Allah — He provides

From the Qur’ān

وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ

Benefit: Allah promises: whoever is mindful of Him, He makes a way out for him and provides from where he does not expect. Taqwa and trust are the true means of rizq.

Reflect on and act by this verse; recite it when constrained in provision.

At-Talaq 65:2-3

Du'a for lawful provision & freedom from debt

Established Sunnah

اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلَالِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ taught this to a man in debt, saying: "Even if your debt were like a mountain, Allah would pay it off for you." A plea to be sufficed by the lawful over the unlawful.

Recite regularly, especially when burdened by debt.

Tirmidhi 3563 (hasan)

Morning du'a for beneficial knowledge & rizq

Established Sunnah

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ would say this in the morning, asking Allah for beneficial knowledge, pure provision and accepted deeds — joining the goods of this world and the next.

Recite once after the Fajr prayer.

Ibn Majah 925 (sahih)

Sayyid al-Istighfar

Established Sunnah

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ called it the master of seeking forgiveness: "Whoever says it in the day with certainty and dies that day enters Paradise." (Full text in the Du'a section.)

Recite once in the morning and once in the evening.

Bukhari 6306

Glory & praise to Allah ×100

Established Sunnah

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ

Benefit: "Whoever says it a hundred times a day, his sins are wiped away though they be like the foam of the sea." A light tongue, a heavy scale.

Say one hundred times a day.

Bukhari 6405

The two beloved words ×nightly

Established Sunnah

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ said: "Two words light on the tongue, heavy on the scale, beloved to the Most Merciful." Easy to say, immense in reward.

Repeat often throughout the day and night.

Bukhari 6682 · Muslim 2694

Istighfar of the Prophet ﷺ ×100 daily

Established Sunnah

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ said: "O people, repent to Allah, for I repent to Him a hundred times a day." Even the sinless Messenger ﷺ kept his tongue moist with istighfar.

Seek forgiveness one hundred times each day.

Muslim 2702

Surah al-Fatihah as Ruqyah

From the Qur’ān

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Benefit: A companion cured a man by reciting al-Fatihah; the Prophet ﷺ approved, asking "How did you know it was a ruqyah?" It is "the Cure" (ash-Shifa).

Recite over the sick, blowing gently after.

Bukhari 5736

The two Mu'awwidhat for self-ruqyah

From the Qur’ān

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ · قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ

Benefit: In his final illness the Prophet ﷺ would recite the Mu'awwidhat into his hands and wipe over himself, seeking Allah's protection and cure.

Recite into the palms, blow, and wipe over the body — especially when ill.

Bukhari 5735

Ruqyah du'a placing the hand on the pain

Established Sunnah

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ taught this to a companion in pain. "I sought refuge in Allah and His power from the evil of what I feel" — and the pain left.

Place the hand on the place of pain; say "Bismillah" three times, then this seven times.

Muslim 2202

Du'a for visiting the sick ×7

Established Sunnah

أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ يَشْفِيَكَ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ said: whoever visits a sick person whose time has not yet come and says this seven times, Allah will cure him of that illness.

Recite seven times beside one who is ill (if his term has not come).

Abu Dawud 3106 · Tirmidhi 2083 (sahih)

Ayat al-Kursi before sleep

From the Qur’ān

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ confirmed: "Whoever recites it on going to bed, a guardian from Allah stays with him and no devil comes near him until morning."

Recite once on going to bed.

Bukhari 2311

The last two ayat of al-Baqarah

From the Qur’ān

آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ

Benefit: "Whoever recites the last two verses of al-Baqarah at night, they will suffice him." A nightly sufficiency and protection.

Recite the final two verses of Surah al-Baqarah at night.

Bukhari 5009

Surah al-Mulk before sleeping

From the Qur’ān

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ

Benefit: A surah of thirty verses interceded for its reciter until he was forgiven — it is Surah al-Mulk; it protects from the punishment of the grave.

Make a habit of reciting Surah al-Mulk each night.

Tirmidhi 2891 (hasan)

The tasbih of Fatimah before sleep

Established Sunnah

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ ٣٣ · الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٣٣ · اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ٣٤

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ taught Fatimah and Ali ؓ this dhikr instead of a servant, saying it is "better for you than a servant" — strength and barakah for the tired believer.

On going to bed say SubhanAllah 33, Alhamdulillah 33, Allahu Akbar 34.

Bukhari 3705 · Muslim 2727

Du'a on lying down to sleep

Established Sunnah

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ would say on going to bed: "In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live." Entrusting one's soul to Allah for the night, a smaller death.

Say when lying down to sleep.

Bukhari 6324

My Lord, increase me in knowledge

From the Qur’ān

رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

Benefit: Allah commanded His Prophet ﷺ to ask for more knowledge — the only thing in the Qur'an Majeed He is told to seek increase in. The believer's constant du'a for ilm.

Recite when sitting to study, seek knowledge or before an exam.

Ta-Ha 20:114

The du'a of Musa ؑ for ease & clarity

From the Qur’ān

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

Benefit: Musa ؑ asked Allah to expand his chest, ease his affair and loosen his tongue so people would understand him. A perfect du'a for clarity of mind and speech.

Recite before study, teaching, an exam or any difficult task.

Ta-Ha 20:25-28

Du'a for ease of any difficulty

Established Sunnah

اللَّهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إِلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلًا وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلًا

Benefit: "O Allah, nothing is easy except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy if You will." A means narrated from the Prophet ﷺ for facing hard matters.

Recite when a matter (study, exam, task) becomes hard.

Ibn Hibban 974 (sahih)

Seeking beneficial knowledge & refuge from useless knowledge

Established Sunnah

اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي وَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي وَزِدْنِي عِلْمًا

Benefit: The Prophet ﷺ would ask Allah to benefit him by what He taught him, teach him what benefits him, and increase him in knowledge — knowledge that is acted upon.

Recite while studying and in du'a for knowledge.

Ibn Majah 3833 · Tirmidhi 3599 (hasan)