Duas of the last third of the night

There is no fixed list you must recite. The last third of the night is a time for asking in your own words, in your own language. What follows are supplications that are established in the Sunnah, for those who want to begin somewhere.

Why this hour

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night and says: Who is calling upon Me, that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me, that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145; Sahih Muslim 758)

On waking in the night

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

*La ilaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharika lah, lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.*

"There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is capable of all things." Whoever says this on waking in the night and then asks, is answered; and if he makes wudu and prays, his prayer is accepted. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1154)

Opening the night prayer

The Prophet ﷺ would begin the night prayer with words of praise, including: "O Allah, to You belongs praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and all within them." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1120; Sahih Muslim 769)

Asking forgiveness

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

*Rabbi-ghfir li* — "My Lord, forgive me." Simple, repeated, sincere. Allah describes the people of the night as "those who seek forgiveness before dawn." (Surah adh-Dhariyat 51:18)

Then ask in your own words

For your parents. For someone who is ill. For guidance out of something you have not told anyone. Dua in your own language is dua. The night does not require eloquence.

If you are unsure

For rulings on wording or on your own situation, ask a qualified scholar you trust locally.