As our children grow, we try to teach them something new every day, but it's easy to focus on worldly things and forget religious learning. Teaching simple duas is a wonderful first step in introducing our children to Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ taught many short duas that help us through every part of life. Here are ten easy ones for children, with their meanings.
1. Before starting anything
Arabic: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Transliteration: Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem
Meaning: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 399
This short but powerful dua reminds children to remember Allah before starting anything, and that He is the Most Merciful.
2. Before sleeping
Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا
Transliteration: Allahumma bismika amutu wa ahya
Meaning: In Your name, O Allah, I die and I live.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari 6312
This bedtime dua helps children remember Allah before they sleep.
3. When waking up
Arabic: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Transliteration: Alhamdulillahil ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilayhin-nushur
Meaning: All praise is for Allah, who gave us life after taking it from us, and to Him is the return.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari 6314
A beautiful way for children to thank Allah as soon as they wake up.
4. For safety
Arabic: أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
Transliteration: A'udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq
Meaning: I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He created.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 2708
With this dua, children seek Allah's protection from all kinds of harm.
5. For good health
Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَدَنِي، اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي سَمْعِي، اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَصَرِي
Transliteration: Allahumma 'afini fi badani, Allahumma 'afini fi sam'i, Allahumma 'afini fi basari
Meaning: O Allah, grant health to my body. O Allah, grant health to my hearing. O Allah, grant health to my sight.
Reference: Abu Dawood 5090
With this dua, children ask Allah for good health.
6. For good character
Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لأَحْسَنِ الأَخْلاقِ، فَإِنَّهُ لا يَهْدِي لأَحْسَنِهَا إِلا أَنْتَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا لا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلا أَنْتَ
Transliteration: Allahummahdini li-ahsanil-akhlaq, fa-innahu la yahdi li-ahsaniha illa anta, wasrif 'anni sayyi'aha, la yasrifu 'anni sayyi'aha illa anta
Meaning: O Allah, guide me to the best of character, for none can guide to it except You. And turn bad character away from me, for none can turn it away except You.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 771
Children ask Allah for good manners and protection from bad behavior.
7. For guidance
Arabic: رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ
Transliteration: Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana ba'da idh hadaytana wa hab lana min ladunka rahmah, innaka antal-Wahhab
Meaning: Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from Yourself. Indeed, You are the Bestower.
Reference: Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:8
This dua teaches children to seek guidance from Allah.
8. For success in exams
Arabic: رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
Transliteration: Rabbishrah li sadri, wa yassir li amri, wahlul 'uqdatan min lisani, yafqahu qawli
Meaning: My Lord, open my chest for me, ease my task for me, and untie the knot from my tongue so they may understand my speech.
Reference: Surah Taha 20:25–28
Prophet Musa (AS) made this dua when Allah sent him to Pharaoh. It's perfect for children who feel nervous before exams.
9. For parents
Arabic: رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
Transliteration: Rabbirhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira
Meaning: My Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small.
Reference: Surah Al-Isra 17:24
Allah mentions kindness to parents many times in the Quran. This is a lovely dua for children to say every day.
10. For traveling
Arabic: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ
Transliteration: Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun
Meaning: Glory be to the One who has made this subservient to us, for we could never have done it ourselves. And to our Lord we will surely return.
Reference: Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:13–14
This dua teaches children to rely on Allah for safety on every journey.
Final words
These duas are short, simple, and highly rewarding, and they help children through their daily lives. Allah and His Messenger ﷺ taught them to us through the Quran and Sunnah, so let's help our children learn them from an early age.
The Tara Dua Book Collection teaches children duas in a fun, illustrated way.