Hisnul Muslim: the Fortress of the Muslim, invocations of the Prophet ﷺ

The Fortress of the Muslim

A collection of invocations of the Prophet ﷺ

On Waking

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
"Alhamdulillahil-ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur"
"Praise be to Allah who brought us back to life after having caused us to die, and to Him is the resurrection."
[Reported by Al-Bukhari]

Morning Invocations

أَصْبَحْنَا وَأَصْبَحَ الْمُلْكُ لِلَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
"Asbahna wa asbahal-mulku lillah, walhamdulillah"
"We have reached the morning, and to Allah belongs all sovereignty this morning. Praise be to Allah."
[Reported by Muslim]

Evening Invocations

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
"A'udhu bikalimatil-lahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq"
"I seek protection in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created."
[Reported by Muslim]

Before Sleeping

بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
"Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya"
"In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live."
[Reported by Al-Bukhari]

On Entering the Mosque

اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
"Allahumma ftah li abwaba rahmatik"
"O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy."
[Reported by Muslim]

On Leaving the Mosque

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
"Allahumma inni as'aluka min fadlik"
"O Allah, I ask You for Your immense bounty."
[Reported by Muslim]

Before Eating

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
"Bismillah"
"In the name of Allah."
[Reported by Abu Dawud]

After Eating

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَجَعَلَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
"Alhamdulillahi-lladhi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alana minal muslimin"
"Praise be to Allah who has fed us, given us drink and made us Muslims."
[Reported by Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]

The Verse of the Throne (Ayat Al-Kursi)

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
"Allahu la ilaha illa huwa Al-Hayyul-Qayyum. La ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm. Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-'ard. Man dhal-ladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-idhnih. Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum. Wa la yuhituna bi-shay'in min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'. Wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-'ard. Wa la ya'uduhu hifdhuhuma. Wa huwal-'Aliyyul-'Adhim."
"Allah, there is no deity but Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and on the earth. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows their past and their future. And of His knowledge they grasp nothing except what He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation costs Him no trouble. And He is the Most High, the Most Great."
[Quran, Surah 2, Verse 255]

Invocation in Distress

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
"La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka, inni kuntu mina-z-zalimin"
"There is no deity but You, glory be to You, I have indeed been among the wrongdoers."
[Quran, Surah 21, Verse 87]

In Anxiety or Sadness

حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
"Hasbuna Allahu wa ni'ma al-wakil"
"Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs."
[Quran, Surah 3, Verse 173]

Invocation to Ask for Paradise

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ
"Allahumma inni as'alukal-jannata wa a'udhu bika minan-nar"
"O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and I seek refuge with You from the Fire."
[Reported by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah]

Asking for Forgiveness

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ
"Astaghfirullah"
"I ask Allah for forgiveness."
[Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]

While Travelling

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى
"Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda"
"O Allah, we ask You on this journey for righteousness, piety, and deeds that please You."
[Reported by Muslim]

During a Storm

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا
"Allahumma inni as'aluka khayraha wa a'udhu bika min sharriha"
"O Allah, I ask You for its good and I seek refuge with You from its evil."
[Reported by Abu Dawud]

The Last Three Surahs (Al-Mu'awwidhat) - Al-Ikhlas

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ۝ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ۝ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ۝ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
"Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahu-s-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad."
"Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. And there is none comparable to Him."
[Quran, Surah 112]

Al-Falaq

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ۝ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ۝ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ۝ وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ ۝ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
"Qul a'udhu bi-rabbil-falaq. Min sharri ma khalaq. Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffathati fil 'uqad. Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad."
"Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of what He has created, from the evil of darkness when it settles, from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies."
[Quran, Surah 113]

An-Nas

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ۝ مَلِكِ النَّاسِ ۝ إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ ۝ مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ ۝ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ ۝ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاسِ
"Qul a'udhu bi-rabbin-nas. Malikin-nas. Ilahin-nas. Min sharril-waswasil-khannas. Alladhi yuwaswisu fi sudurin-nas. Minal-jinnati wan-nas."
"Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the retreating whisperer, who whispers evil into the breasts of mankind, whether he be of the jinn or of mankind."
[Quran, Surah 114]

On Beginning the Ablutions

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
"Bismillah"
"In the name of Allah."
[Reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Ahmad]

After the Ablutions

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
"Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluhu"
"I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone, who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger."
[Reported by Muslim]

Invocation to Make a Difficulty Easy

اللَّهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إِلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلًا، وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلًا
"Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja'altahu sahlan, wa anta taj'alul-hazna idha shi'ta sahlan"
"O Allah, nothing is easy except what You have made easy, and You can, if You will, turn hardship into ease."
[Reported by Ibn Hibban]

