“Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik” (اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ) is a short, authentic prayer the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught his companions to ask Allah for His bounty, sustenance, and rizq. It appears in two distinct hadith narrations: a shorter version tied to leaving the masjid (Sahih Muslim 713), and a longer version recited when asking Allah for provision in times of need (Al-Tabarani’s Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir). This guide covers both, with the Arabic text, transliteration, translation, hadith chain, word-by-word meaning, pronunciation, and when each version is recited.
Key takeaways:
- Two authentic versions exist: short (masjid exit) and long (rizq/sustenance) — they are not the same hadith.
- The long version was taught by the Prophet ﷺ to Abdullah ibn Mas’ud when a hungry guest arrived and no food was found at home.
- Both versions are graded Sahih; the longer form by Al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’ #1278 and Silsilah Sahihah.
- The dua links three roots — fadl (bounty), rahmah (mercy), and yamliku (possesses) — affirming Allah alone owns all provision.
- You can recite it in any state, at any time, in any language during translation — but the Arabic wording is preferred when memorized.
Table of Contents
What does “Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik” mean?
The phrase “Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik” translates as “O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty.” It is a complete dua on its own — the worshipper acknowledges that every favor, sustenance, and blessing originates with Allah and asks to be granted a share of His unlimited generosity. The full Arabic text, both with and without diacritical marks, reads:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik
“O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty.”
The longer narration adds “wa rahmatika, fa innahu la yamlikuha illa anta” — “and Your mercy, for indeed none possesses that except You.” The full longer form is:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ وَرَحْمَتِكَ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَمْلِكُهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlika wa rahmatika, fa innahu la yamlikuha illa anta
“O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty and Your mercy, for none possesses them except You.”
Most English-speaking Muslims encounter only one of these forms and assume they are the same prayer. They are two distinct supplications with two different hadith sources and two different contexts — and learning to tell them apart matters when you want to use the right wording in the right moment.
Related:
Two authentic versions: the masjid dua vs the dua for rizq
The same opening phrase appears in two separate hadith chains. The shorter version is part of the etiquette for leaving the mosque; the longer version is a private supplication for sustenance and mercy. Below is a side-by-side breakdown so you can identify which narration matches the context you intend to use.
| Short version (masjid) | Long version (rizq / sustenance) | |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic | اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ | اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ وَرَحْمَتِكَ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَمْلِكُهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ |
| Translation | “O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty.” | “O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty and Your mercy, for none possesses them except You.” |
| Hadith source | Sahih Muslim 713, Sunan Ibn Majah 772, Sunan an-Nasa’i 729, Sunan Abi Dawud | Al-Tabarani, Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir 10/220; Abu Nu’aim, Hilyat al-Awliya 5/36; Ibn Abi Shaybah, Al-Musannaf 7/94 |
| Narrator | Abu Humayd or Abu Usayd As-Sa’idi (also Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As) | Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA) |
| Grading | Sahih (Darussalam; Al-Albani) | Sahih (Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami’ #1278 and Silsilah Sahihah) |
| When recited | When leaving the mosque (paired with “Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik” when entering) | Private supplication when asking Allah for provision, especially in hunger or need |
In practice, the two versions overlap in spirit: both ask Allah for His fadl (bounty). But the longer version is the one most often referenced in classical works as the dua for rizq, because of the hunger context preserved in its hadith chain. That is the version this article focuses on for the rest of the page.
The hadith source: when the Prophet ﷺ asked Allah for bounty during hunger
The longer version is preserved in Al-Tabarani’s Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir (10/220) through the chain: Mis’ar → Zubayd → Murrah → Abdullah ibn Mas’ud → Prophet ﷺ. The narration also appears in Abu Nu’aim’s Hilyat al-Awliya (5/36) and in Ibn Abi Shaybah’s Al-Musannaf (7/94). It was graded Sahih (authentic) by Al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’ al-Saghir, hadith #1278, and again in his Silsilah Ahadith As-Sahihah. The story behind the dua is preserved in the Arabic text:
حَدَّثَنَا مِسْعَرٌ، عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: “ضَافَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ضَيْفٌ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى أَزْوَاجِهِ يَبْتَغِي عِنْدَهُنَّ طَعَامًا، فَلَمْ يَجِدْ عِنْدَ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ، فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ وَرَحْمَتِكَ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَمْلِكُهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ”.
Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir, Imam At-Tabarani (10/220) — narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud
Translated: “A guest came to the Prophet ﷺ, so he sent to his wives seeking food from them. None of them had anything. The Prophet ﷺ then said: ‘O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty and Your mercy, for none possesses them except You.'” The setting is significant. The Prophet ﷺ was not in a moment of abstract reflection — he was facing the very practical concern of feeding a guest with nothing in the household. His response was to turn directly to Allah with this short, certain supplication.
