Supplications for Good Character

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: What are some good Prophetic supplications (Sall-Allahu ‘AlayHi waSallam), for good character? I am aware of one to be recited when looking in the mirror. Are there any other ones that I may recite in my Salah?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh,

I pray that this finds you well, insha’Allah.

Scholars have defined good character as the disposition which causes one to incline towards praiseworthy inward traits and outward conduct.

`Abdullah ibn `Umar (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to say, “O Allah I ask you for good health, dignified restraint, trustworthiness, good character, and contentment with Divine decree (Allahumma asaluka al-sihhata wa al-`iffata wa al-amanata wa husna al-khuluqi wa al-rida bi’l qadr” [Bayhaqi]

أَسْأَلُكَ الْصِّحَّةَ وَالْعِفَّةَ وَالْأَمَانَةَ وَحُسْنَ الْخُلُقِ وَالرِّضَا بِالْقَدَر اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي

Though, good character doesn’t just ‘happen’ through supplication, rather one takes the effective means of learning one’s religion and embodying the Prophetic character and Qur’anic traits with sincerity, resolve and care, seeking the good of this life and the next.

Ibn Mas’ud said, “One of the supplications of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) was, ‘O Allah, I ask You for what makes Your mercy mandatory and for what brings about Your forgiveness and for safety from every sin and for booty from every act of piety and for the triumph of gaining the Garden and for safety from the Fire. (Allahumma inni as’aluka mujibati rahmatika wa `aza’ima maghfiratika wa al-salamata min kulli ithmin wa al-ghanimata min kulli birr wa al-fawza bi’l janna wa al-najata min al-nar)’” [al-Hakim]

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مُوْجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ، وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ، وَالسَّلَامَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ إِثْمٍ، وَالْغَنِيْمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍ، والْفَوْزَ بِالجَنَّةِ، وَالنَّجَاةَ مِنَ النَّارِ

It is also highly encouraged to supplicate with one’s own words. Thus, one could ask Allah for the highest character traits as one wishes. Nevertheless, there is much blessing in using the Prophetic words or supplications of the pious early Muslims.

See: A Reader on Anger Management and Good Character

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani