Dua for Breaking Fast: Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

When the adhan for Maghrib sounds and the day-long fast comes to an end, there is a dua the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us to say at that exact moment. It is short, it is direct, and it captures everything Iftar is supposed to mean — that the fast was for Allah (SWT) alone, that it was sustained by His provision, and that it ends with gratitude.

The Duas for Breaking Fast

There are two main duas reported from the Prophet ﷺ for breaking the fast. Both are in Abu Dawud and both are graded hasan. Here they are in full.

The First Dua — Allahumma Laka Sumtu

This is the stronger narration and the one most scholars recommend. It was reported by Mu'adh ibn Zuhrah.

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ

Transliteration:

Allahumma laka sumtu wa bika amantu wa 'ala rizqika aftartu

Translation:

"O Allah, for You I fasted, in You I believed, and upon Your provision I broke my fast."

Source: Narrated by Abu Dawud, 2358. Graded hasan.

The Second Dua — Dhahaba Al-Zama

This narration was reported by Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and is widely recited across the Muslim world.

Arabic:

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Transliteration:

Dhahaba al-zama' wa abtallatil-'uruqu wa thabatal-ajru insha' Allah

Translation:

"The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is established, if Allah wills."

Source: Narrated by Abu Dawud, 2357. Graded hasan by al-Albani.

Both duas are valid. You can recite one or both. The first emphasizes the intention behind the fast — sincerity for Allah alone. The second marks the physical reality of the moment while anchoring it in the hope of reward. Together, they cover the spiritual and the physical dimensions of Iftar.

A note on the longer version: You may have come across the wording "Allahumma inni laka sumtu" — with "inni" (meaning "I") added in. This is a variation of the first dua found in some narrations. It carries the same meaning and is acceptable to recite. The version in Abu Dawud 2358 without "inni" is what is directly attributed to the Prophet ﷺ.

When to Recite This Dua

Say it at the exact moment of breaking the fast — as you take your first date, first sip of water, or first bite of food. This is the point at which the fast ends, and that is the moment the dua belongs to.

Do not wait until after the meal. The spirit of the dua is in the transition itself — moving from fasting to eating while consciously attributing both states to Allah ﷻ. Saying it an hour into Iftar loses that meaning.

If you forget to say it before eating and remember mid-meal, say it then. Missing it is not a sin and does not affect the validity of your fast, but the intention is to make it a consistent habit, especially through Ramadan.

You do not need to raise your hands for this dua, though raising hands in supplication is a sunnah in general. If you are at a family Iftar and everyone is waiting, simply say it quietly to yourself before you eat. It takes three seconds.

The Sunnah of How to Break the Fast

The dua connects naturally to another sunnah: what you break the fast with. Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

"The Prophet ﷺ used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying. If there were no fresh dates, he would break it with dried dates. If there were no dried dates, he would take some sips of water."

Source: Narrated by Abu Dawud, 2356; al-Tirmidhi, 696. Graded hasan.

This sunnah has practical wisdom behind it. Dates are high in natural sugar and are absorbed quickly after a day of fasting, giving the body an immediate source of energy without overwhelming the digestive system. Breaking the fast with something light before Maghrib prayer, then eating a full meal after, is both sunnah and medically sensible.

The Prophet ﷺ would break fast with an odd number of dates — typically three. If you can keep dates at your Iftar table, this is an easy sunnah to revive.

Virtues and Benefits

Fasting in Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Allah ﷻ says in the Quran:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

Ya ayyuhal-ladhina amanu kutiba alaykumus-siyamu kama kutiba alal-ladhina min qablikum la'allakum tattaqun

"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you — that you may become righteous."

Source: Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183

The purpose of fasting is taqwa — God-consciousness and self-restraint. The Iftar dua is a small but meaningful act that keeps that purpose front of mind even as you eat. You are not just ending a hunger strike. You are acknowledging that the fast was an act of worship directed entirely at Allah, and that the food you now eat comes from His provision alone.

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

"The fasting person has two moments of joy: when he breaks his fast, he rejoices; and when he meets his Lord, he will rejoice over his fasting."

Source: Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1904; Muslim, 1151

That first joy — the joy of Iftar — is the moment this dua lives in. Saying it with presence and sincerity transforms a meal into an act of worship.

The dua is also a moment of accepted supplication. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Three supplications are not rejected: the supplication of the fasting person when breaking the fast, the supplication of the just ruler, and the supplication of the oppressed." (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3598; Ibn Majah, 1752. Graded hasan.)

So immediately after the Iftar dua, take a moment to make your personal supplications. That window — the moment of breaking fast — is one of the most powerful times to ask Allah for what you need. If you are going through a difficult period, the dua for anxiety contains powerful supplications to recite alongside your Iftar dua.

Making the Most of Iftar Dua

The moment of Iftar is one of the three times when dua is most likely to be accepted. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Three supplications are not rejected: the dua of a father for his child, the dua of the fasting person at the time of breaking fast, and the dua of the traveler." (Narrated by Ahmad, 8030; graded hasan.)

This means you have a brief but powerful window right at Iftar. Here is how to use it fully:

1. Say the Iftar dua first — before anything else, as you reach for your date or water
2. Make your personal dua immediately after — while still at the moment of breaking fast, ask for what you need: health, guidance, forgiveness, provision, loved ones
3. Keep it sincere and focused — a few heartfelt sentences outweigh a long recitation said without presence

Do not let the rush of Iftar — the food, the family noise, the hunger — cause you to skip this window. A few seconds of genuine supplication at this moment is one of the easiest and most rewarding acts of worship in Ramadan.

Dua for Breaking Fast Outside Ramadan

The duas above are not exclusive to Ramadan. Voluntary fasts — Monday and Thursday fasts, the fast of Dawud (every other day), fasting the white days (13th, 14th, 15th of each lunar month), and the fast of Arafah — all carry the same Iftar dua. Any day you fast, these words belong at the moment you break it.

The Prophet ﷺ frequently fasted outside Ramadan. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: "The Prophet ﷺ used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays." (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 745; graded hasan sahih.) If you adopt voluntary fasting as a habit, the Iftar dua becomes a regular part of your day, not just a Ramadan practice.

Related Duas

If your Ramadan includes Witr prayer, see the dua for qunoot for the supplication recited in the final rak'ah of Witr. For students fasting during exam season, dua for exams covers the supplications for clarity and ease alongside your fast.

Dua before eating: "Bismillah" — said before every meal. If you forget to say it at the start, say: "Bismillahi fi awwalihi wa akhirih" (In the name of Allah at its beginning and its end). Narrated by Abu Dawud, 3767; al-Tirmidhi, 1858.

Dua after eating: "Alhamdulillahil-ladhi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alana muslimin" — All praise is for Allah who fed us, gave us drink, and made us Muslims. Narrated by Abu Dawud, 3850; al-Tirmidhi, 3457.

For a broader collection of daily duas organized by occasion, visit the dua collection on Islamful. If you want to know your Maghrib time so you know exactly when to break your fast, check prayer times for your location. And if Ramadan-related questions come up — what breaks the fast, what does not — the halal and haram checker gives you instant answers with Islamic references.

Wallahu a'lam — والله أعلم — Allah knows best.