With Muharram comes the beginning of the new Islamic year, 1446 AH. Along with being the first month of the Hijri calendar, it is also one of the four sacred months of Allah (SWT).  

“The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the Heavens and the Earths. The year is made up of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred. Three are in succession: Dhul Qadah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumada al-Thani and Sha’ban.” 

Sahih Al-Bukhari

As a sacred month, the rewards of doing good deeds in Muharram are substantial. It is a time that gives us a great opportunity to reflect on the past year and renew our intentions. While also seeking Allah (SWT)’s blessings for the coming year.  

One of the best ways to ask Allah (SWT) for guidance and support is through heartfelt du’a, for, as the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “du’a is the essence of worship.” (Tirmidhi) 

There are many du’as you can make to Allah (SWT), from asking for good health to seeking forgiveness. To help you get started, we’ve prepared a list of 5 important du’as you can learn for the Islamic New Year. 

Du’a for a New Month 

‘Abdullah ibn Hisham (RA) reported that the Sahabah (companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) would learn the following Du’a for upon the start of a new month or new year:  

Allahumma adkhilhu ‘alayna bil amni wal iman, was salamati wal islam, wa jiwarim minash shaytan, wa ridwanim minar Rahman. 

اللّهم أَدْخِلْهُ عَلينا بِالأمْنِ وَالإيمان، وَالسَّلامَةِ وَالإسْلام، وِجوارٍ مِّنَ الشَّيْطان، وَرِضْوَانٍ مِّنَ الرَّحْمن 

“O Allah, bring this [month or year] upon us with security, iman, safety, Islam, protection from shaytan, and your pleasure.”

Baghawi and Tabarani

This du’a is a general prayer for the arrival of the new month or year. One we should say if we wish for the incoming season to be filled with success and spiritual growth. 

Du’a for Seeking Forgiveness 

If you’ve been meaning to make a fresh start, use the Islamic New Year as one! Take this time as a chance to reflect on past actions. To seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT) and make it a regular habit moving forward.  

This du’a, in particular, is one to use if you want to start the new year with a clean slate. It’s a supplication that acknowledges our imperfections and seeks Allah SWT’s forgiveness in the best way. For the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah SWT is: 

Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta. Khalaqtani wa ana `Abduka, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa Wa’dika mastata’tu abu’u Laka bi ni ‘matika wa abu’u Laka bidhanbi; faghfirli fa’innahu la yaghfiru-dh-dhunuba ill a ant a. A’uidhu bika min sharri ma sana’tu.

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ، وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ‏.‏ إِذَا قَالَ حِينَ يُمْسِي فَمَاتَ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ ـ أَوْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ـ وَإِذَا قَالَ حِينَ يُصْبِحُ فَمَاتَ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ ‏”‏‏ 

“O Allah! You are my Lord. None has the right to be worshipped except You. You created me and I am your servant and I abide by your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in you from the evil, which I have committed. I acknowledge your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sins, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive sin except you.” 

Bukhari

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ ), he the same hadith, also said, “If somebody recites this invocation during the night, and if he should die then, he will go to Paradise (or he will be from the people of Paradise). And if he recites it in the morning, and if he should die on the same day, he will have the same fate.”  

Du’a for a Sound Heart and Beneficial Knowledge 

Seeking knowledge is highly encouraged in Islam. So is Tazkiyah, which is the highest level of Ihsan (excellence). It purifies our hearts and brings us closer to the One who created us and all knowledge. So, what better way to seek knowledge than to ask Allah (SWT)’s help in attaining it and a sound heart?  

Abu Hurairah (RA) said, “One of the supplications that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say was:  

Allahumma inni a’uzu bika min ‘ilmin la yanfa’, wa min du’a-in la yusma’, wa min qalbin la yakhsha’, wa min nafsin la tashba’.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ, وَمِنْ دُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ, وَمَنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ, وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ 

“O Allah, I seek refuge with You from knowledge that does not bring benefit, from a supplication that is not heard, from a heart that does not fear (You) and from a soul that never satisfies.” 

Sunan Ibn Majah

Du’a for Comprehensive Security  

When we need to ask Allah (SWT) for security against any distress, grief, hardship, harm, trials and tribulations, all of that and much more is included in this short, but powerful dua. 

Allahumma inni as’alukal-‘afwa wal-‘aafiyah(ta) fid-dunya wal-aakhirah 

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ 

O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in this world and in the Hereafter. 

This du’a draws from a hadith recorded by Al-Bukhari, where Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated, 

“A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allāh, which supplication is the best?’  

He (ﷺ) said: ‘Ask Your Lord for pardon and well-being in this world and the Hereafter’.  

Then he came to him the next day and said: ‘O Prophet of Allāh, which supplication is the best?’  

He (ﷺ) said: ‘Ask Your Lord for pardon (afwa) and well-being (aafiyah) in this world and the Hereafter, for if you are granted well-being in this life and in the Hereafter, then you have indeed succeeded.” 

What is Afiyah? 

Afiyah means having complete protection from afflictions, good health, forgiveness of Allah (SWT) and means to provide for you and your family.  

Basically, Afiyah encompasses every form of security you can think of. This includes both for the Dunya and Akhirah. Hence, why the Prophet (ﷺ) told us to wish for ‘afiyah in our du’as.  

Du’a for Anxiety and Sorrow 

Du’a is a powerful tool for seeking solace and relief in difficult times. It is a heartfelt conversation with our Creator, where we express our deepest concerns and seek comfort and guidance.  

Allāhumma innī `abduk, ibnu `abdik, ibnu amatik, nāsiyatī biyadik, māḍin fiyya ḥukmuk, `adlun fiyya qaḍā’uk, as’aluka bikullis’min huwa lak, sammayta bihi nafsak, aw anzaltahu fī kitābik, aw `allamtahu aḥadan min khalqik, aw‘ista’tharta bihi fī `ilmil-ghaybi `indak, an taj`ala ‘l-Qur’āna rabī`a qalbī, wa nūra ṣadrī, wa jalā’a ḥuznī, wa dhahāba hammī.  

اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّي عَبْـدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْـدِكَ ابْنُ أَمَتِـكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَـدِكَ مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤكَ أَسْأَلُـكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّـيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ أِوْ أَنْزَلْتَـهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ أَوْ عَلَّمْـتَهُ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِـكَ أَوِ اسْتَـأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الغَيْـبِ عِنْـدَكَ أَنْ تَجْـعَلَ القُرْآنَ رَبِيـعَ قَلْبِـي وَنورَ صَـدْرِي وجَلَاءَ حُـزْنِي وذَهَابَ هَمِّـي 

“O Allah, I am Your slave, and the son of Your male slave, and the son of your female slave. My forehead is in Your Hand (i.e. you have control over me). Your Judgment upon me is assured, and Your Decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every Name that You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your Book, taught any one of Your creation, or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You, to make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness, and the reliever of my distress.” 

 Hisn al-Muslim 

Start of the Islamic New Year Well with Du’a

Making du’a is a reminder for us that we are not alone in our struggles. In this time when many of us worry if we’re doing enough for our brothers and sisters suffering around the world, making du’a can help bring you a sense of ease.  

For it’s by asking Allah (SWT) for guidance on how to support our ummah struggling in Gaza, Sudan and all over the world that we can find strength and hope.  

As we embark on the Islamic New Year, making heartfelt du’as can bring us closer to Allah (SWT). Let use this time moving forward to seek His (SWT) guidance, forgiveness, and blessings. To express our dependence on Him (SWT) and renew our intentions to improve ourselves spiritually and outwardly.  

May Allah (SWT) accept our du’as and grant us a blessed and successful year, ameen!