Assalaamu Alaikum, my brothers and sisters. When we speak of good character in Islam, it is far more than mere social etiquette or politeness. It is a complete state of the heart that manifests in our every action and interaction. It is the moral compass that guides his behavior, speech, and dealings with others. One of the things that can help us achieve this is by asking Allah with the dua for good manners and the dua for good character.
Before we even begin to utter the words of these supplications, you must first understand that when you make a Dua for good manners, you are acknowledging your dependence on Allah to guide your emotions, purify your intentions, and restrain your impulses. If anyone’s character was perfected by Allah, it was that of our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Allah says…
“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.” (Surah Al-Qalam, 68:4)
Yet, our Prophet (ﷺ) constantly turned to Allah in supplication, demonstrating for us that this is a continuous process of seeking divine aid. He did not rely on his own perfected state; he consistently asked his Lord. Imagine someone whose manners and good character were praised by Allah, and still reciting the dua for good character. What for? Just to teach us these duas for good manners to improve our character, traits, and personality.
Is it necessary to make dua for good manners and character?
Someone might ask, since we are commanded to strive for good character, like practicing patience, generosity, and other good deeds, then why must we also ask for it? Yes, we have too. This is because Allah is still in control of everything. We can only strive as human beings, but it is only Allah that can make it possible through our effort.
Every sincere Muslim knows that faith (Iman) is not only about prayer, fasting, or charity; it is about what shines through your actions, speech, and inner state of the heart. And no heart can remain pure, humble, and noble without Allah’s help. The evidence of this is what our Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned to us that..
“Verily, the hearts of the children of Adam, all of them, are between the two fingers of the Merciful as one heart. He directs them wherever He wills. O Allah, the Director of the hearts, turn our hearts to Your obedience.” *(Sahih Muslim 2654)
After affirming that all affairs of the mind are in the hands of Allah, our Prophet (ﷺ) now asked Allah to make firm his heart on Allah’s obedience. This Hadith reveals that your ability to be kind, humble, patient, or forgiving is not entirely in your control. It is Allah who turns the heart toward goodness. That is why the believers, no matter how righteous we have become, never stop making dua for good character.
When you make a dua for good manners, you are acknowledging your dependence on Allah to guide your emotions, purify your intentions, and restrain your impulses. Reciting the duas for good character will be a means of cleansing and washing away arrogance, jealousy, anger, and pride, which are the diseases that block spiritual light from reaching one’s heart. Now mention some of these duas.
No.1 dua for good manners
This is a dua for good character and having a heart free of hatred and envy
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
Rabbana-ghfir lana wa li-ikhwaninal-ladhina sabaquna bil-imani, wa la taj`al fi qulubina ghillan lilladhina amanu.
“Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and put not in our hearts any resentment toward those who have believed.”(Surah Al-Hashr 59:10)
No.2 dua for good character
This direct dua for good character is the master dua for overall excellence in character from our Prophet (ﷺ), as narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
اللّهُـمَّ اهْدِنـي لأَحْسَنِ الأَخْلاقِ لا يَهْـدي لأَحْسَـنِها إِلاّ أَنْـت ، وَاصْـرِف عَـنّْي سَيِّئَهـا، لا يَصْرِفُ عَـنّْي سَيِّئَهـا إِلاّ أَنْـت،
Allāhumma ihdinī li-aḥsani ‘l-akhlāqi, lā yahdī li aḥsanihā illā anta. Waṣrif `annī sayyi’ahā, lā yaṣrifu `annī sayyi’ahā illā anta.
O Allah, guide me to the best of characters for none can guide to it other than You, and deliver me from the worst of characters for none can deliver me from it other than You. (Muslim 1/534)
No.3 dua for good character
This is another direct dua for good character and good conduct
اللَّهُمَّ كَمَا أَحْسَنْتَ خَلْقِي فَأَحْسِنْ خُلُقِي
Allahumma kama ahsanta khalqi fa ahsin khuluqi
“O Allah, just as You have made my outward form beautiful, make my character beautiful as well.” (Ahmad, Ibn Hibban)
No.4 dua for good manners
Among the duas of good manners is this specific dua for asking Allah for a content heart.
اللَّهُمَّ قَنِّعْنِي بِمَا رَزَقْتَنِي، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَاخْلُفْ عَلَى كُلِّ غَائِبَةٍ لِي بِخَيْرٍ
“Allahumma qanni’ni bima razaqtani, wa barik li fihi, wakhluf ‘ala kulli ghaa’ibatin li bi khayr.”
