This page has the text of Dua al-Istiftah. The best-known wording is right at the top.
The best-known opening dua (short)
The supplication
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
"Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You." Abu Dawud (775) and al-Tirmidhi (243). Umar said it aloud to teach people, as in Sahih Muslim (399).
When do I say it?
- Right after the opening takbir.
- Before seeking refuge and reciting al-Fatihah.
- In the first rak'ah only.
- Quietly, in obligatory and voluntary prayers.
The Bukhari and Muslim wording
The supplication
اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ، اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَايَ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ
"O Allah, distance me from my sins as You distanced the east from the west. O Allah, cleanse me of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. O Allah, wash my sins with water, snow and hail." al-Bukhari (744), Muslim (598).
The "Wajjahtu wajhiya" wording (long)
The supplication
وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Muslim (771), narrated by Ali, with a longer continuation. It opens with words from the Quran:
Surah Al-An'am 6:79
Verified recitation
إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًۭا ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Which wording should I choose?
| Wording | Length | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Subhanaka Allahumma | Short | Abu Dawud 775 |
| Allahumma ba'id bayni | Medium | al-Bukhari 744, Muslim 598 |
| Wajjahtu wajhiya | Long | Muslim 771 |
- Pick one wording per prayer, do not combine them.
- Varying between them across prayers is good.
Ruling, and what if I forget?
- The opening dua is Sunnah, not obligatory.
- If you forget it, your prayer is valid.
- Once you start al-Fatihah, do not go back to it.
- No prostration of forgetfulness is needed. More on that in sujud al-sahw.
Common mistakes
- Saying it after al-Fatihah. Its place is before.
- Repeating it in every rak'ah. It is for the first only.
- Missing al-Fatihah behind the imam because of the long wording. Choose the short one when time is tight.
Frequently asked questions
Is it said in the funeral prayer?
Most scholars hold that it is not, since that prayer is kept brief.
Does the follower say it?
Yes, quietly, while the imam pauses before reciting.
What comes after it?
Seeking refuge, then Bismillah, then al-Fatihah. At the end of the prayer you recite al-Salat al-Ibrahimiyyah. Check the time on prayer times.
Related articles
Data sources
Last updated: 8 October 2026