Morning Duas: What to Recite When You Wake Up

Why the Morning Dua Matters

The words a person says on waking set the tone for the whole day. In the sunnah, the first sentence after waking is one of gratitude — recognising that sleep is a small death and waking a small resurrection. The supplications below are transmitted from the Prophet and are said in the morning to begin the day under Allah's protection.

1. The Waking Dua (The First Words)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said this as soon as he woke:

Arabic:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِي اَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا اَمَاتَنَا وَاِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

Alḥamdu lillāhi'llaḏī aḥyānā baʿda mā amātanā wa ilayhi'n-nushūr.

Meaning:

"Praise be to Allah who gave us life after He caused us to die, and to Him is the return."

— Bukhari, Da'awat, 7

2. The Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum Supplication

The Prophet advised his daughter Fatimah to recite this morning and evening:

Arabic:

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ، أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، وَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ

Yā Ḥayyu yā Qayyūm, bi-raḥmatika astaghīth. Aṣliḥ lī sha'nī kullah, wa lā takilnī ilā nafsī ṭarfata ʿayn.

Meaning:

"O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all existence! By Your mercy I seek help. Set right all my affairs, and do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye."

— Nasa'i, as-Sunan al-Kubra

3. The Morning and Evening Protection (The Three Quls)

The Prophet recommended reciting these three surahs three times each, morning and evening:

• Surah Al-Ikhlas (3 times)
• Surah Al-Falaq (3 times)
• Surah An-Nas (3 times)

Hadith:

"Recite Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times when you reach the morning and when you reach the evening. They will suffice you against everything." — Tirmidhi, Da'awat, 116

4. The Morning Tasbih (The Most Virtuous)

The remembrances recited after the morning prayer:

• 33 times Subhanallah
• 33 times Alhamdulillah
• 33 times Allahu akbar
• once "La ilaha illa'llahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahu'l-mulku wa lahu'l-hamdu, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir"

It is narrated that whoever recites these will be forgiven even if their sins were as much as the foam of the sea (Muslim, Masajid, 146).

5. The Morning Supplication of Refuge

Taught by the Prophet to his Companions:

Arabic:

اَللّٰهُمَّ بِكَ اَصْبَحْنَا وَبِكَ اَمْسَيْنَا، وَبِكَ نَحْيَا وَبِكَ نَمُوتُ، وَاِلَيْكَ النُّشُورُ

Allāhumma bika aṣbaḥnā wa bika amsaynā, wa bika naḥyā wa bika namūtu, wa ilayka'n-nushūr.

Meaning:

"O Allah, by You we reach the morning and by You we reach the evening. By You we live and by You we die, and to You is the return."

— Tirmidhi, Da'awat, 13

A Practical Morning Order

If you are starting out, this order is easy to keep:

1. On opening your eyes — the waking dua
2. After the morning prayer — the tasbih (33 / 33 / 33 + 1)
3. The three Quls, three times each
4. Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum
5. Your own supplication, in your own words

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I forget and remember later in the day?

Say it when you remember. These are voluntary acts of remembrance, not obligations with a fixed cut-off; the intention and the habit are what matter.

Do I need ablution to recite them?

No. These supplications may be recited without ablution and in any state, at any time.

Morning Dua Reminders in the Nurlu App

The Nurlu app can remind you of the morning supplications at the time you choose, with:

• the original Arabic text
• transliteration and meaning
• audio recitation

all free of charge.