On Entering the Home

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَلَجْنَا، وَبِسْمِ اللَّهِ خَرَجْنَا، وَعَلَى رَبِّنَا تَوَكَّلْنَا
"Bismillahi walajna, wa bismillahi kharajna, wa 'ala rabbina tawakkalna"
"In the name of Allah we enter, in the name of Allah we leave, and in our Lord we place our trust."
[Reported by Abu Dawud]

On Lying Down

بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، فَإِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
"Bismika rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bika arfa'uhu, fa-in amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsaltaha fahfazha bima tahfazu bihi 'ibadaka-s-salihin"
"In Your name, my Lord, I lie down, and by You I rise. If You take my soul, have mercy on it, and if You send it back, protect it as You protect Your righteous servants."
[Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]

Formula of Glorification (Tasbih)

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ
"Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, subhan-Allahil-'azim"
"Glory and praise be to Allah, glory be to Allah the Most Great."
[Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]

The Best Formula for Asking Forgiveness

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
"Allahumma anta rabbi, la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana 'abduka, wa ana 'ala 'ahdika wa wa'dika ma-stata'tu. A'udhu bika min sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u laka bi ni'matika 'alayya, wa abu'u bi dhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfiru-dh-dhunuba illa anta"
"O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no deity but You. You created me and I am Your servant. I keep to my covenant and my promise to You as far as I can. I seek refuge with You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge Your favours upon me and I acknowledge my sin. Forgive me, for none but You forgives sins."
[Reported by Bukhari]

On Visiting a Sick Person

لَا بَأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
"La ba'sa tahurun in sha Allah"
"No harm, it is a purification, if Allah wills."
[Reported by Bukhari]




Hisnul Muslim: discover the authentic hadiths of the fortress of the Muslim

The Hisnul Muslim, translated as "The Fortress of the Muslim", is a precious compilation of prophetic invocations and supplications. This collection gathers the most authentic duas drawn from the Quran and the Sunnah, together with their detailed references in the recognised hadith collections.

Among the best-known invocations is the one for waking: "Al-hamdu lillahi alladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhi an-nushur" (Praise be to Allah who gave us life after having caused us to die, and to Him is the resurrection). This dua is reported by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih. The morning and evening invocations also hold a central place in this collection.

The book also contains the formulas of protection recited after each prayer. The invocation "Allahumma a'inni 'ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni 'ibadatik" (O Allah, help me to remember You, to thank You and to worship You in the best way) is reported by Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i. These supplications strengthen the bond between the believer and his Creator.

The hadith references given in Hisnul Muslim come mainly from the six authentic collections: Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Sunan An-Nasa'i and Sunan Ibn Majah. This scholarly rigour guarantees the authenticity of the texts offered to Muslims.

The work covers every aspect of daily life: invocations before meals, while travelling, in illness or in difficulty. It is a genuine practical guide for living according to the teachings of the prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Muslims find in it the exact formulas to recite in every situation, together with their translation and their authenticated prophetic source.

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Frequently asked questions

You may be wondering…

What is Hisnul Muslim?

Hisnul Muslim, the Fortress of the Muslim, is a collection of invocations (duas) drawn from the Quran and the Sunnah. Compiled by Sheikh Sa'id Al-Qahtani, it gathers the formulas the Prophet ﷺ recited in the situations of daily life, each one with its reference in the recognised hadith collections.

Which invocations does this Hisnul Muslim page contain?

The page presents the invocations for waking, for morning and evening, before sleeping, on entering and leaving the mosque, before and after the meal, the Verse of the Throne, the invocations for distress, anxiety and forgiveness, for travel and during a storm, the last three surahs, the formulas of the ablutions, the tasbih and the visit to the sick.

Which invocation should be said on waking according to Hisnul Muslim?

On waking, the Muslim says: Al-hamdu lillahi alladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhi an-nushur, that is: Praise be to Allah who gave us life after having caused us to die, and to Him is the resurrection. This invocation is reported by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih.

What are the sources of the invocations of Hisnul Muslim?

The references come mainly from the six great collections: Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Sunan An-Nasa'i and Sunan Ibn Majah, as well as from the Quran for passages such as Ayat Al-Kursi or the surahs Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas. Every dua gives its source.

How can Hisnul Muslim be used day to day?

Every invocation is given in Arabic, in transliteration and in English translation, so that it can be learned and recited at the right moment: on rising, before eating, while travelling, in times of difficulty or before going to bed. These exact formulas strengthen the believer's bond with his Creator by following the example of the Prophet ﷺ.

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