La ilaha illa Anta Subhanaka inni kuntu minaz zalimin (لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ) is one of the most powerful supplications in the Holy Quran. It is the cry Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) made from inside the whale, in the layered darkness of night, sea, and the creature’s belly. Allah recorded this dua in Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 87, also known as Ayat e Karima or Tasbih Yunus, and saved him through it.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) later told his companions, in a hadith narrated by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas and graded Sahih, that no Muslim supplicates with this dua for anything, ever, except Allah responds to him (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3505). This guide explains its Arabic text, transliteration, English meaning, the full story behind it, the authentic hadith on its virtues, and how to recite it the way the Sunnah teaches, without falling into the common bid’ah of fixed counts.
Key takeaways:
- Recorded in Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87 — the cry of Prophet Yunus from the belly of the whale.
- Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 3505 (Sahih) confirms Allah responds to anyone who supplicates with it.
- Combines all three components of complete remembrance: Tawheed, Tasbeeh, and Istighfar.
- No fixed count of recitations exists in authentic Sunnah — the popular “125,000 times” claim has no basis.
- Recite during distress, in Tahajjud, after fardh prayers, and any time you turn to Allah.
Table of Contents
La ilaha illa Anta Subhanaka in Arabic, Transliteration & Translation
The dua appears once in the Quran, in Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87, where Allah quotes Prophet Yunus’s words verbatim. Read it slowly: each phrase is doing distinct theological work, which is why the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) singled it out for his ummah. Below is the Arabic with full diacritical marks, the simpler unvowelled script, an audio recitation, and a word-by-word breakdown so the meaning of every syllable is clear.
The full dua of La ilaha illa Anta is written in Arabic with diacritical marks as:
لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
and without the diacritical marks:
لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين
And broken down word by word in the table below:
| La | لَّآ | There is no |
| ilaha | إِلَٰهَ | deity |
| illa | إِلَّآ | except |
| Anta | أَنتَ | You; |
| Subhanaka | سُبْحَٰنَكَ | exalted are You. |
| inni | إِنِّى | Indeed, I |
| Kuntu | كُنتُ | have been |
| Mina | مِنَ | of the |
| Zalimin | ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ | wrongdoers. |
Transliteration
La ilaha illa Anta Subhanaka inni Kuntu Minaz Zalimin
Related:
English Meaning
“There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been one of the wrongdoers.”
The first part, La ilaha illa Anta, declares that no being deserves worship except Allah — pure Tawheed. The second part, Subhanaka, glorifies Him and declares Him free from any deficiency. The closing phrase, inni kuntu minaz zalimin, is a humble admission: “I was among the wrongdoers.” In nine Arabic words, Yunus combined the foundation of belief, the highest praise, and the lowest seat of repentance.
Pronunciation
If you are learning the dua, recite it slowly with the audio above and watch the recitation below for proper Arabic pronunciation. The hardest sounds for non-Arabic speakers are the heavy za in zalimin (ظ) and the ha in Subhanaka (ح) — both are deeper, throatier than their English equivalents.
The Story Behind the Dua: Prophet Yunus and the Three Darknesses
Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) was sent to the people of Nineveh, a town in modern-day northern Iraq. For years he called them to worship Allah alone, and for years they refused. Frustrated and exhausted, he left the town in anger before Allah had given him permission to depart. He boarded a ship, but a violent storm forced the crew to lighten the load. They drew lots to decide who should be thrown overboard, and the lot fell on Yunus.
The moment he hit the water, a great fish swallowed him whole. Now Yunus was wrapped in three layers of darkness: the night, the depths of the ocean, and the belly of the whale. There was no light, no sound, no companion, no way out. In that pitch-black silence, he turned to Allah with the words that have become the lifeline of every distressed believer since: La ilaha illa Anta Subhanaka inni kuntu minaz zalimin.
Allah responded immediately. The fish carried him to the shore and released him onto dry land, weak but alive. A gourd plant grew over him to shade his recovering body (Surah As-Saffat 37:139-148). When his strength returned, he went back to Nineveh, and this time the entire town accepted his message. The dua that pulled him from the bottom of the sea is the same dua available to anyone who recites it today.
The Quran Verse: Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87-88
The dua and Allah’s response are recorded together in two consecutive verses. The first verse tells the story and quotes the supplication. The second verse tells what Allah did with it — and crucially, generalises the rescue to every believer who calls upon Him this way.
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبًۭا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ٨٧ فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُـۨجِى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٨٨
Watha annooni ith thahaba mughadiban fathanna an lan naqdira AAalayhi fanada fee aththulumati an la ilaha illa anta subhanaka innee kuntu mina aththalimeen. Fastajabna lahu wanajjaynahu mina alghammi wakathalika nunjee almu’mineen.
