Allahummaghfirli warhamni wahdini wa ‘afini warzuqni is the dua the Prophet ﷺ recited between the two prostrations in his prayer. In just five words, the believer asks Allah for the five things every soul needs every day: forgiveness, mercy, guidance, well-being, and provision. It is one of the most concentrated supplications in the Sunnah and a Sunnah practice for the brief sitting between the two sajdahs of every rak’ah.
This guide gives the dua in Arabic, transliteration, and English meaning, then walks through the hadith, the five requests one by one, when and how to recite it inside the prayer, and the most common questions about the dua of jalsah bayna sajdatayn.
Table of Contents
Allahummaghfirli Warhamni in Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي
Allahummaghfirli, warhamni, wahdini, wa ‘afini, warzuqni
“O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, grant me well-being, and provide for me.”
Hadith Source: The Prophet’s ﷺ Dua Between the Two Sajdahs
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to say between the two prostrations:
“Allahummaghfir li, warhamni, wajburni, wahdini, wa ‘afini, warzuqni.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 850, Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 284, Sunan Ibn Majah 898 — hasan
The hadith is preserved across multiple narrations with slight wording variations. The most common forms reported by the four Sunan compilers (except an-Nasa’i) include the five requests maghfirah, rahmah, hidayah, ‘afiyah, and rizq — with some narrations adding wajburni (“console/restore me”). Imam Tirmidhi classed the hadith as hasan, and al-Hakim authenticated it in al-Mustadrak. Imam an-Nawawi included it in the standard sitting of every rak’ah in his Riyad as-Salihin.
The Five Requests — One by One
- Ighfir li (forgive me) — wipes away past sins. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every son of Adam errs, and the best of those who err are those who repent” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2499 — hasan). The first request takes the past off the believer’s shoulders.
- Warhamni (have mercy on me) — opens the door for everything good. Rahmah in the Quran is what makes Allah accept the deed, raise the rank, and admit the believer into Paradise (Surah An-Nisa 4:175).
- Wahdini (guide me) — secures the present and future. The believer asks not just for general guidance but for guidance in every individual decision of the day. The Quran teaches us to ask “Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqeem” seventeen times a day (Surah Al-Fatihah 1:6).
- Wa ‘afini (‘afiyah — well-being / soundness) — protection of body, mind, deen, and family. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Ask Allah for forgiveness and ‘afiyah, for after certainty no one is given anything better than ‘afiyah” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3558 — sahih).
- Warzuqni (provide for me) — material and spiritual sustenance. Rizq in Islam is wider than money — it includes a righteous spouse, knowledge, time, peace of heart, and good company.
Five words, five lifelines. Recited correctly between every two prostrations of every rak’ah, the believer asks Allah for them around 100 times a day.
Where to Recite It in the Prayer
The Sunnah position is the brief sitting between the two prostrations (jalsah bayna sajdatayn) in every rak’ah. The full sequence in one rak’ah is:
Related:
- Standing: recite Surah Al-Fatihah, then a short surah.
- Bowing (ruku’): say Subhana Rabbiyal-‘Adheem three times.
- Standing back up: say Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd.
- First prostration: say Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la three times.
- Sitting between the two prostrations: say Allahummaghfirli, warhamni, wahdini, wa ‘afini, warzuqni.
- Second prostration: say Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la three times.
The minimum acceptable form many scholars mention is “Rabbi ighfir li, Rabbi ighfir li” — based on the report from Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) (Sunan Abi Dawud 874). The fuller five-part dua reported by Ibn Abbas is the most rewarded form to use whenever the prayer permits.
Benefits and Virtues
- It is the Sunnah of every rak’ah. Reciting it correctly turns a brief 2-second sitting into a complete supplication for the believer’s whole life.
- It covers the past, present, and future. Forgiveness for the past, mercy and well-being for the present, guidance and provision for the future.
- It is short enough never to be skipped. Five Arabic words. There is no excuse for missing it.
- It comes between two prostrations — the closest physical position a believer can be to Allah (Sahih Muslim 482). The dua sits in the most concentrated zone of acceptance.
What is the meaning of Allahummaghfirli Warhamni Wahdini Warzuqni?
It means “O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, grant me well-being, and provide for me.” It is the dua the Prophet ﷺ recited between the two prostrations of every rak’ah, reported by Ibn Abbas (RA) in Sunan Abi Dawud 850 and Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 284.
Where should I recite this dua in prayer?
Recite it in the brief sitting between the two prostrations (jalsah bayna sajdatayn) in every rak’ah of every prayer. The Prophet ﷺ used to recite it in this exact position.
Is reciting this dua obligatory in prayer?
The majority of scholars consider it a strongly recommended Sunnah, not obligatory. The minimum acceptable form many scholars mention is “Rabbi ighfir li” twice. The fuller five-part dua is the most rewarded form.
What if I cannot pronounce all five words quickly?
Begin with the shorter form: Rabbi ighfir li, Rabbi ighfir li (“My Lord, forgive me, my Lord, forgive me”) — reported in Sunan Abi Dawud 874. As you become comfortable, add the four other requests one at a time until you can recite the full dua.
Why is this position between the two prostrations so important for du’a?
Sujud (prostration) is the closest a slave is to Allah, as the Prophet ﷺ said in Sahih Muslim 482. The sitting between the two prostrations is part of that concentrated zone of nearness — making it one of the most powerful moments to ask Allah for what you need.
Can I recite this dua outside of prayer?
Yes. There is no restriction on repeating it as a general supplication. Many scholars recommend it as part of the morning and evening adhkar, in tahajjud, and any moment of personal du’a — since the five requests it covers are universal needs of every Muslim.
Memorise these five Arabic words, lock them into the sitting between the two prostrations of every rak’ah, and let your prayer become a continuous request for forgiveness, mercy, guidance, well-being, and provision — five lifelines, dozens of times a day.
Alhamdulillah