Why teach children masnoon duain?
Masnoon duain are the supplications the Prophet ﷺ made at particular moments of the day. Teaching them to children builds remembrance of Allah into daily routine: before food, before sleep, when leaving the house. Short duas are easy to memorise and children love using them.
The 12 duas
1. Before eating
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ
In the name of Allah.
Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi
2. If you forget to say Bismillah before eating
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ
In the name of Allah, at its beginning and its end.
Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi
3. After eating
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَجَعَلَنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
All praise is for Allah who fed us, gave us drink and made us Muslims.
Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi
4. Before sleeping
بِاسْمِكَ اللّٰهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
O Allah, in Your name I die and I live.
Bukhari
5. On waking up
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
All praise is for Allah who gave us life after causing us to die, and to Him is the return.
Bukhari
6. Before entering the washroom
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from evil and evil beings.
Bukhari, Muslim
7. After leaving the washroom
غُفْرَانَكَ
(O Allah) I seek Your forgiveness.
Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi
8. When leaving home
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللّٰهِ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ
In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.
Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi
9. When entering the masjid
اَللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy.
Muslim
10. When leaving the masjid
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty.
Muslim
11. For parents
رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
My Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small.
Quran, Surah Al-Isra 17:24
12. For knowledge
رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
My Lord, increase me in knowledge.
Quran, Surah Ta-Ha 20:114
Tips for parents
- One dua a week. Teach one, use it every day, then add the next.
- Say it together. Children copy what they see. Say the eating dua out loud at every meal.
- Explain the meaning. A child who knows what they are asking for says it with feeling.
- Celebrate. A small reward when a new dua is memorised keeps motivation high.
Frequently asked questions
What does masnoon mean?
Masnoon means "from the Sunnah": duas that the Prophet ﷺ said or taught.
At what age can children learn duas?
Children as young as three can learn short duas like Bismillah. Longer duas can follow as they grow.