“And [mention] the man of the fish [Yunus], when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, ‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.’ So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.”
Quran 21:87-88
Classical mufassirun like Ibn Kathir and Mufti Shafi (in Maarif-ul-Quran) note that verse 88 is the open invitation: “And thus do We save the believers.” The salvation is not limited to Yunus. Allah explicitly extended the same rescue to every believer who turns to Him with this dua in any kind of distress.
The Hadith on La ilaha illa Anta: Tirmidhi 3505
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) drew his ummah’s attention to this exact dua in a hadith narrated by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, recorded in Jami` at-Tirmidhi and graded Sahih by the verifiers of the Darussalam edition. It is one of the most explicit promises of acceptance attached to any single supplication in the Sunnah.
دَعْوَةُ ذِي النُّونِ إِذْ دَعَا وَهُوَ فِي بَطْنِ الْحُوتِ : لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ، فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَدْعُ بِهَا رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ فِي شَيْءٍ قَطُّ إِلاَّ اسْتَجَابَ اللَّهُ لَهُ
“The supplication of Dhun-Nun (Yunus) when he supplicated, while in the belly of the whale, was: ‘La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz zalimin.’ Indeed, no Muslim man supplicates with it for anything, ever, except that Allah responds to him.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3505 — Sahih
The hadith is narrated by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, one of the ten companions promised Paradise. Imam Ahmad records the same meaning in his Musnad, and several scholars including IslamQA classify the chain as Sahih. The promise is unrestricted: it covers worldly need, removal of distress, forgiveness, guidance — anything a believer would supplicate for. The only condition is sincerity.
The Three Spiritual Components: Tawheed, Tasbeeh, Istighfar
What makes this dua so accepted? Scholars point to its rare structural completeness. In nine Arabic words, Yunus included the three components every dua of repentance and rescue ideally contains: declaring Allah’s oneness, exalting Him above all imperfection, and acknowledging one’s own wrongdoing. Most supplications include one or two of these. This one has all three, in the correct order.
- Tawheed (لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ) — “There is no deity except You.” This is the foundation of Islam itself. Calling on Allah while affirming His oneness is the strongest form of supplication, because it establishes the right relationship between servant and Lord before asking for anything.
- Tasbeeh (سُبْحَٰنَكَ) — “Exalted are You.” This declares Allah free from every defect, weakness, partner, or limitation. Yunus did not say “save me from this” — he first praised Allah, recognising that the One being asked is perfect and capable beyond any constraint.
- Istighfar (إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ) — “Indeed, I have been one of the wrongdoers.” This is the seat of repentance. Yunus did not blame the storm, the crew, or the people of Nineveh. He took responsibility for his own choice. Owning the fault is what opens the door to forgiveness, and forgiveness is what makes the dua’s container worthy of being filled.
This is also why the dua pairs naturally with other compact supplications of trust and seeking forgiveness, such as Hasbunallah wa ni’mal wakeel and Astaghfirullah.
Benefits of Reciting La ilaha illa Anta Subhanaka
Every benefit listed here is grounded in the Quran or Sahih hadith. Avoid the common error of attaching unsubstantiated worldly promises to this dua — the authentic virtues are powerful enough on their own, and Allah’s response is not a transaction tied to a fixed outcome.
- Allah responds to it. The Prophet (ﷺ) said no Muslim supplicates with it for anything except Allah responds (Tirmidhi 3505, Sahih). The response may be the exact thing requested, the removal of harm equivalent to it, or reward stored for the Hereafter — all are forms of acceptance.
- Removal of distress (gham). Quran 21:88 explicitly says, “We saved him from the distress.” The verse generalises: “And thus do We save the believers.” Recite it when overwhelmed by anxiety, debt, illness, or fear.
- Forgiveness of sins. The dua contains explicit istighfar (admission of wrongdoing). The Quran teaches that Allah forgives those who admit their faults and turn back to Him.
- Renewal of Tawheed. Reciting it daily reaffirms the foundational belief of Islam — that no being deserves worship except Allah. This is the same testimony believers say in shahada and salah.
- Cultivation of humility and Yaqeen (certainty). The dua trains the heart to admit fault before asking, and to glorify Allah before petitioning Him. Over time, this reshapes how a believer relates to every difficulty.
- Compactness and ease. Nine Arabic words, easy to memorise for adults and children, recitable in any state — standing, sitting, lying down, in prayer, in the car, in the dark of the night.
When to Recite This Dua
There is no fixed time legislated for La ilaha illa Anta Subhanaka — it is a dua that can be made any time. That said, the Sunnah and the lived practice of scholars highlight specific moments when the dua is especially fitting and the heart is most receptive.
