Some of the most powerful duas in times of difficulty are the duas of the Prophets recorded in the Quran: Prophet Yunus's 'La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin' (21:87), Prophet Ayyub's dua in illness (21:83), Prophet Musa's dua for ease (20:25–28) and Prophet Adam's dua for forgiveness (7:23).
- Yunus, in distress: “La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin” (Quran 21:87).
- Musa, before a hard task: “Rabbish-rah li sadri, wa yassir li amri…” (Quran 20:25–28).
- Ayyub, in illness: “Anni massaniyad-durru wa anta arhamur-rahimin” (Quran 21:83).
- Adam, after a mistake: “Rabbana zalamna anfusana…” (Quran 7:23).
- Every dua links to its verse on Quran.com and to a kids' story page.
Why learn the duas of the Prophets?
The Quran preserves the exact words the Prophets used when they called on Allah. Learning these duas teaches children — and reminds adults — that even the best of people faced hardship, and that the answer is always to turn to Allah with humility and trust. They are short, easy to memorise and can be made in any language of the heart, though learning the Arabic brings them closer to the Quran.
Stories of the Prophets for kids
Tap a Prophet to read his story in 5 simple steps, learn his dua and try a quick quiz.
The duas
Prophet Adam & Hawwa — seeking forgiveness
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَاۤ اَنْفُسَنَا ٚ وَاِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِیْنَ ۲۳
Rabbana zalamna anfusana wa in lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna lanakunanna minal-khasirin.
Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers.
Prophet Nuh — when overwhelmed
اَنِّیْ مَغْلُوْبٌ فَانْتَصِرْ ۱۰
Anni maghlubun fantasir.
I am overpowered, so help me.
Prophet Ibrahim — for prayer and family
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِیْ مُقِیْمَ الصَّلٰوةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّیَّتِیْ ۖۗ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ ۴۰
Rabbij-'alni muqimas-salati wa min dhurriyyati, rabbana wa taqabbal du'a'.
My Lord, make me one who establishes prayer, and from my descendants. Our Lord, accept my supplication.
Prophet Ibrahim — for parents and believers
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِیْ وَلِوَالِدَیَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ یَوْمَ یَقُوْمُ الْحِسَابُ ۴۱
Rabbanagh-fir li wa li walidayya wa lil-mu'minina yawma yaqumul-hisab.
Our Lord, forgive me, my parents and the believers on the Day the account is established.
Prophets Ibrahim & Isma'il — for acceptance
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ؕ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ السَّمِیْعُ الْعَلِیْمُ ۱۲۷
Rabbana taqabbal minna, innaka antas-sami'ul-'alim.
Our Lord, accept this from us. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Prophet Musa — for confidence and ease
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِیْ صَدْرِیْ ۙ ۲۵ وَیَسِّرْ لِیْۤ اَمْرِیْ ۙ ۲۶ وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّنْ لِّسَانِیْ ۙ ۲۷ یَفْقَهُوْا قَوْلِیْ ۪ ۲۸
Rabbish-rah li sadri, wa yassir li amri, wahlul 'uqdatan min lisani, yafqahu qawli.
My Lord, expand my chest, ease my task, and untie the knot from my tongue so they may understand my speech.
Prophet Musa — in need
رَبِّ اِنِّیْ لِمَاۤ اَنْزَلْتَ اِلَیَّ مِنْ خَیْرٍ فَقِیْرٌ ۲۴
Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir.
My Lord, I am truly in need of whatever good You send down to me.
Prophet Yunus — in distress
لَّاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ سُبْحٰنَكَ ۖۗ اِنِّیْ كُنْتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِیْنَ ۚۖ ۸۷
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.
There is no god but You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.
Prophet Ayyub — in illness
اَنِّیْ مَسَّنِیَ الضُّرُّ وَاَنْتَ اَرْحَمُ الرّٰحِمِیْنَ ۚۖ ۸۳
Anni massaniyad-durru wa anta arhamur-rahimin.
Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.
Prophet Zakariyya — for righteous children
رَبِّ هَبْ لِیْ مِنْ لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّیَّةً طَیِّبَةً ۚ اِنَّكَ سَمِیْعُ الدُّعَآءِ ۳۸
Rabbi hab li min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibah, innaka sami'ud-du'a'.
My Lord, grant me from Yourself good offspring. Indeed, You hear every supplication.
Prophet Sulayman — gratitude
رَبِّ اَوْزِعْنِیْۤ اَنْ اَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِیْۤ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَیَّ وَعَلٰی وَالِدَیَّ وَاَنْ اَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضٰىهُ وَاَدْخِلْنِیْ بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِیْ عِبَادِكَ الصّٰلِحِیْنَ ۱۹
Rabbi awzi'ni an ashkura ni'matakal-lati an'amta 'alayya wa 'ala walidayya wa an a'mala salihan tardahu wa adkhilni birahmatika fi 'ibadikas-salihin.
My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favour upon me and my parents, to do good that pleases You, and admit me by Your mercy among Your righteous servants.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — for knowledge
رَّبِّ زِدْنِیْ عِلْمًا ۱۱۴
Rabbi zidni 'ilma.
My Lord, increase me in knowledge.
How to teach these duas to children
- Learn one dua a week, with its story.
- Say it together at a set time — after Salah or before bed.
- Connect it to real life: Yunus's dua when worried, Musa's dua before a test at school.
- Our Nimaz & Deen course includes the stories of the Prophets and their duas.
References & sources
- Surah Al-A'raf 7:23
- Surah Al-Qamar 54:10
- Surah Ibrahim 14:40
- Surah Ibrahim 14:41
- Surah Al-Baqarah 2:127
- Surah Ta-Ha 20:25–28
- Surah Al-Qasas 28:24
- Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87
- Surah Al-Anbiya 21:83
- Surah Aal-Imran 3:38
- Surah An-Naml 27:19
- Surah Ta-Ha 20:114
- Jami at-Tirmidhi 3505
Quran references link to Quran.com and hadith references to Sunnah.com, so you can check every source. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us and we will correct it.