Dua for Breaking Fast: Arabic, Transliteration, and Meaning

What is the dua for breaking fast?

The dua for breaking fast is the supplication a fasting person makes at the moment of iftar, the moment the fast ends at sunset. In practice, people mean two things when they use this phrase. The first is a set, reported wording that has come down from the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his companions. The second is the personal, open supplication that a fasting person is encouraged to make at this special time, in any words and any language, asking Allah for whatever is in their heart.

Both matter, and it helps to keep them separate in your mind so you understand what is firmly established and what is left open to you. There are two reported wordings that are widely taught. One of them is authentic and short, said after the fast is broken. The other is extremely common, prayed by millions every Ramadan, but it comes through a weaker chain of narration, which we will explain honestly rather than glossing over. Alongside these, the fasting person is told that their dua at the time of breaking the fast is not turned away, which opens the door to your own heartfelt asking.

So when someone asks for the dua for breaking fast, the fullest answer is this: learn the authentic short wording, know the status of the popular one, and then use the blessed minutes of iftar to pour out your own supplication to Allah. Below we cover each of these in turn, along with the practical points of when and how to break the fast that surround them.

When exactly do you break the fast?

The fast is broken at sunset, which is the entry of the Maghrib prayer time. The moment is defined by the disappearance of the disc of the sun below the horizon, not by how bright the sky still looks, and not by a rough guess. Once the sun has fully set, the day of fasting is complete and it is time to break your fast. You do not wait for full darkness, and you do not wait for the Maghrib prayer to be prayed first. The sunnah is to break the fast promptly once its time has come.

This promptness is part of the guidance itself. It is reported that people will remain in good as long as they hasten to break the fast, meaning that delaying iftar without reason is discouraged. So the ideal is a quick, light breaking of the fast right at sunset, then the Maghrib prayer, and then a fuller meal afterward if you wish. Rushing to break your fast on time is a form of following the sunnah, and it also keeps you from the confusion of eating too late or too early.

Because sunset shifts every single day and depends entirely on your location, you cannot rely on a fixed clock time through the month. This is exactly why an accurate prayer time source is so useful during Ramadan. It tells you the precise Maghrib time for your city and the current date, and it can sound the azan at the moment the time enters, so you know without any doubt that it is time to break your fast. If you want to understand how the sunset and Maghrib time are worked out, our guide on what time is Maghrib goes into the detail, and our overview of prayer times explains the daily windows more broadly.

A word of caution about the opposite mistake. Some people, out of caution, hold back from breaking the fast until well after the sun has clearly set, thinking they are being careful. There is no need for that, and it goes against the guidance to hasten. Once you have a reliable sign that the sun has set, whether the azan of Maghrib, a trustworthy timetable, or an accurate app, break your fast without delay. Do not add extra minutes on your own; being on time is the sunnah, and Islam is a religion of ease, not of self-imposed hardship.

What to break your fast with: dates and water

The sunnah is to break the fast with dates, and if dates are not available, then with water. This is reported from the practice of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who would break his fast on fresh dates before praying, and if fresh dates were not there then on dried dates, and if there were none of those then he would take a few sips of water. That simple order, fresh dates, then dried dates, then water, is the pattern many Muslims follow to this day.

There is wisdom in it that people notice for themselves. After a long day of fasting, a date gives the body a gentle, quick source of natural sugar, and water restores what the day took out, which is exactly what the authentic dua after iftar refers to when it mentions the veins being moistened. Breaking the fast lightly like this also means you are not weighed down when you stand to pray Maghrib, and it protects you from the common mistake of overeating the moment the fast ends.

If you have no dates at all, do not worry in the slightest. Plain water is completely sufficient, and there is no blame in breaking your fast with water alone, or with whatever wholesome food you have. The dates are a recommended sunnah that carries reward and follows the Prophet's practice, not a condition for the fast to count. What matters most is that you break the fast at the right time, in gratitude, and turn to Allah as you do.

It is also good to begin, as with any meal, by saying Bismillah (بِسْمِ اللَّهِ), "In the name of Allah," as you take your first date or sip. This is the general sunnah for eating and drinking, and it applies at iftar just as it does at any other meal. If you forget and remember partway through, the taught practice is to say Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirah, "In the name of Allah at its beginning and its end."

The dua for breaking fast in Arabic

Here are the two well-known wordings tied to breaking the fast, each given in Arabic, then in transliteration as a learning aid, then in meaning, with an honest note on where it comes from and how scholars grade it. Treat the transliteration only as a bridge, since Latin letters cannot fully carry the Arabic sounds, and learn the pronunciation from a good reciter or a knowledgeable teacher where you can. We begin with the wording that is authentic, then cover the one that is more popular but weaker, so that you can prioritize correctly.

