Allahumma Inni As alukal Huda Wat Tuqa Wal Afaf Wal Ghina: Meaning and Hadith

Allahumma inni as’alukal-huda, wat-tuqa, wal-‘afaf, wal-ghina is the dua the Prophet ﷺ used to recite — asking Allah for the four traits that build a life worth living: guidance, piety, chastity, and self-sufficiency. Imam an-Nawawi placed this dua at the very head of his Riyad as-Salihin chapter on supplications, calling it one of the most comprehensive prayers in the entire Sunnah. In just four words, the believer asks for everything they need for both worlds.

This guide gives the dua in Arabic, transliteration, and English meaning, then walks through the hadith source, the four virtues one by one, when to recite it, and the most common questions about the prophetic supplication for a complete life.

Allahumma Inni As’alukal Huda in Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى، وَالتُّقَى، وَالْعَفَافَ، وَالْغِنَى

Allahumma inni as’alukal-huda, wat-tuqa, wal-‘afaf, wal-ghina

“O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and self-sufficiency.”

Hadith Source: A Direct Narration in Sahih Muslim

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say:

“Allahumma inni as’alukal-huda, wat-tuqa, wal-‘afaf, wal-ghina.”
“O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and self-sufficiency.”

Sahih Muslim 2721, Sunan Ibn Majah 3832 — sahih

The hadith is reported in Sahih Muslim, the second most authentic book of hadith in Islam, in the Book of Dhikr and Du’a. Imam Ibn al-Qayyim and Imam an-Nawawi both highlight that the four nouns in this dua cover both din (religion) and dunya (worldly life). The first two — al-huda and at-tuqa — secure the religion; the last two — al-‘afaf and al-ghina — secure the world. There is no concern of the believer that this dua does not address.

The Four Virtues — One by One

1. Al-Huda (الْهُدَى) — Guidance. Knowing the truth and being firm upon it. The believer asks Allah not just for general guidance but for guidance in every individual decision — what to say, what to study, who to marry, where to work. The Quran teaches this request seventeen times a day in “Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqeem” (Surah Al-Fatihah 1:6).
2. At-Tuqa (التُّقَى) — Piety / God-consciousness. Acting on the guidance once it arrives. The Quran defines taqwa as performing what Allah has commanded and abstaining from what He has forbidden. Allah promises in Surah At-Talaq (65:2–3): “Whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him, and provide for him from where he does not expect.”
3. Al-‘Afaf (الْعَفَافَ) — Chastity / Restraint. Being protected from the haram even when desire pulls in that direction. ‘Afaf covers chastity in marriage, restraint of the eyes and tongue, and the dignity of not begging from people. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever asks Allah for chastity, Allah will make him chaste” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1469).
4. Al-Ghina (الْغِنَى) — Self-Sufficiency. The Prophet ﷺ explained: “Richness is not in the abundance of wealth; rather, true richness is the richness of the heart” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6446). It is the heart that does not need what others have — content with Allah’s provision and generous with what He has given.

Together, the four cover knowledge (huda), action (tuqa), protection from sin (‘afaf), and contentment of heart (ghina). It is the most efficient four-word request in the entire prophetic Sunnah.

When to Recite Allahumma Inni As’alukal Huda

• As part of the daily morning and evening adhkar. Many scholars include it in the standard set of recitations after Fajr and before Maghrib.
• In sujud during prayer — the closest position a slave is to Allah (Sahih Muslim 482). Whisper it in your sajdah of every fardh prayer.
• After every fardh prayer, before standing up. It pairs naturally with the standard post-salah dhikr.
• In tahajjud (the last third of the night) — the time of greatest acceptance.
• Whenever you feel weak in faith or pulled towards sin. The dua re-grounds the heart in the four virtues that form a complete believer.

Other Comprehensive Duas of the Prophet ﷺ

• Allahumma aslih li dini… — “O Allah, set right my religion which is the safeguard of my affairs, set right my world in which is my livelihood, and set right my Hereafter to which is my return…” (Sahih Muslim 2720).
• Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah — “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the next, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:201). The Prophet ﷺ called it the most frequent du’a he ﷺ would make (Sahih Muslim 2690).
• Allahumma inni as’aluka al-jannah… — “O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and seek refuge in You from the Fire” — recommended at the end of the prayer before salam (Sunan Abi Dawud 792).
• Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan… — the prophetic refuge from worry, grief, weakness, and laziness (Sahih al-Bukhari 6369).

Memorise these four nouns, lock the dua into your sujud and your morning and evening dhikr, and ask Allah for the four traits that — together — build a believer who is guided in their religion, restrained from sin, content in their dunya, and rich at heart.