By Effat Saleh · Founder of islamtics · Sources: Sunan Abi Dawud 2357, Sunan Abi Dawud 2358, Sunan Abi Dawud 3854, Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 696, 3598 · Updated
Reciting the dua for breaking fast at iftar is one of the easiest acts of Sunnah you can attach to your day in Ramadan. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was reported to say a single, short supplication when he broke his fast, and it has been preserved with a sound chain in Sunan Abi Dawud. This guide gives you the authentic dua in Arabic with full diacritics, the standard transliteration, the English meaning, the hadith chain and grading, the scholarly view on whether to recite it before or after the first sip, and the more popular “Allahumma laka sumtu” — which most people don’t know is actually classed as weak.
You will also find the sahih dua to recite if you break your fast at someone else’s home, the Sunnah of breaking the fast with dates and water, and a section on how to make your own personal du’a at iftar — because the du’a of a fasting person, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, is among the supplications never rejected by Allah.
Table of Contents
The Authentic Dua for Breaking Fast in Arabic
The full dua for breaking fast in Arabic with diacritics (harakat) is:
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ، وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ، وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
And without diacritics:
ذهب الظمأ وابتلت العروق وثبت الأجر إن شاء الله
Transliteration
Dhahaba az-zama’u, wabtallatil-‘urooqu, wa thabatal-ajru in sha’a Allah
English Meaning
“The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.”
Each of the three phrases captures one part of what just happened during the day’s fast. “The thirst has gone” acknowledges the physical reality of fasting — the dryness of the mouth, the long hours without water — and notes that Allah has now lifted that hardship. “The veins are moistened” describes the body returning to its rhythm as the first sip of water reaches it. “The reward is confirmed, if Allah wills” shifts the focus from the body back to Allah: the visible discomfort is over, but the unseen reward is what the believer was actually fasting for, and that reward is now written down — in shaa Allah.
Related:
Hadith Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 2357
The dua is preserved in Sunan Abi Dawud, in the Book of Fasting, Hadith 2357. It was narrated by Marwan ibn Salim al-Muqaffa’, who reported it from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them):
Marwan ibn Salim al-Muqaffa’ said: I saw Ibn Umar holding his beard with his hand and cutting what exceeded the handful of it. He (Ibn Umar) said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) broke his fast, he used to say: “Dhahaba az-zama’u, wabtallatil-‘urooqu, wa thabatal-ajru in sha’a Allah” — “The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 2357
The chain of this hadith was graded hasan (good — meaning sound enough to be acted upon) by Shaykh Nasir ad-Din al-Albani in his evaluation of Sunan Abi Dawud. The hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani went further and called the isnad sahih (authentic) in his Talkhis al-Habir. Imam al-Daraqutni also recorded it in his Sunan with a similar chain and judged it acceptable for use. Because of this, the dua “Dhahaba az-zama’u…” is the supplication that the four major madhhabs — Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali — affirm as the proven Sunnah at iftar.
When to Recite the Dua: Before or After Iftar?
This is the most common question about the dua for breaking fast, and the answer depends on which dua you are talking about and which scholarly opinion you are following. The wording of the authentic hadith (“the thirst has gone, the veins are moistened”) is in the past tense, which is why the majority of scholars say “Dhahaba az-zama’u…” is recited after the first sip of water or first bite of a date — the body has just felt the relief that the dua is describing.
However, the great Hanbali scholar Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin (rahimahullah) preferred to make general personal du’a before breaking the fast. His reasoning was based on the famous hadith:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There are three whose du’a is not rejected: the just ruler, the fasting person until he breaks his fast, and the supplication of the oppressed.”
Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3598 (graded hasan)
Notice the wording: “the fasting person until he breaks his fast.” Ibn Uthaymin understood this to mean that the du’a window of the fasting person closes the moment iftar begins, so the smartest time to make personal du’a is in the final minutes before sunset, while you are still technically fasting. This is why many Muslims raise their hands and supplicate intensely just before the adhan of Maghrib.
Putting both views together, the Sunnah practice is straightforward:
- In the last minutes before sunset — make your own personal du’a (in any language). This is when you are still fasting and your du’a is among the three not rejected.
- At the adhan of Maghrib — break the fast immediately with a date or a sip of water, following the Sunnah of hastening iftar.
- Right after that first sip or bite — recite the authentic dua “Dhahaba az-zama’u, wabtallatil-‘urooqu, wa thabatal-ajru in sha’a Allah.”
This way you don’t miss either window: the powerful du’a window of the fasting person, and the prophetic dua of breaking the fast.
