Which dua is more authentic — the long or short Iftar dua?

The shorter dua (Abu Dawud 2357) is graded saheeh. The longer dua (Abu Dawud 2358) is graded hasan by many scholars. Both are valid and widely practised.

Do I have to recite the Iftar dua in Arabic?

Reciting in Arabic is best. However, new Muslims and those still learning may make their dua in their own language. Allah accepts all sincere supplication.

🌙 Ramadan & Fasting

Dua for Breaking Fast — Iftar Supplication

Q: Is the Iftar dua recited for voluntary fasts too?

Yes. The same duas apply to all voluntary fasts — Mondays, Thursdays, Ashura, Shawwal, and others.

Q: What if I forgot to recite the dua before eating?

Your fast remains valid. The dua is a recommended Sunnah, not an obligation. You may recite it any time during the Iftar meal.

The authentic supplications to recite at Iftar, with Arabic text, transliteration, English translation and verified hadith sources.

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Authentic Duas

Sahih

Grade

Hadith Sources

Sunnah

Verified

Primary Dua

The Dua for Breaking Fast

This is the most widely recited dua for breaking the fast, reported by Abu Dawud and graded as hasan (good). Recite it immediately as the fast ends at Maghrib.

⭐ Most Recited Iftar Dua

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ

Allāhumma innī laka ṣumtu wa bika āmantu wa ʿalayka tawakkaltu wa ʿalā rizqika afṭartu

“O Allah! I fasted for You, I believe in You, I put my trust in You, and I break my fast with Your sustenance.”

📚 Abu Dawud 2358 · Graded Hasan →

📖

Hadith Reference This supplication was narrated by Muʿādh ibn Zuhratu (رضي الله عنه) and reported in Sunan Abu Dawud (Hadith 2358). Ibn al-Sunni also recorded it in ʿAmal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah. While some scholars grade the chain as mursal, the majority consider the dua itself established practice.

Second Authentic Dua

The Shorter & Stronger Iftar Dua

This brief supplication carries a saheeh (authentic) chain and was personally recited by the Prophet ﷺ upon breaking his fast. Many scholars consider it the most established dua for Iftar.

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Dhahaba al-ẓamaʾu wabtallati al-ʿurūqu wa thabata al-ajru inshāAllāh

“The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is assured, if Allah wills.”

📚 Abu Dawud 2357 ✔ Saheeh

✅

Scholarly Note on Authenticity Imam al-Nawawi, Ibn Hajar al-ʿAsqalānī, and Sheikh al-Albānī all authenticated Hadith 2357 (Abu Dawud). This dua was narrated by ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) and is considered the most reliably reported supplication specifically for Iftar. See the full chain at Sunnah.com.

Timing

When Exactly to Recite the Dua for Breaking Fast

The dua for breaking fast is recited at the moment of Iftar — as soon as the Maghrib adhān begins or when the sun has definitively set. This is established from the Prophet’s ﷺ practice of hastening to break the fast.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The people will remain on good as long as they hasten to break the fast.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 1957.

You may recite the dua before you eat (i.e., just as you pick up a date or water) or during the first sip of water. Both are established in scholarly practice. There is no need to wait until after eating.

🌅 The Iftar Window — Step by Step

Sunnah Practice

The Sunnah Way of Breaking Your Fast

Follow the Prophet’s ﷺ complete method for a spiritually enriching Iftar.

🌅

Hasten to Break at Maghrib

Do not delay breaking your fast once the sun has set. The Prophet ﷺ said: “People will remain on good so long as they hasten to break the fast.” — Bukhari 1957

🤲

Raise Your Hands & Recite the Dua

Raise your hands in supplication and recite: Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu… or Dhahaba al-zama’u… — both are authentic.

🫐

Break with Dates or Water

The Prophet ﷺ would break his fast with fresh dates, then dried dates, then water if none were available. — Abu Dawud 2356

🕌

Pray Maghrib Before the Main Meal

It is Sunnah to eat just a few dates to break the fast, pray Maghrib, and then return for the main meal. This prioritises worship over appetite.

✨

Make Extra Dua at Iftar Time

Iftar is one of three times when a fasting person’s dua is not rejected. Spend a few moments supplicating for yourself and others before you eat. See our Daily Duas collection.