That context is why classical scholars list this dua under provision (rizq) and mercy — it is the wording the Prophet ﷺ himself chose at the exact moment of need. As-Sana’ani noted in his commentary that the dua embodies tawakkul (reliance on Allah), since it affirms that bounty and mercy are owned by Allah alone, with no intermediary. For deeper reading on the source itself, see our guide to Sunan Ibn Majah and the wider canon of Sahih Muslim.
Word-by-word meaning: fadl, rahmah, yamliku
The strength of this dua sits in three Arabic roots. Understanding each word is what turns a memorized phrase into a meaningful conversation with Allah. Here is the breakdown most commentators emphasize:
- اللَّهُمَّ (Allahumma) — “O Allah.” The vocative form used when calling on Allah directly. It carries the full weight of the divine name Allah with the suffix -mma standing in for the call particle ya.
- إِنِّي (inni) — “indeed I.” A particle of emphasis (inna) plus the first-person pronoun, asserting personal sincerity in the request.
- أَسْأَلُكَ (as’aluka) — “I ask You.” The present-tense verb from the root س-أ-ل (sa-‘a-la), to ask or to request, with the second-person attached pronoun -ka.
- مِنْ فَضْلِكَ (min fadlika) — “of Your bounty.” The Arabic root ف-ض-ل (fadl) carries the meanings of grace, excess, surplus, virtue, and unearned generosity — the gift Allah gives beyond what is strictly deserved. This is the heart of the dua.
- وَرَحْمَتِكَ (wa rahmatika) — “and Your mercy.” The root ر-ح-م (rahmah) is the same root as Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim — the two divine names rooted in the Arabic word for the womb (rahim), signaling the unconditional, life-giving mercy of Allah.
- فَإِنَّهُ (fa innahu) — “for indeed they (it).” The conjunction fa connects this clause as a reason, and innahu affirms what follows.
- لَا يَمْلِكُهَا (la yamlikuha) — “none possesses them.” The root م-ل-ك (malaka) means to own, possess, or have authority over. Used here to deny human ownership of bounty and mercy.
- إِلَّا أَنْتَ (illa anta) — “except You.” The exception particle illa with the second-person pronoun, restricting all ownership of bounty and mercy to Allah alone.
Read together, the dua is not a request for a specific worldly outcome. It is an acknowledgment first — Allah alone owns what is being asked for — and then a request second. That order is the same one Surah Al-Fatihah teaches: praise Allah, affirm His ownership of the worlds, and then ask for guidance. Reciting this dua with awareness of those three roots — fadl, rahmah, and yamliku — turns it into an act of tawhid (oneness) as much as an act of asking.
When and how to recite this dua
The dua can be recited at any time — there is no fixed moment that restricts it. Below are the contexts where this dua, in one or both of its versions, is most often used by the Prophet ﷺ and the companions, and is recommended in classical works on supplication:
- When leaving the masjid — the shorter form is the Sunnah, paired with the entry dua “Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik” (O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy). Step out with the left foot first.
- When facing a shortage of provision or food — the longer form matches the original hadith context. Recite it sincerely and with patience; the Prophet ﷺ did not pair it with a specific number of repetitions.
- In the morning, after Fajr — many Muslims include it in their morning adhkar alongside “Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi’an”, the dua for beneficial knowledge and good provision narrated in Sunan Ibn Majah 925.
- Before or after the last tashahhud in salah — this dua is a personal supplication, so it can be recited inside or outside salah, in Arabic or in your own language.
- When starting any work or seeking lawful sustenance — combine it with effort and lawful means. Dua does not replace work; it asks Allah to bless the work.
You do not need wudu (ablution) to recite this dua, though wudu is encouraged for any sincere act of worship. You can recite it silently or aloud, alone or with others. The intention matters more than the volume — recite slowly, understand what each word means, and pause to think about your own dependence on Allah’s bounty before saying “ameen.”
How to pronounce “Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik” correctly
Pronunciation matters because Arabic letters with similar English transliterations carry different sounds. Below is a syllable-by-syllable guide for the shorter form, with notes on the two letters most often mispronounced by non-native speakers:
- Al-laa-hum-ma — three short syllables, with the stress on laa. Do not pronounce the final -mma as “muh”; the m is doubled and held briefly.
- in-nee — like “in-knee” with the doubled n held briefly.
- as-‘a-lu-ka — the apostrophe represents a hamza, a brief glottal stop (the same break in the middle of the English “uh-oh”). The Arabic letter ع is not in this word, so keep the throat relaxed.
- min — short and clear, no nasalization.
- fad-lik — two short syllables. The d is the Arabic letter ض (dad), a heavy emphatic d pronounced with the back of the tongue raised toward the soft palate. It is the letter Arabic is sometimes called “the language of dad” after.