The Popular but Weak Dua: “Allahumma Laka Sumtu”
If you grew up reciting “Allahumma laka sumtu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu” at iftar, you are not alone — it is by far the most widely repeated dua for breaking fast in the Muslim world. It is even printed on Ramadan calendars, embroidered on iftar tablecloths, and taught to children. But it is important to know its actual hadith status before you build your practice on it.
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ
Allahumma laka sumtu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu
“O Allah, for You I have fasted, and with Your provision I have broken my fast.”
This dua is also reported in Sunan Abi Dawud, immediately after the previous one — Hadith 2358. The narrator is Mu’adh ibn Zuhrah, but he is a tabi’i (a successor) who never met the Prophet (ﷺ) directly. The chain is therefore mursal — there is a missing link between Mu’adh and the Prophet. Shaykh al-Albani classified it as da’if (weak) in Da’if Abi Dawud, and IslamQA confirms the same grading.
Some scholars (including those of the Hanafi school) permit reciting weak hadiths in matters of virtuous deeds (fada’il al-a’mal), provided the meaning does not contradict any established principle. The wording of “Allahumma laka sumtu” — turning to Allah and acknowledging that the fast was for Him alone and the food is from His provision — has nothing in it that contradicts Islam, so reciting it is not wrong. But it is not Sunnah in the technical sense, and the proven, sahih option is the first dua. If you want one dua to attach to your iftar habit, make it “Dhahaba az-zama’u…”
You may also have heard a longer, combined version: “Allahumma inni laka sumtu, wa bika aamantu, wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu, wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu” — “O Allah, for You I have fasted, in You I believe, upon You I rely, and with Your provision I break my fast.” This version appears in al-Tabarani’s Mu’jam al-Awsat and is judged weaker still by the muhaddithun. Same ruling applies.
Dua When Breaking Fast at Someone Else’s Home
If someone invites you to iftar at their home — a parent, a neighbour, a friend, or the local masjid — there is a beautiful sahih dua the Prophet (ﷺ) made for the host after breaking his fast at their place. Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) once broke his fast at the home of Sa’d ibn Ubadah, and as he was about to leave, he supplicated:
أَفْطَرَ عِنْدَكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ، وَأَكَلَ طَعَامَكُمُ الْأَبْرَارُ، وَصَلَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ
Aftara ‘indakumus-saa’imoon, wa akala ta’aamakumul-abraar, wa sallat ‘alaykumul-malaa’ikah
“May the fasting break their fast with you, may the righteous eat your food, and may the angels send blessings upon you.”
This dua is recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud 3854 and is graded sahih. Three things are asked for in one short sentence: that the host’s home become a regular gathering place for fasting people, that righteous people share their food, and that the angels send peace and blessings on them. If you have ever wondered how to thank a host who fed you at iftar, this is the prophetic answer — far better than a generic “thank you for the food.”
The Sunnah of Breaking Fast with Dates and Water
The dua doesn’t stand alone — it sits inside a small set of Sunnah practices around iftar. The first is what to break the fast with. Anas ibn Malik (RA) said:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to break his fast before praying with fresh dates (rutab); if there were no fresh dates, then with dry dates (tamr); and if there were no dry dates, he would take a few sips of water.
Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 696 (graded hasan sahih)
The order matters. Fresh dates first, then dry dates, then water — and the number is traditionally an odd count (one, three, five, or seven dates), following the Prophet’s (ﷺ) general love for odd numbers in worship. Once you have taken that first sip or bite, recite “Dhahaba az-zama’u…” and proceed to your iftar meal. Many people add an extra Sunnah here: hasten to pray Maghrib first, then return to the full meal. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to break the fast lightly, pray, and only then sit down to eat properly.
If you want to keep things simple this Ramadan, build the habit around three small steps: a date, a sip of water, the dua. Everything else — the elaborate iftar spread, the family gathering, the conversation — is the meal that comes after.
How to Make Personal Du’a at Iftar
Beyond the prophetic dua of breaking fast, the time of iftar is one of the most powerful du’a windows in the Islamic calendar. The Prophet (ﷺ) named the fasting person’s du’a as one of three never rejected (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3598). He also said:
“The fasting person has, at the time of breaking his fast, a supplication that is not rejected.”
Sunan Ibn Majah 1753 (graded hasan)
This is grounded in the Quranic principle in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:186, where Allah says: “And when My servants ask you concerning Me — indeed I am near. I respond to the supplication of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.” The verse appears in the middle of the verses about fasting in Ramadan, which classical scholars (including Imam al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir) read as a deliberate placement: Allah is teaching the fasting believer that He is closest to them at this exact time.
