Duas for Kids: The Essential List (Arabic, Meaning, Source)

Duas are some of the first words of faith a child ever says. A two-year-old’s “Bismillah!” before a biscuit, a five-year-old’s sleepy “Bismika Allahumma” at bedtime: these small moments teach children that Allah is part of everything, from the dinner table to the front door.

This is our complete everyday list, grouped by the moments of a child’s day. Every dua has the Arabic copied from Hisn al-Muslim or the Qur’an, an easy transliteration, the meaning, a line in a child’s words, and its source with the hadith grade. At the end you’ll find a printable list by age.

How to teach a dua

1. One at a time. A new dua every week or two is plenty. Move on when the last one feels easy.
2. In context, every time. Teach the eating dua at meals, the leaving dua at the front door. A dua tied to its moment sticks; a dua drilled from a list fades.
3. Arabic, then meaning. Say the Arabic together, then one short line in your own language: “Bismillah. We start with Allah’s name.”
4. Let them finish it. Pause before the last word. Children love completing a phrase.
5. Model it out loud. Children who hear you say your duas will say theirs.
6. Celebrate, don’t test. “You said the leaving dua all by yourself!” beats a quiz at dinner.

Morning and night

Waking up

Evidence · Hadith

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur · All praise is for Allah, who gave us life after He had caused us to die, and to Him is the rising.

For your child: “Thank you, Allah, for waking me up!”

Say it together as you open the curtains. Sleep is called a small death in this dua, so waking up is a gift to say thank you for.

Before sleeping

Evidence · Hadith

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya · In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.

For your child: “Allah, I go to sleep and wake up with Your name.”

The last words of the day. For the full routine, with the three Quls and Ayat al-Kursi, see our bedtime duas and routine.

Food

Before eating

Evidence · Hadith

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

Bismillah · In the name of Allah.

For your child: “I start with Allah’s name.”

The Prophet ﷺ taught this to a boy at his table: “Young man, mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376). If your child forgets at the start, they can say Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirah, “in the name of Allah, at its beginning and its end” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3767).

After eating

Evidence · Hadith

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلاَ قُوَّةٍ

Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi at’amani hadha, wa razaqanihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah · All praise is for Allah, who fed me this and provided it for me, without any power or strength of my own.

For your child: “Thank you, Allah, for my food. You gave it to me.”

Little ones can start with just Alhamdulillah and grow into the full dua around seven.

Home and travel

Leaving home

Evidence · Hadith

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ

Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah · In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah; there is no might and no power except with Allah.

For your child: “I go out with Allah’s name, and Allah looks after me.”

The hadith says that the one who says this is told: “You are guided, protected and kept safe.” A lovely send-off at the school gate.

Coming home

Evidence · Hadith

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

Bismillah · In the name of Allah.

For your child: “We say Allah’s name when we come home, so our home is full of good.”

The Prophet ﷺ said that when a person remembers Allah on entering the home and at mealtimes, Shaytan tells his companions there is no place for them to stay and no dinner. The hadith doesn’t give fixed words, so Bismillah is a simple way to remember Allah at the door. Follow it with a warm assalamu alaikum to whoever is home.

Riding in a car, bus or plane

Evidence · Hadith

سُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقْرِنِينَ ﴿١٣﴾ وَإِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ ﴿١٤﴾

Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun · Glory to the One who has made this of service to us, for we could never have done it ourselves, and to our Lord we will surely return.

For your child: “Thank you, Allah, for this car that carries us. We couldn’t do it without You.”

In the hadith, ʿAli (RA) said Bismillah as he mounted and Alhamdulillah once seated, then these words, and said he saw the Prophet ﷺ do the same. Say it as you buckle up for the school run.

Entering the masjid

Evidence · Hadith

اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ

Allahummaf-tah li abwaba rahmatik · O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy.

For your child: “Allah, open Your doors of kindness for me.”

Teach it on the steps of the masjid, with the right foot first.

Toilet and dressing

Entering the toilet

Evidence · Hadith

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ

Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-khubuthi wal-khaba’ith · O Allah, I seek refuge with You from evil and from evil beings.

For your child: “Allah, please keep me safe from bad things.”

Say it at the door, before going in. It fits naturally into toilet training.

Leaving the toilet

Evidence · Hadith

غُفْرَانَكَ

Ghufranak · I ask for Your forgiveness.

For your child: “Allah, please forgive me.”

One word. Most children learn it in a day.