For the longer form, continue with wa-rah-ma-ti-ka (the h is the Arabic ح, a soft breathy h from the middle of the throat), then fa-in-na-hu, laa yam-li-ku-haa, il-laa an-ta. Listen to a reciter slowly and repeat. The video below from islamtics walks through the full pronunciation step by step:
Related duas for rizq, sustenance, and bounty
“Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik” is one of several short, authentic supplications the Prophet ﷺ taught for asking Allah for provision. Pairing it with these other duas builds a daily habit of turning to Allah for both worldly and spiritual rizq:
- Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi’an — “O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, good provision, and accepted deeds.” Recited after the morning prayer (Sunan Ibn Majah 925).
- Allahummaghfirli warhamni wahdini warzuqni — “O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, and provide for me.” Recited between the two sujood of every salah (Sunan Abi Dawud, Tirmidhi).
- Allahumma barik lana — “O Allah, bless what You have provided us.” The dua of barakah, recited before eating to ask for blessing in food.
- Allahumma rahmataka arju — “O Allah, it is Your mercy I hope for.” A dua for relief in moments of overwhelm.
- Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja’altahu sahla — “O Allah, there is no ease except in what You have made easy.” A dua for difficult moments.
- Sayyidul Istighfar — the master prayer for forgiveness, which the Prophet ﷺ said earns Paradise for the one who recites it sincerely (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306).
- The full rizq guide — for the most powerful Quranic verses and prophetic supplications combined, see our pillar guide on the dua for rizq and wealth.
Reciting this dua is the easy part. Living its meaning — accepting that everything you own is on loan from Allah, working with sincerity, and asking with confidence — is the lifelong practice it points to. Memorize the short form first, then the long form, and bring both into your morning and evening adhkar.
Is “Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik” the dua for entering or leaving the mosque?
It is the dua for leaving the mosque. The Prophet ï·º taught that when entering, the worshipper says “Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik” (O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy), and when leaving, “Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik” (O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty). The reasoning, as scholars including Sheikh Al-Badr have noted, is that inside the masjid the worshipper seeks Allah’s mercy through worship, and outside the masjid the worshipper seeks Allah’s bounty through lawful work and provision. The source is Sahih Muslim 713.
What is the difference between “min fadlik” and “min fadlika wa rahmatika”?
They are two distinct authentic narrations. The shorter form (min fadlik alone) is from Sahih Muslim 713 and is recited when leaving the masjid. The longer form (min fadlika wa rahmatika, fa innahu la yamlikuha illa anta) is from Al-Tabarani’s Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir 10/220, narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA), and was recited by the Prophet ï·º when a hungry guest arrived and there was no food at home. The longer form is the classical “dua for rizq.”
What is the authentic hadith source of this dua?
The shorter form is graded Sahih in Sahih Muslim 713, Sunan Ibn Majah 772, Sunan an-Nasa’i 729, and Sunan Abi Dawud. The longer form is in Al-Tabarani’s Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir 10/220 through the chain Mis’ar > Zubayd > Murrah > Abdullah ibn Mas’ud. Al-Albani graded it Sahih in Sahih al-Jami’ al-Saghir hadith #1278, and again in Silsilah Ahadith As-Sahihah. Both forms are authentic and may be recited.
Can I recite this dua at any time of day, or only at the mosque?
You can recite it at any time of day, in any state, and in any place — not only at the mosque. The masjid-exit context applies specifically to the shorter form as Sunnah etiquette. The longer form was recited by the Prophet ï·º in his own home at a moment of need. Reciting either form in the morning, after salah, or during private dua is encouraged and rewarded.
Does this dua specifically ask for rizq (sustenance), or for any bounty?
The Arabic word fadl means bounty, grace, virtue, and surplus — it covers everything Allah gives beyond what is strictly required. That includes worldly rizq (sustenance, wealth, food, health) and spiritual rizq (knowledge, faith, righteous deeds). The dua is therefore broader than “money” or “food” alone; it asks for every form of unearned generosity from Allah.
How do I pronounce “fadlik” correctly?
The word fadlik has two syllables: fad-lik. The d here is the Arabic letter ض (dad), an emphatic d pronounced with the back of the tongue raised toward the soft palate — heavier than the English d. The final -ik is the second-person pronoun “Your.” In the longer form, it becomes fad-li-ka with a final short a. Listen to a fluent reciter and repeat slowly until the emphatic dad feels natural.
Make this dua a habit
Memorize the short form first, then the long form. Add the short version to your masjid exit routine and recite the long version any time you sit down to ask Allah for provision. Pair it with the related duas above and with consistent lawful effort. The Prophet ﷺ asked Allah for bounty at the precise moment he needed it most, with these exact words — there is no better example to follow.