So in practice:
- Use any language — Arabic, English, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian. Allah understands every tongue, and the prophetic du’as are in Arabic but personal du’a is wherever you are most sincere.
- Be specific — name the exact thing you are asking for: forgiveness for a particular sin, healing for a particular illness, ease in a particular hardship, righteous children, a halal job, protection from a real fear.
- Start with praise of Allah and salawat on the Prophet (ﷺ) — this is the prophetic etiquette of du’a (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3477).
- Don’t rush — even one minute of focused, sincere du’a in the last moments before Maghrib is worth more than five minutes of half-distracted Arabic you don’t understand.
- Believe Allah will respond — the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Make du’a to Allah while being certain of being answered” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3479).
Key takeaways:
- The authentic dua is “Dhahaba az-zama’u, wabtallatil-‘urooqu, wa thabatal-ajru in sha’a Allah” — recited after the first sip or bite (Sunan Abi Dawud 2357, graded hasan).
- “Allahumma laka sumtu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu” is widespread but its chain is mursal — graded da’if (weak) by al-Albani. Reciting it is not wrong, but the sahih option is the first dua.
- Make your most important personal du’a in the last minutes before Maghrib — the du’a of the fasting person at that moment is one of three not rejected (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3598).
- Break the fast first with dates (odd number) then water, then say the dua, then pray Maghrib (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 696).
- If breaking fast at someone’s home, recite the sahih dua for the host: “Aftara ‘indakumus-saa’imoon…” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3854).
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I recite the dua for breaking fast — before or after eating?
The authentic dua “Dhahaba az-zama’u, wabtallatil-‘urooqu, wa thabatal-ajru in sha’a Allah” is recited after the first sip of water or first bite of a date, because its wording is in the past tense (“the thirst has gone, the veins are moistened”). For your own personal du’a, the strongest time is in the last minutes before Maghrib, while you are still fasting — the Prophet (ﷺ) said the fasting person’s du’a at that moment is among three not rejected (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3598).
Is “Allahumma laka sumtu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu” authentic?
No — it is reported in Sunan Abi Dawud 2358 but its chain is mursal (the narrator Mu’adh ibn Zuhrah is a tabi’i who never met the Prophet ﷺ). Shaykh al-Albani classified it as da’if (weak) in Da’if Abi Dawud. Some scholars permit reciting weak hadiths in matters of virtuous deeds, so saying it is not sinful — but it is not the proven Sunnah. The authentic dua is “Dhahaba az-zama’u…” from Sunan Abi Dawud 2357.
Which dua for breaking fast is from the Sunnah?
The dua “Dhahaba az-zama’u, wabtallatil-‘urooqu, wa thabatal-ajru in sha’a Allah” — “The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.” It is recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud 2357, narrated by Ibn Umar (RA), and graded hasan by Shaykh al-Albani and sahih by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani.
Is the du’a of a fasting person accepted by Allah?
Yes. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There are three whose du’a is not rejected: the just ruler, the fasting person until he breaks his fast, and the supplication of the oppressed” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3598, graded hasan). He also said the fasting person has, at the moment of breaking his fast, a du’a that is not rejected (Sunan Ibn Majah 1753). The verse Surah Al-Baqarah 2:186 — “I respond to the supplication of the supplicant when he calls upon Me” — was revealed in the context of the verses on fasting.
What dua should I say if I break my fast at someone’s home?
Recite the dua the Prophet (ﷺ) made when he broke his fast at the home of Sa’d ibn Ubadah: “Aftara ‘indakumus-saa’imoon, wa akala ta’aamakumul-abraar, wa sallat ‘alaykumul-malaa’ikah” — “May the fasting break their fast with you, may the righteous eat your food, and may the angels send blessings upon you.” It is recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud 3854 and is graded sahih.
Should I break my fast with dates and water before reciting the dua?
Yes. The Sunnah is to break the fast first with fresh dates (rutab); if not available, dry dates (tamr); if not available, a few sips of water (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 696). Take an odd number of dates (one, three, five, or seven). Once you have taken that first sip or bite, recite the dua “Dhahaba az-zama’u…” — its past-tense wording (“the thirst has gone”) matches the moment after, not before.
Memorize “Dhahaba az-zama’u, wabtallatil-‘urooqu, wa thabatal-ajru in sha’a Allah” this Ramadan, build it into the moment after that first date and sip of water, and you will have attached one of the easiest, most authentic Sunnahs to every iftar — every day of the month — for the rest of your life. May Allah accept your fasting, your du’a, and your iftar.