The authentic dua: Dhahaba az-zama'u

This is the short supplication the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, would say after breaking his fast. It is reported in Sunan Abu Dawud from Abdullah ibn Umar, and it is graded as hasan, meaning sound and reliable. Because it is said after the fast is broken, it fits the moment when you have already taken your first sip or bite.

Look at how fitting the words are for the moment. The thirst of the long day has passed the instant water touches your lips. The veins, dried out by the heat and the hours, are moistened again. And the reward with Allah is confirmed, said with the humble condition "if Allah wills," because a believer never claims their deed with certainty but hopes in the mercy and acceptance of their Lord. In three short phrases the dua captures gratitude, relief, and hope all at once. Because it is authentic and brief, this is the wording to learn first and to make your habit at iftar.

The well-known dua: Allahumma inni laka sumtu

This is probably the most widely recited iftar dua in the world. It appears on countless fridge magnets, timetables, and childhood memories, and there is real love for it in the community. Being honest about its grading is not a criticism of that love; it is simply so that you know its status and can make an informed choice. This wording is reported in Sunan Abu Dawud, but the narration is mursal, meaning a link in the chain of transmission back to the Prophet is missing, and for that reason a number of hadith scholars grade the chain as weak.

The meaning is beautiful and entirely sound. It expresses that the fast was done sincerely for Allah alone, and that the food you now break your fast with is itself from His provision, so gratitude returns to Him at both ends. Nothing in the wording is objectionable, and this is one reason scholars have differed on saying it.

What do the scholars actually say? On a matter like this, opinions fall broadly into two positions. Some scholars permit saying this dua, noting that the meaning is correct and that supplications on virtuous, encouraging themes are often treated with some latitude even when the exact chain is weak, especially when the wording has been in continuous use. Other scholars prefer to leave it, holding to the principle of not attributing a specific worship formula to the Prophet unless it is authentically established, and they point people to the authentic Dhahaba az-zama'u wording instead. Both groups agree the underlying meaning is fine; they differ on whether to treat this particular wording as a reported sunnah.

A balanced, safe path for most people is this. Make the authentic Dhahaba az-zama'u your primary iftar dua. If you also say Allahumma inni laka sumtu, as many righteous people have for generations, do so knowing its status honestly, without presenting it as firmly established from the Prophet. And for a clear ruling on what you personally should do, follow the guidance of a qualified scholar you trust, since these are exactly the kinds of questions they are there to answer.

Why iftar is a time of accepted dua

Here is the part that turns iftar from a routine into a treasure. It is reported that the fasting person has a supplication that is not turned away, and the moment of breaking the fast is highlighted among those special times when a servant should raise their hands and ask. In other words, the minutes as the sun sets and you break your fast are a window of nearness, a time when the door is open. It would be a loss to spend that window only on the mechanics of a meal.

This is why many people, in the last stretch of the fast and as they break it, take a moment to make personal dua before or alongside the first date and sip of water. They ask Allah for the things that weigh on their hearts: guidance, forgiveness, health, provision, protection for their families, ease in a difficulty, and the good of this life and the next. There is no fixed script for this. The reported wordings above are lovely, but they are not the whole of what iftar dua can be. Your own asking, in your own words, is exactly what this moment invites.

Think of the state you are in at that instant. You have obeyed Allah all day by holding back from food, drink, and desires for His sake alone. You are hungry, humbled, and hopeful. That is precisely the posture of a servant whose dua is heard. So do not let the moment slip past in the rush to eat. Even thirty seconds of sincere, heartfelt supplication, made with presence of heart, is worth more than a hurried recitation with a distracted mind.

If you want to deepen this habit, Ramadan itself is full of such moments, and understanding the month helps you use them. Our guide to Ramadan covers the wider picture of the fast and its blessings, and our piece on Laylatul Qadr looks at the greatest night of the year, when supplication is especially sought. For asking Allah's pardon, which is one of the best things to seek at any accepted time, see our collection on the dua for forgiveness.

How to make the most of the moment

A little intention and order turns iftar into one of the sweetest parts of your day. None of this is complicated, and none of it should feel like a burden. Here is a simple way to bring it together, drawing on everything above.

