In the Sahih hadith (as graded by Sheikh Al-Albani) from Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 8, Hadith 64, it was narrated by An-Nu’man ibn Bashir: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Supplication (du’a’) is itself the worship.” (He then recited:) “And your Lord said: Call on Me, I will answer you.”
The Quran also mentions in Surah Ghafir, Ayat 40: “And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.’ Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.”
Without Allah, nothing is possible. We must take the time and effort to remember Him and call upon Him.
There are many duas and ways to worship Allah, and in this text, we will cover one of the simplest. It consists of only four words: the Rabbana Wa Taqabbal dua.
Meaning of Rabbana Wa Taqabbal and Arabic Text:
Here is the ayat in Arabic, along with its transliteration and English meaning:
رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاء
Rabbana Wa Taqabbal Dua
English Meaning: Our Lord, and accept my supplication.
It does not get any simpler than this dua.
Here are different translations of this ayat:
Our Lord! And accept my prayer.
Our Lord! And accept my invocation.
O our Lord! And accept Thou my Prayer.
Our Lord, grant my prayer.
Do accept, our Lord, this prayer of mine.
Our Lord! Accept my prayers.
A fool lives to eat, whereas a wise man eats to live. But this leaves an unanswered question: for what purpose? Simply living is not the end in itself; there must be a purpose to live for.
To a non-believer, human existence can seem ironic: we have one instinct—to survive—and there’s only one guarantee in life—we won’t.
For those who read the Quran and strive to understand it, clarity, guidance, and purpose will follow. For instance, in the Quran, Surah Imran, Ayat 185:
“Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.”
It becomes clear: this life should be spent living righteously. The Quran and Hadith provide us with complete guidance—a blueprint for how we ought to conduct our lives. They offer insight into the moral character we should embody if we wish to attain Paradise. They teach us to care, to love, to give charity to the poor, to pray, to fast, to be humble, and to be grateful.
This world was not created by accident, and we were not sent here without a purpose—and it is for this reason that this rabbana dua was revealed.
Rabbana ma khalaqta haza bathila full dua with translation:
رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذا بَاطِلاً سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana ma khalaqa haza bathila subhanaka faqina adhaban-Naar
Meaning: Our Lord! You have not created this in vain. Glory to You! Save us, then, from the chastisement of the Fire.
Surah Imran 191
The full translation of Surah Imran, Ayah 191 is:
[1] Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], [2] “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; [3] then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
[1] Allah mentions those who constantly remember Him in all their deeds—whether standing, sitting, or lying down (the “on their sides” referenced here). Standing might refer to remembering Allah while traveling to work, school, or going about daily errands. When finally able to rest by sitting, they still keep Allah in mind; and at the end of the day, before falling asleep, they remember Him.
This ayah depicts individuals for whom everything becomes a reminder of Allah. If you take a moment to pause, look out the window at the sky, the clouds, or nature, you can’t help but be amazed. Even the complexity of human civilization serves as a reminder to worship Allah.
[2] Through all these signs of the Creator, one can arrive at the truth. Merely being an observer allows you to recognize that there must be something greater. The phenomena of the universe could not exist without a God.
[3] Once a person sees the order of the universe, they realize that the Creator would not have bestowed wisdom, moral conscience, and free will upon humans only to let them roam without repercussions for their actions. This deep reflection leads them to understand that they will be accountable for their deeds in the Hereafter. This conviction drives them to seek refuge in Allah, asking for protection from “the punishment of the Fire.”
In Surah Baqarah, near Ayat 250, the account of the battle between Talut and Jalut (Talut is the Arabic term for Saul, the king of Israel) reaches its conclusion.
If you’re not familiar with the story: Talut wanted to test his people’s discipline and ability to follow instructions before advancing into battle. So he told them, “Allah will test you with a river—do not drink from it.” Only a few obeyed his order, and these were the ones who continued marching with Talut.
The English translation of Surah Baqarah, Ayat 249 reads:
“And when Saul went forth with the soldiers, he said, ‘Indeed, Allah will be testing you with a river. So whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me, excepting one who takes [from it] in the hollow of his hand.’ But they drank from it, except a [very] few of them.”
After their army crossed the water and stood before Jalut (Goliath), they saw they were vastly outnumbered. From a distance, the enemy appeared as a single row, making it impossible to gauge their true size. But as they drew closer, they could not see the end of the opposing army—it seemed to grow larger and larger the nearer they got.
The continuation of Ayat 249 states:
“Then when he had crossed it along with those who believed with him, they said, ‘There is no power for us today against Goliath and his soldiers.’ But those who were certain that they would meet Allah said, ‘How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient.’”
By this point, the water test for training was complete. They had crossed the river and now faced Goliath’s massive army. Instead of turning back, they summoned courage by reciting the dua revealed in Surah Baqarah, Ayat 250 before entering the battle.
Rabbana afrigh alayna sabran Full Dua With Meaning:
In Arabic, this dua for sabr (patience) is found in Surah Baqarah, Ayat 250:
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْراً وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى القَوْمِ الكَافِرِينَ
Rabbana afrigh alayna sabran wa thabbit aqdamana wansurna alal-qawmil-kafirin
English Meaning: Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.