- In any moment of distress. The whole purpose of the dua, as the Quran demonstrates, is to call on Allah from a place of difficulty. Anxiety, panic, grief, illness, financial pressure — all qualify.
- In Tahajjud (the last third of the night). The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that Allah descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night and asks who is calling on Him. Reciting this dua in sujood at that hour combines two of the strongest reasons for acceptance.
- After fardh (obligatory) prayers. The post-salah window is one of the recommended times for personal supplication. Pair this dua with the regular adhkar of Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi and Astaghfirullah.
- Before sleeping. Reciting it as part of your night routine ends the day on Tawheed and istighfar — a powerful closing.
- During illness or for someone who is ill. Many scholars recommend it as part of the supplications made over a sick person, alongside the Sunnah ruqyah verses.
- When making any major decision. Combine it with Istikhara. The dua of Yunus puts the heart in the correct state — humble, glorifying, and trusting — before Allah is asked for guidance.
Common Mistakes: The Bid’ah of Fixed Counts
One of the most widespread errors attached to this dua is the claim that it must be recited a fixed number of times — 125,000 (one and a quarter lakh), 12,000, or 41 — to “guarantee” a result. These numbers, often packaged as “Tasbih Yunus”, appear nowhere in the Quran or Sahih hadith. Attaching a specific count and expecting a specific outcome is a religious innovation (bid’ah) that scholars across schools have warned against.
The Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions did not legislate any count for this dua. The hadith of Tirmidhi 3505 is unrestricted: “no Muslim supplicates with it for anything, ever, except Allah responds.” The condition is sincerity, not arithmetic. Adding a fixed-count requirement that the Lawgiver did not impose changes the act of worship — and that is the definition of bid’ah.
The correct practice is to recite the dua sincerely, as many or as few times as your heart and circumstances allow, and to leave the response to Allah. If you find yourself drawn to repeat it many times in a moment of distress, that is fine — repetition out of need is different from repetition tied to a number that no scholar can produce a Sahih chain for.
Should You Mention Your Specific Need After Reciting?
Scholars have discussed whether, after reciting La ilaha illa Anta Subhanaka, you should follow it with your specific request — “O Allah, cure my illness,” “O Allah, ease my debt” — or whether reciting it alone is sufficient. Both views are held by reputable scholars, and both are correct in their context.
The first view is that the dua itself does not contain a request, so mentioning your need afterwards is not only allowed but recommended. The second view notes that the Prophet (ﷺ) said Allah responds when one supplicates with this dua “for anything” — meaning the dua functions as a complete request even without a stated need, because Allah knows what you want when you call on Him this way.
The practical answer most scholars give, including the response on IslamQA fatwa 318430, is that there is no harm in either approach. If you have a specific need, mention it after reciting the dua. If you simply want to call on Allah, the dua alone is enough. The acceptance comes from sincerity and the structural completeness of the words themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of La ilaha illa Anta Subhanaka inni kuntu minaz zalimin?
The dua translates as “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been one of the wrongdoers.” It is the supplication Prophet Yunus made from the belly of the whale, recorded in the Quran in Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87. The phrase combines Tawheed (declaring Allah’s oneness), Tasbeeh (glorifying Him), and a humble admission of wrongdoing.
Where does this dua come from in the Quran?
It appears in Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 87, and Allah’s response is recorded in verse 88: “So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.” The parallel narrative of Prophet Yunus is also found in Surah As-Saffat 37:139-148, which adds details about the lots being cast and the gourd plant Allah caused to grow over Yunus on the shore.
Who first recited this dua?
Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him), also called Dhun-Nun (“the man of the fish”), recited this dua from inside the whale that swallowed him after he left the people of Nineveh in anger. Allah responded immediately, the fish carried him to shore, and Yunus eventually returned to Nineveh, where the entire town accepted his message of Tawheed.
How many times should I recite La ilaha illa Anta Subhanaka?
There is no fixed number of recitations legislated in the Quran or Sahih hadith. Popular claims of “125,000 times” or other specific counts have no basis in authentic Sunnah and are considered bid’ah by scholars. Recite the dua sincerely as many or as few times as your heart and need require, and leave the response to Allah.
When is the best time to recite this dua?
It can be recited at any time, but it is especially powerful in moments of distress, in Tahajjud (the last third of the night), in sujood, after fardh prayers, before sleeping, and during illness. The dua is appropriate any time you turn to Allah seeking relief, forgiveness, or guidance — there is no time when it would be inappropriate.
Should I mention my specific need after reciting it?
Both views are held by scholars and both are valid. You may mention your specific need (illness, debt, guidance) after reciting the dua, or recite it alone and trust Allah to know what you need. IslamQA fatwa 318430 confirms there is no harm in either approach. Sincerity and trust in Allah’s response matter more than the specific phrasing that follows.
