Bismillahi tawakkaltu ala Allah is the short dua the Prophet ﷺ taught his companions to recite every time they step out of the house. The reward attached to it is striking — the angels say “You are guided, you are protected, you are sufficed”, and Shaytan is sent away from the person until they return. It is one of the highest-return supplications in the Sunnah for the smallest investment of effort.
This guide gives the dua in Arabic, transliteration, and English meaning, then walks through the hadith, what each word teaches about tawakkul (reliance on Allah), when to recite it, and the most common questions about leaving the home as a believer.
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Bismillahi Tawakkaltu Ala Allah in Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
“In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.”
Key takeaways:
- Bismillahi tawakkaltu ‘alallah, la hawla wala quwwata illa billah — the Sunnah dua for stepping out of the house.
- The Prophet ﷺ promised three rewards: angels say “You are guided, you are sufficed, you are protected”, and Shaytan is sent away until the person returns — Sunan Abi Dawud 5095.
- Pair with wider leaving-home Sunnah: right foot out first, mentioning bismillah at the threshold.
- The dua compresses tawhid into one breath: name of Allah + reliance on Allah + powerlessness without Allah — the complete posture of a believer entering the world.
Hadith: The Three Promises for Saying It
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever says — upon leaving his house — ‘Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah‘ — it is said to him: ‘You are guided, you are sufficed, and you are protected.‘ And the devils move away from him. Another devil says to him: ‘How can you do anything with a man who has been guided, sufficed, and protected?'”
Sunan Abi Dawud 5095, Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3426 — sahih
The hadith promises three things by name — hudita (guided), kufita (sufficed), and wuqita (protected). And it adds a fourth bonus: Shaytan retreats. Imam at-Tirmidhi classed the hadith as hasan-sahih, and Imam an-Nawawi included it in his Riyad as-Salihin under the etiquette of leaving the house (chapter 83).
Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported a longer version that the Prophet ﷺ also taught — adding: “Allahumma inni a’udhu bika an adilla aw udalla, aw azilla aw uzalla, aw azlima aw uzlama, aw ajhala aw yujhala ‘alayya” — “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from going astray or being led astray, from slipping or being made to slip, from wronging or being wronged, from acting ignorantly or being treated ignorantly” (Sunan Abi Dawud 5094, Sunan an-Nasa’i 5486, Sunan Ibn Majah 3884 — sahih).
Related:
Bismillahi Tawakkaltu — Word by Word
- Bismillah (بِسْمِ اللَّهِ) — “In the name of Allah”. The opening seal that places the entire act under Allah’s name. The Prophet ﷺ said any matter not begun with Bismillah is cut off from blessing.
- Tawakkaltu (تَوَكَّلْتُ) — “I place my trust”. From the root w-k-l (to entrust, appoint as a representative). The believer hands the outcome of their journey to Allah while still taking the required action.
- ‘Ala Allah (عَلَى اللَّهِ) — “upon Allah”. Trust placed only on Allah, not on causes, plans, or one’s own ability.
- Wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ) — “and there is no power and no strength except with Allah”. The Prophet ﷺ said this phrase is “a treasure from the treasures of Paradise” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6384). It denies any independent power to the self and reaffirms that Allah alone enables every action.
Together, the three pieces are a complete miniature theology: I act in the name of Allah, I rely on Allah for the outcome, and I have no strength outside what Allah grants me.
When to Recite Bismillahi Tawakkaltu
- Every time you leave the house. Whether for the mosque, work, school, the shops, or a journey — say it before you step over the threshold.
- When starting any new venture where you need Allah’s protection and reliance — a job interview, a long drive, a difficult conversation.
- When fear or anxiety hits. The phrase la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah is itself a prophetic remedy for distress.
- As part of the morning adhkar. Some scholars include it among the daily recitations to start the day under Allah’s protection.
Related Sunnah for Leaving the House
- Step out with the right foot first — following the Prophet’s ﷺ general practice of beginning the honourable side first (Sahih al-Bukhari 168).
- Recite Ayat al-Kursi (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255) — the Prophet ﷺ said no devil will come near the person who recites it (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311).
- Recite Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas as part of seeking refuge for the day.
- Make istikharah if the matter you are heading out for is a major decision.
- When you return home, say Bismillah twice — once when entering and once when starting to eat — so Shaytan finds no room to enter or eat (Sahih Muslim 2018).
What is the meaning of Bismillahi Tawakkaltu Ala Allah?
It means “In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.” It is the dua the Prophet ﷺ taught for leaving the house, recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud 5095 and Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3426.
What is the reward for saying this dua?
The Prophet ﷺ said the angels respond with three things: “You are guided, you are sufficed, you are protected.” And the devils move away from the person, with one Shaytan saying to another: “How can you do anything with a man who has been guided, sufficed, and protected?” (Sunan Abi Dawud 5095).
When should I recite Bismillahi Tawakkaltu Ala Allah?
Recite it every time you leave the house — whether for the mosque, work, school, errands, or a long journey. Say it before stepping over the threshold, ideally with your right foot first.
Is there a longer version of this dua?
Yes. Umm Salamah (RA) reported a longer version: “Allahumma inni a’udhu bika an adilla aw udalla, aw azilla aw uzalla, aw azlima aw uzlama, aw ajhala aw yujhala ‘alayya” — “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from going astray, slipping, wronging, and acting ignorantly” (Sunan Abi Dawud 5094, Ibn Majah 3884).
What does tawakkul on Allah mean?
Tawakkul means placing complete trust in Allah while still taking the means He has commanded. The Prophet ﷺ said: “If you all relied on Allah with true reliance, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds — they leave hungry in the morning and return full in the evening” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2344). Trust does not replace effort; it adds Allah to the effort.
What does La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah mean?
It means “There is no power and no strength except with Allah.” The Prophet ﷺ called this phrase “a treasure from the treasures of Paradise” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6384). It is a phrase of total surrender — the believer denies any independent strength to themselves and affirms it all comes from Allah.
Memorise this dua, train yourself to say it every time the house door opens, and turn the simple act of leaving home into a moment of guidance, protection, and reliance — three guarantees from the Prophet ﷺ for one short sentence.