The beauty of this dua lies in its request for Allah to drench us in sabr—to completely pour forth patience upon us. As mentioned in Ayat 249, Allah is with those who possess sabr, and a small army supported by Allah can overcome a larger one.
The dua then goes on to ask Allah to “plant our feet firmly,” which can be interpreted as a plea for strength, bravery, and courage—all essential qualities for confronting the enemy, standing one’s ground, and not being easily swayed. A solid foundation requires stability; without it, one would easily topple and be trampled upon. Thus, we pray to Allah: “Plant firmly our feet.”
The final request in the dua is for victory—specifically, victory over the disbelieving people, in this case, Jalut’s forces. Ayat 251 concludes the outcome of the battle:
“So they defeated them by permission of Allah, and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him the kingship and prophethood and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allah checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of bounty to the worlds.”
As the saying goes, you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
People tend to nurture relationships with those who are most like them.
If you want to achieve success in this dunya (worldly life) and the akhirah (hereafter), you must get this one thing right: surround yourself with people who share the same ambitions and goals, and you’ll increase the likelihood of success.
The Quran echoes a similar sentiment in Surah Anfal, Ayat 58:
“And if you fear treachery from a people, break off (the covenant) with them in like manner. Verily Allah does not like the treacherous.”
Be mindful of who you let into your inner circle. But does this mean you should only associate with those who are better than you to elevate yourself? Isn’t that selfish? What if the other person needs help?
We should dedicate a portion of our friendships to those who are on the wrong path. We ought to try to help them and inform them of their mistakes. However, if these people are toxic and unresponsive to your explanations, it may be time to cut ties. Our life on this earth is fleeting, and we cannot afford to let others hold us back.
I hope we can agree on this. If you have opposing views, please feel free to comment below.
There is also mention in the Hadith of a dua that can be recited whenever you feel afraid or wish to seek protection from others.
Allahumma inna naj’aluka fi nuhurihim Dua in Arabic and English:
This dua in Arabic is as follows:
اَللّٰهُمَّ إنَّا نَجْعَلُكَ فِيْ نُحُوْرِهِمْ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شُرُورِهِمْ
Transliteration: Allahumma inna naj’aluka fi nuhurihim wa na’udhu bika min shururihim
English Meaning: O Allah, we make Thee our shield against them, and take refuge in Thee from their evils.
This dua was narrated by Abu Musa al-Ash’ari. It is said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) feared a group of people, he would recite this dua.
Benefit of Reciting This Dua:
This dua should be recited whenever you fear someone. It asks Allah to protect you and shield you from them.
Remember: you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. It may be a hard truth to accept, but if you are unhappy with your current circle, you must take a deep look at yourself. Only through self-reflection and awareness can you correct your current path.
Do not let just anyone enter your life—be selective and choose the best. Often, you attract the best by becoming the best version of yourself.
Origins of Takbeer and Why Muslims Recite:
Prophet Ibrahim, may peace be upon him, had a dream. In this dream, he was commanded by Allah subhana wa ta’ala to sacrifice his son Isma’il.
When he told his son about this dream, his son agreed that whatever Allah had ordained, he must follow. Both of them resolved to submit to the will of Allah.
Isma’il lay prostrate with his forehead touching the ground, while his father placed a sharp knife upon his neck.
Right before Ibrahim (a) began moving the knife, Allah called down: “O Ibrahim! You have done My bidding, and now you will be rewarded!”
A large ram was brought as an alternative sacrifice. So instead of killing his son, Ibrahim slaughtered the sheep in the name of Allah.
The angels exclaimed: “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!” Ibrahim heard the angels’ voices and said: “La Ilaha Illallahu Wallahu Akbar”
Isma’il heard this exchange and realized that Allah had relieved him from this great trial, so he said: “Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahil Hamd”
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Illallah Takbeer in Arabic:
Here is the Takbeer in Arabic text, along with its transliteration and English translation:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَاَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْد
Transliteration: Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Ilallah Wallahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahil Hamd
Meaning: Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. There is no deity (no god) besides Allah and Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and to Allah all praises belong.
The Benefit of Takbeer and When One Should Recite:
It is wajib (compulsory) for every adult Muslim to recite Takbeer Tashreeq audibly after Fardh Salat, starting from Fajr of 9 Dhu al-Hijjah until after Asr of 13 Dhu al-Hijjah. This applies whether the Salah was performed individually or in congregation. It should also be recited for Eid al-Adha Salat.
Women are advised to recite it silently.
There is great reward in reciting this during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, as these are venerated days. Allah swore by them in the Quran, which indicates the great benefit inherent in these days.
“By the dawn [this is an oath from Allah. He has the right to swear by any object of His creation (i.e., the sun, the moon, the stars, the dawn, or the angels]; By the ten nights (i.e., the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah)” (Surah Al-Fajr, Ayat 1-2)
It is stated that good deeds during these days are beloved to Allah, as the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) also said: “The days of Tashriq are the days of eating, drinking and remembrance of Allah.”
And what better way to remember Allah than by reciting this Takbeer (saying: Allahu Akbar = Allah’s the greatest) and Tahleel (Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah = There is no deity (no god) besides Allah)?”
About the Author
