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رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ.

Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established.

Rabbanaghfir li wa liwalidayya wa lilmu’minina yawma yaqumulhisab.

This is a very beautiful supplication for forgiveness that includes oneself, one’s parents, and every Believer who will ever live. It also shows Prophet Ibraheem’s care for the Believers and his earnest desire for all Believers to be forgiven.

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رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا.

My Lord, have mercy upon them [my parents] as they brought me up [when I was] small.

Rabbirhamhuma kama rabbayani ṣaghira.

This supplication suggests that the more parents do to raise their children, teach them manners, and give them a sound religious upbringing, the more those children become indebted to their parents and should, therefore, supplicate for them as much as possible. In fact, this suggests that anyone who plays a role in someone’s upbringing, nurturing, and mentoring, such as teachers, other members of the family or neighbors, also deserves special prayers and supplications.

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رَبِّ أَدْخِلْنِى مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِى مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَٱجْعَل لِّى مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَٰنًا نَّصِيرًا.

My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority.

Rabbi adkhilni mudkhala ṣidqin waakhrijni mukhraja ṣidqin wajal li min ladunka sultanan naṣira

While many scholars state that the context of this supplication was the Prophet Muhammad’s, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, migration from Makkah to Madeenah, it can also be used in other situations. Indeed, it is a supplication whereby a Muslim asks Allah to grant him or her sincerity in everything they do and in every aspect of their lives. Whatever we seek to undertake and whatever we seek to leave should all be done for the sake of Allah, and so this is a supplication that brings great benefit in almost any situation, by the grace of Allah. It is also a means of asking Allah for strength in carrying out one’s affairs. -At-Tabari and others.

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رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا.

Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair, right guidance.

Rabbana atina milladunka rahmatan wa hayyi’ lana min amrina rashada.

These beautiful words were spoken by the People of the Cave as they sought Allah’s aid in escaping harm and against being forced back into unbelief, just as they asked Allah to grant them the means by which they might attain guidance and wellbeing in this life and the next. Hence, Allah answered their prayers, and we ask Allah to answer our prayers whenever we utter the words they spoke. -Tafseer As-Sa’di.

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رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي. وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى. وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِى. يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى.

My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance]. And ease for me my task. And untie the knot from my tongue. That they may understand my speech.

Rabbishshrah li ṣadri. Wa yassir li amri. wahlul uqdatan min lisani. yafqahu qawli

This is a particularly helpful supplication for anyone seeking to advise others or help them see right from wrong. A person who lacks patience and forbearance when dealing with others is not someone who is fit for advising others or for helping them to learn. Likewise, to be able to articulate one’s thoughts is also a necessary quality for the same objective. -Tafseer As-Sa’di and others.

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 رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَآ أَوْ أَن يَطْغَىٰ.

Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress.

Rabbana innana nakhafu an yafruta alayna aw an yatgha

Spoken by Musa and Harun, this supplication is a means by which Allah protects His believing servants from the undeserved punishment and unjust transgression of tyrants and other evildoers. -Most tafseer state the same general meanings.

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رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا.

My Lord, increase me in knowledge.

Rabbi zidni ilma.

Scholars point out that knowledge is the only thing the Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, was commanded to ask for more of. This is indicative of the importance and honor of knowledge, and shows that it is the starting point for every act of worship. Indeed, the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam continued to seek knowledge from Allah until his death.

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(رَبِّ) أَنِّيْ مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ.

Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.

(Rabbi) Anni massaniyaḍḍurru wa Anta Arhamurrahimin.

This supplication shows the manners with which Prophet Ayyub dealt with Allah. Despite being tested with enormous hardship in the form of disease, the loss of all his wealth, and the loss of all his children, Prophet Ayyub remained patient and accepted everything that was decreed for him. Rather than overtly ask Allah to heal him, Ayyub simply described his hardship in a way that understated its severity, and then described Allah as being the Most Merciful of those who are merciful. Indeed, Allah seeks no compensation for His mercy from His creation. A merciful person, on the other hand, will always seek some form of recompense, whether it is compensation in this life or the Hereafter, or non-material compensation such as a compliment or an honorable reputation. -Ibn ‘Ashoor.

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لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ.

There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.

La ilaha illa Anta subhanaka inni kuntu minadh dhalimin.

In the context of this supplication, “La ilaha illa anta” is an affirmation that Allah’s unique mercy, graciousness, and benevolence are all part of why He is the only deity deserving of worship, love ,and veneration. “Subhanak” states that Allah is free of any form of injustice or wrongdoing, or any other quality that is inappropriate to the Only Deity worthy of worship. Hence, in this supplication, Prophet Yunus states unequivocally that the hardship and difficulty that he was inflicted with was a product of his own doing and not something that Allah could be accountable for in any way. Prophet Yunus affirms his guilt explicitly and says, “I was of the wrongdoers”, and so all affirmations in this invocation were the means by which Prophet Yunus sought and received Allah’s deliverance and forgiveness. Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, authentically stated that anyone who makes this supplication will be granted deliverance from their hardship or tribulation, and so it is important to keep these meanings in mind when supplicating using these words. -Majmoo’ Fatawa Ibn Taymiyah.

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رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ.

My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while you are the best of inheritors.

Rabbi la tadharni fardawwa Anta khayrulwarithin.

While Prophet Zakariyyah knew that Allah would convey the message of Tawheed to later generations, one way or another, he still wanted his own offspring to have a share in this honor and privilege. Hence, in his old age, and out of fear that he might die without being granted an heir to prophethood, he made this supplication and asked Allah for a child. Allah blessed him with Prophet Yahya who continued to carry the message to the Children of Israel. -Tafseer As-Sa’di and others.

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رَبِّ أَنزِلْنِى مُنزَلًا مُّبَارَكًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ.

My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to accommodate [us].

Rabbi anzilni munzalan mubarakan waanta khayru lmunzilin

A “blessed landing place” can be any arrival destination or place that a person may visit and ask that Allah bless and protect against calamity or any evil. -Tafseer Tantawi.