Dua for Umrah: Authentic Duas Every Pilgrim Should Recite
A quick search through Google for “dua for Umrah” will reveal countless booklets, images, and even PDFs that have been reproduced so many times that one is unsure about source of the wording of dua itself. While some du’a are undoubtedly valid, others may be based purely on cultural traditions and not on the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and Muslims are reciting the du’a unknowingly since they are not really authentic at all. As mentioned before, the approach adopted in this article is somewhat different from other Umrah dua articles. Unlike other du’a articles, which list only the fixed ritual du’a of Umrah in step-by-step manner (this is discussed in detail in our guide “Essential Umrah Duas & Supplications“), this article discusses how du’a are authenticated, the etiquette of making du’a in Umrah, and additional du’a for parents, forgiveness, and personal use. What Makes a Dua “Authentic”? In Islamic jurisprudence, a dua is seen to be authentic if the wording of the dua can be traced to one of three sources: That which cannot be termed as an authentic dua would include those du’a that have only been orally transferred culturally, loosely translated from other languages or from “a hadith” without any authentic source of the hadith, which occurs quite often than what pilgrims can imagine, especially those dua presented in pictures on social media sites. Common Fabricated or Weak Duas to Watch For There are few things that could come in handy to know before your pilgrimage: Whenever you have doubts about authenticity of some dua, there is always a way to check it with an Islamic scholar, reliable hadith app, or your tour group’s imam in a matter of minutes. The Etiquette of Making Dua During Umrah Apart from the actual wording of the dua, its style is of equal importance: Many British pilgrims visiting the Ka’aba for the first-time feel awkward about making their individual dua aloud in front of others at such places as Masjid al-Haram. It is worth remembering that all those people around you are doing exactly the same. Best Times to Make Dua During Umrah There are certain times during Umrah which are considered favorable for dua according to the Sunnah of the Prophet: Including some of these times in your daily life during your stay in Makkah, instead of doing dua only as part of the ritual, will make the whole trip more spiritual. Authentic Dua for Parents One of the most popularly recited duas in the Quran, especially after finishing duas of Umrah, is dua for one’s parents: Arabic: رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا Transliteration: Rabbi irhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira Translation: “My Lord, have mercy upon them as they raised me when I was small.” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:24) It is often recited while performing Tawaf, Sa’i, or even when there are some moments of peace in Masjid al-Haram, and many people from the UK come here on Umrah to make dua for their parents, who cannot make it here. Authentic Dua for Forgiveness The following dua is a popular prayer for seeking forgiveness, derived from Sahih hadith: Arabic: رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ Transliteration: Rabbighfir li wa tub ‘alayya innaka antat-tawwabur-rahim Translation: “My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance, for You are the Ever-Relenting, the Most Merciful.” This is a good one to pray repeatedly in quiet times, especially after your Umrah when you are in Makkah. Authentic Dua for the Wider Ummah It’s also Sunnah to make dua not only for yourself but for the broader Muslim community, especially in a place like Masjid al-Haram where pilgrims from across the world are gathered together: Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ Transliteration: Allahummaghfir lil-mu’minina wal-mu’minat Translation: “O Allah, forgive the believing men and believing women.” How to Verify a Dua Before You Travel If there is a dua that you are unfamiliar with prior to your travel: Final Thoughts Saying a true dua in Umrah is not just about reciting the words correctly; rather, it is important to know where the words are coming from and what they mean along with having the appropriate etiquettes to say it. Besides the duas prescribed in our Essential Duas for Umrah guide and the entire sequence of rituals included in our Complete Umrah Guide, this article will provide a better understanding of how dua relates to process of performing Umrah in general. If you are in the process of planning the trip, check out our Umrah packages from UK. Frequently Asked Questions Is it necessary to recite dua in Arabic specifically? The ritual duas are always recited in Arabic, however personal supplications can be made in English or any language you prefer. Can I make up my own dua during Umrah? Yes. Along with the prescribed dua to be recited for every ritual, personal dua can also be made throughout the journey in your own words. Are duas found in Umrah apps generally reliable? Although many credible Umrah applications obtain the duas from the Holy Quran and Hadith literature, it is always wise to make sure that the application refers to its source. Why do some Umrah booklets contain different wording for the same dua? It is possible that many of the differences in the wording may result from the translator’s interpretation or slight differences in narrations of the authentic hadiths, but not necessarily that one of them is right while the other is wrong. Should I memorise dua or is reading from a card acceptable? Reading from a card, booklet, or mobile phone is completely fine. There are many people who have memorised the short and often recited duas such as Talbiyah and read the others in quieter times. The ritual duas are always recited in Arabic, however personal supplications can be made in English or any language you prefer. Yes. Along with the prescribed dua to be recited for every ritual, personal dua can also be made throughout the journey in your own words. Although many credible