Virtues & Wisdom

Why the Iftar Dua Carries Such Immense Reward

Breaking the fast is not merely a physical act — it is a declaration of gratitude and submission to Allah. The dua encapsulates four pillars of a Muslim’s relationship with Allah:

Worship (ʿIbādah): “I fasted for You” — affirming the fast was solely for Allah.
Faith (Imān): “I believe in You” — renewing one’s testimony of faith.
Reliance (Tawakkul): “I put my trust in You” — surrendering outcomes to Allah.
Gratitude (Shukr): “I break my fast with Your sustenance” — acknowledging that all provision comes from Allah alone.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The fasting person has at the time of breaking his fast a supplication that is not rejected.” — Ibn Majah 1753. This makes Iftar one of the most powerful moments for accepted dua in the entire day.

For more on making the most of fasting duas, visit our Ramadan & Fasting guide and our full Masnoon Duas collection.

Voluntary Fasts (Nafl) — Same Dua?

Yes. The same duas apply whether you are fasting during Ramadan, on Mondays and Thursdays, the Days of ʿĀshūrāʾ, or any voluntary fast. The reward for the accepted dua is tied to the act of fasting, not to the specific month.

Learn more about voluntary fasting in our Muslim Lifestyle section.

📊 Four Pillars of the Iftar Dua

Additional Supplications

More Duas to Recite at Iftar Time

These supplications are appropriate during the blessed window of Iftar.

🍽️ When Breaking Fast at Someone’s Home

أَفْطَرَ عِنْدَكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ وَأَكَلَ طَعَامَكُمُ الأَبْرَارُ وَصَلَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ

Afṭara ʿindakum al-ṣāʾimūna wa akala ṭaʿāmakum al-abrāru wa ṣallat ʿalaykum al-malāʾikah

“May the fasting people break their fast with you, and may the righteous eat your food, and may the angels send prayers upon you.”

📚 Abu Dawud 3854 ✔ Authentic

🤲 General Supplication at Iftar (from Quran)

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbanā ātinā fī al-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fī al-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ʿadhāba al-nār

“Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

📖 Quran 2:201 🌙 Recommended at Iftar

💡

Pro Tip: The Accepted Hour of Dua The Prophet ﷺ said the fasting person’s dua is not rejected. Don’t limit your supplications to just the Iftar dua — this is the perfect time to make heartfelt personal duas for health, guidance, family, and the ummah. Explore our Duas for Health & Healing and Duas for Family collections to prepare in advance.

📚 Explore More on DuaForAll

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about the dua for breaking fast.

Which dua is more authentic — the long one or the short one?

The shorter dua — “Dhahaba al-zama’u wabtallati al-ʿurūqu…” (Abu Dawud 2357) — is graded as saheeh (authentic) by Sheikh al-Albānī and others. The longer dua — “Allahumma inni laka sumtu…” (Abu Dawud 2358) — is classified as hasan or mursal by different scholars. Both are accepted duas and widely practised by Muslims worldwide. Many scholars recommend reciting both.

Do I have to recite the dua in Arabic?

It is best to recite the dua in Arabic as transmitted from the Prophet ﷺ, especially once you have memorised it. However, if you are a new Muslim or still learning, it is entirely permissible to make your personal duas in your own language. Allah hears every sincere supplication regardless of language. See our New Muslim Guide for more guidance.

Is there a specific dua for Suhoor (pre-dawn meal)?

There is no specific dua for Suhoor that is established in the Sunnah with the same certainty as the Iftar dua. However, it is recommended to make the intention (niyyah) for fasting in your heart before Fajr. Some scholars mention reciting Bismillah before eating Suhoor and any general dua for blessings in your sustenance. Explore our Daily Duas for morning supplications that can accompany Suhoor.

Can I recite the dua silently or does it need to be spoken aloud?

Both silent and verbal recitation are valid. The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said the dua as he broke his fast, which suggests it was spoken, but there is flexibility. What matters most is the sincerity and presence of heart in the supplication. Reciting it aloud can also help you or family members learn and remember it.

Is the Iftar dua recited for voluntary fasts too?

Yes. The Iftar duas — both the longer and shorter versions — apply to all voluntary fasts (Monday/Thursday fasts, the 13th–15th of each Islamic month, ʿĀshūrāʾ, Shawwāl fasts, etc.) in exactly the same way as Ramadan fasts. The reward of the accepted dua is tied to the act of fasting itself.

What if I forgot to recite the dua before eating?

Your fast remains valid and accepted, in shā Allāh. The dua is a recommended Sunnah (mustahabb), not an obligation. If you forgot, you may still recite it with gratitude and awareness at any point during the Iftar meal. Allah is Most Merciful and accepts sincere remembrance at any moment.

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