Dua Before Salah — Opening Prayers and Supplications
Quick Answer: Before entering salah, recite: the Iftitah dua (opening supplication after Takbir): 'Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk.' Then seek refuge from Shaytan (A'udhu billah), then Bismillah before Al-Fatiha. This sequence prepares your heart and is Sunnah.
The opening of salah sets the tone for everything that follows. Just as you wouldn't enter a meeting with an important person distracted and unprepared, the Sunnah gives us a sequence to prepare the heart for standing before Allah.
The Complete Opening Sequence
After the opening Takbir (Allahu Akbar), place your right hand over your left on your chest. Then recite the Iftitah dua silently. Then say A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim (silently). Then Bismillahir-rahmanir-raheem. Then begin Al-Fatiha. This sequence takes approximately 20 seconds and transforms the quality of focus in the prayer that follows.
Step-by-Step Guide
Make sincere intention (niyyah) — Before Takbir, make your intention silently: 'I intend to pray [name of prayer] for the sake of Allah.'
Say Allahu Akbar with presence — The Takbir is your declaration that Allah is Greater — greater than your worries, your phone, your to-do list.
Recite Iftitah dua — The opening supplication. Different scholars recommend slightly different versions — all are valid.
Seek refuge from Shaytan — A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim — especially important for those who struggle with waswasa in prayer.
Begin Al-Fatiha with Bismillah — The prayer proper begins. Your heart should now be engaged and prepared.
Quran & Hadith
وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ
Wa qumu lillahi qanitteen
And stand before Allah in devout obedience — Quran 2:238
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iftitah dua?
The most common Iftitah dua is: 'Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk' — meaning: Glory and praise be to You, O Allah; Your name is blessed; Your majesty is exalted; and there is no god but You.