TAFSEER OF DUA AL-ISTIFTĀḤ (دعاء الاستفتاح) — THE OPENING SUPPLICATION

 *_DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDER_*

Yaumul Jumuat | 9th day of Rabee-ul Awwal, 1448 AH | Friday, 21st August, 2026. 

*_TAFSEER OF DUA AL-ISTIFTĀḤ (دعاء الاستفتاح) — THE OPENING SUPPLICATION_*. BismilLah. 

Alhamdulillah for granting us the opportunity to be part of this blessed day of the week. 

Let's continue with our studies and understanding of the basic supplications during Ṣalaah.

Dua al-istiftah is recited silently after saying “Allāhu Akbar” and before Sūrat al-Fātiḥah of every salah. .

One authentic supplication is:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

Meaning: Glory be to YOU, O ALLAH, and all praise belongs to YOU. Blessed is Your Name, exalted is Your Majesty, and there is no deity worthy of worship except YOU.”

This is one of the opening supplications reported from the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam. It is important to understand its meaning because we are saying these words while standing before ALLAH Azzawajal in salah. Let's expand it's meaning;

 سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ

“Glory be to YOU, O ALLAH.”

The word Subḥānaka comes from tasbīḥ, declaring ALLAH Azzawajal completely free from every imperfection. We are saying:

“O ALLAH, YOU are Perfect. YOU have no Weakness, NO Injustice, NO Deficiency and NO Partner.”

Before asking ALLAH Azzawajal for anything, we first recognise HIS Perfection.

Practical lesson:

Sometimes we enter ṣalah carrying worries: This opening reminds us:

The One before whom I am standing is perfect and has complete control over everything.

So salah begins by shifting our attention from our problems to the One who controls our problems. To be continued tomorrow in Shaa ALLAH. *_May ALLAH Azzawajal keep guiding and protecting us from any satanic influences_*. Aameen.