Getting dressed

Evidence · Hadith

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي كَسَانِي هَذَا الثَّوْبَ وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلاَ قُوَّةٍ

Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi kasani hadhath-thawba wa razaqanihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah · All praise is for Allah, who clothed me with this garment and provided it for me, without any power or strength of my own.

For your child: “Thank you, Allah, for my clothes.”

It has the same shape as the after-eating dua, so children who know one learn the other quickly.

Feelings

When angry

Evidence · Hadith

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A’udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim · I seek refuge with Allah from Shaytan, the rejected.

For your child: “Allah, help me calm down and keep Shaytan away.”

The Prophet ﷺ saw a man red in the face with anger and said that if he said these words, his anger would leave him. Practise it when everyone is calm, so it’s ready when feelings run high. Pair it with a slow breath or a drink of water.

When scared or worried

Evidence · Hadith

حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ

Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal wakil · Allah is enough for us, and He is the best One to rely on.

For your child: “Allah is with me. Allah is enough.”

Ibn ʿAbbas (RA) said these were the words of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when he was thrown into the fire, and of the Prophet ﷺ when people tried to frighten the believers (Sahih al-Bukhari 4563). Children love that story. Tell it, then teach the words.

After sneezing

Evidence · Hadith

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ

Alhamdulillah · All praise is for Allah.

For your child: “Thank you, Allah!”

Whoever hears it replies Yarhamukallah (may Allah have mercy on you), and the sneezer answers Yahdikumullahu wa yuslihu balakum (may Allah guide you and set your affairs right). It’s a three-part game children never tire of.

When something good happens

Evidence · Hadith

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ

Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi bi ni’matihi tatimmus-salihat · All praise is for Allah, by whose blessing good things are completed.

For your child: “Thank you, Allah, for making good things happen.”

When something goes wrong

Evidence · Hadith

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ

Alhamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal · All praise is for Allah in every situation.

For your child: “Thank you, Allah, even when things are hard.”

The same hadith gives both: the Prophet ﷺ said the first when he saw something he liked and the second when he saw something he disliked. It’s a gentle way to teach gratitude that doesn’t depend on a good day.

For parents and others

For mum and dad

Evidence · Qur’an

رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

Rabbir-hamhuma kama rabbayani saghira · My Lord, have mercy on them both, as they raised me when I was small.

For your child: “Allah, please be kind to my mum and dad, like they look after me.”

A dua from the Qur’an that children can say after salah or at bedtime. Hearing your child make dua for you is one of the sweetest moments in parenting.

To say thank you

Evidence · Hadith

جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْراً

Jazakallahu khayran · May Allah reward you with good.

For your child: “Thank you, and may Allah give you something good back!”

The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever says this to someone who has done them a favour has praised them as fully as they can. Teach it for teachers, grandparents and the friend who shared a snack.

For someone who is ill

Evidence · Hadith

لاَ بأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

La ba’sa, tahurun in sha Allah · No harm; it is a cleansing, if Allah wills.

For your child: “Don’t worry. Allah will make you better, in sha Allah.”

The Prophet ﷺ said this when visiting the sick. Children can say it to a poorly sibling or grandparent, or on a get-well card.

For anyone, in any words

There’s no fixed wording for praying for a friend, and that’s the beauty of it.

Evidence · Hadith

“There is no Muslim who prays for his brother in his absence except that the angel says: ‘And for you the same.’”

Tell your child: “When you pray for your friend, an angel prays the same for you.” Then ask, “Who shall we pray for tonight?” Our guide to teaching kids to make their own dua has more ideas.

For learning

Evidence · Qur’an

وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًۭا

Rabbi zidni ‘ilma · My Lord, increase me in knowledge.

For your child: “Allah, help me learn more.”

The verse begins wa qul, “and say”, so children say Rabbi zidni ‘ilma. A short dua for the walk into school, before homework or a test.

For good in this life and the next

Evidence · Qur’an

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil-akhirati hasanah, wa qina ‘adhaban-nar · Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

For your child: “Allah, give us good things now and good things forever.”

Printable list

Print this and stick it on the fridge. Tick a dua when your child can say it on their own (a happy tick, never a cross).

Starter set: ages 3–6

Extended set: ages 7–9

When these feel easy, a short set of morning and evening adhkar for kids is a lovely next step. Duas sit naturally alongside everyday manners too; see our Islamic manners checklist. And for the duas you can make for your children, see duas for your children.