• Be ready before the time comes. Have your dates and water in front of you a few minutes before sunset, so that when the moment arrives you can break the fast promptly rather than scrambling. Knowing the exact Maghrib time removes all the guesswork.
• Use the last minutes to make dua. In the final stretch of the fast, before you break it, raise your hands and ask Allah for what matters to you. This is the accepted window; do not waste it. Speak in whatever language reaches your heart.
• Begin with Bismillah. As you take your first date or sip, say Bismillah, as you would before any food and drink.
• Break the fast lightly. A date or two and some water is enough to open the fast. Keep the heavy meal for after Maghrib so you can pray without feeling weighed down.
• Say the authentic dua after breaking. Once you have broken the fast, say Dhahaba az-zama'u wabtallatil-'urooqu wa thabatal-ajru in sha Allah, following the Prophet's practice.
• Pray Maghrib on time. Do not let the meal pull you away from the prayer. Break the fast, then pray Maghrib in its window, then return to eat more if you wish.
• Keep gratitude at the center. The whole moment is an act of thankfulness, that Allah gave you the strength to fast and the provision to break it. Let that gratitude, not just the food, be the point.

Notice that the fixed wordings and your personal dua sit comfortably together. There is no tension between saying the reported words and pouring out your own heart. The sunnah gives you a form to follow, and the accepted moment gives you the freedom to ask. Use both.

Common questions and mistakes

A handful of the same questions and slips come up every Ramadan around the dua for breaking fast. Clearing them up in advance helps you approach iftar with calm rather than doubt.

1. Treating the popular dua as if it were fully authentic. As we covered, Allahumma inni laka sumtu is beloved and widely used, but its chain is weak. The mistake is not in saying it; it is in insisting it is a firmly established sunnah from the Prophet. Put the authentic wording first and know the status of the other.
2. Delaying iftar out of misplaced caution. Some people add extra minutes after sunset to be safe. The guidance is to hasten to break the fast once its time has entered. Being on time is the sunnah, not being late.
3. Reciting a formula but forgetting to make real dua. The reported wordings are a gift, but the accepted moment of iftar is far bigger than a single phrase. Do not let the fixed words become the whole of your supplication when Allah has opened the door to ask for anything.
4. Thinking dates are required. Dates are a recommended sunnah, not a condition. If you have only water, your fast is broken perfectly well, and there is no shortfall in that at all.
5. Overeating the instant the fast ends. Breaking the fast lightly is both healthier and closer to the sunnah. It also lets you stand for Maghrib comfortably. The large meal can wait a few minutes.
6. Worrying that dua must be in perfect Arabic. The reported wordings are Arabic and worth learning, but your personal supplication can be in any language. Allah understands every heart. Do not let pronunciation worries stop you from asking.
7. Guessing the sunset time. Sunset moves daily and depends on your exact location. Relying on a rough memory of last week's time leads to breaking the fast too early or too late. Use a reliable timetable or an accurate app.

See the pattern in these. Most of them come down to two things: being honest about what is authentic, and not letting a fixed formula crowd out the living act of turning to Allah. Get those two right and the rest falls into place. And for any question of ruling on your own circumstances, follow the guidance of qualified scholars rather than piecing together answers alone.

How Niyyara helps you keep the moment

The dua is in your heart, but the timing is the practical part that daily life gets in the way of. Knowing the exact instant the sun sets, so you can break your fast promptly and use the accepted minutes well, is exactly what Niyyara is built to help with, without costing you anything.

Niyyara is a free, private, ad-free companion for a practicing Muslim. During Ramadan it calculates the precise Maghrib time for your exact location and the current date, so you never have to guess whether the sun has set. It can sound the azan the moment Maghrib enters, which for many people is the signal to raise their hands, make dua, and break the fast. It keeps a collection of everyday duas within reach, includes the full Quran with audio to help your recitation, an accurate Qibla compass, the 99 names of Allah, a tasbih for remembrance, the Islamic calendar, and a worship tracker so you can see your consistency grow through the month and beyond.

Because it is completely free, with no subscriptions and no ads, there is nothing standing between you and your worship. Worship should never feel like a product being sold to you, and iftar least of all. Niyyara stays out of the way and simply helps you know the time, face the right way, and keep the good habits you are building. Set your location once, and let it carry the timing so you can focus on the gratitude and the dua that this moment is really about.

The dua for breaking fast, in the end, is a small window of nearness at the close of each fasting day. You now have the authentic wording to say, the honest status of the popular one, the sunnah of when and what to break your fast with, and the reminder that this accepted moment is yours to fill with your own supplication. Break your fast on time, thank the One who fed you, and ask Him for the good of this life and the next. May Allah accept your fasting and your prayers.