“O Allah, make me content with what You have provided me, bless it for me, and replace for me every absent thing with something good.” (al-Daʻwat al-Kabir lil-Bayhaqi 242, Adab Al Mufrad)
No.5 dua for good manners
This is a good dua for good characters, traits, and conduct.
اللَّهمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِن منْكَرَاتِ الأَخلاقِ، والأعْمَالِ، والأَهْواءِ
Allaahumma ‘innee a’oothu bika min munkaraatil-akhlaaqi, wal-a’maali, wal– ‘ahwaa
O Allah! I seek refuge in You from reprehensible conduct, deeds and desires. (Sunan al-Tirmidhii 3591)
No.6 dua for good manners
This is a good, well-known dua for seeking Allah’s refuge from laziness, miserliness, indolence, and all bad characters.
اللهم إنِّي أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْهَرَمِ، وَالْبُخْلِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَات
Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-ajzi wal- kasali, wal-jubni wal-harami, wal-bukhli, wa a’udhu bika min ‘adhabil- qabri, wa a’udhu bika min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamat
O Allah! I seek refuge in You from helplessness (to do good), indolence, cowardice, senility, and miserliness; and I seek Your Protection against the torment of the grave and the trials of life and death (Sahih Muslim)
No.7 dua for good manners
Among the good duas for good manners is this dua we normally recite in our morning and evening adhkar sessions to seek Allah’s aid from bad deeds due to one’s hearing, tongue, or heart.
اللهم إنِّي أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ سَمْعِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ بَصَرِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ لِسَانِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ قَلْبِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَنِيَّ
Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min sharri sam’i, wa min sharri basari, wa min sharri lisani, wa min sharri qalbi, wa min sharri maniyyi
O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the evils of my hearing, the evils of my seeing, the evils of my tongue, the evils of my heart and the evils of passions (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3492)
No.8 dua for good manners
This is a dua for good manners centered on seeking Allah’s aid from being treacherous and having bad traits in one’s mind.
اللهم إِنِّي أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُوعِ، فَإِنَّهُ بِئسَ الضَّجِيعُ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخِيَانَةِ، فَإِنَّهَا بِئسَتِ الْبِطَانَة
Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal- ju’i, fa-innahu bi’sad-daji’u; wa a’udhu bika minal-khiyanati, fa- innaha bi’satil-bitanah
O Allah! I seek refuge in You from hunger; surely, it is the worst companion. And I seek refuge in You from treachery; surely, it is a bad inner trait (Abu Dawud)
The rewards of having good character and manners in this world
Love and Respect Among People: A person with good character is naturally loved and trusted. Your good character becomes your most powerful social asset, opening doors of goodness and barring doors of harm.
A Life of Peace and Lightness: Harboring malice, jealousy, and arrogance is a heavy burden on the soul. It darkens the heart and creates inner turmoil. So having good character brings great peace when one is free from all the aforementioned.
Elevation of Status: Allah elevates His servants in two ways: by a decree of honor in the hearts of people, and by raising their ranks in the Hereafter. The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
“Verily, a servant may reach through his good character the rank of one who constantly fasts and prays at night.” (Sunan Abi Dawud).
Let’s reflect on this! Without the physical effort of fasting and night prayers, a believer can attain the same spiritual rank through the excellence of their character. This is the great value Allah places on good manners, and that’s why we should keep on saying the dua for good manners.
The rewards of having good character and manners in the hereafter
1. The Heaviest Deed on the Scale: On the Day of Judgment, when material wealth and status are worthless, deeds are weighed. The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked what will admit the most people into Paradise. He said,
“Taqwa of Allah and good character.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)
Furthermore, he specifically stated,
“Nothing is heavier upon the Scale of the believer on the Day of Resurrection than good character.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi).
2. Proximity to the Prophet (ﷺ): Can there be a greater honor than to be seated close to the Master of all Creation, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), on that terrifying Day? Having good manners and character can make this happen after being a believer. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most beloved of you to me and the closest to me on the Day of Resurrection are those with the best character.” (Tirmidhi, 2018)
In conclusion, the rewards of having good character and manners are beyond measure. They bring you closer to Allah, elevate your rank in Jannah, cleanse your sins, and fill your life with peace, respect, and barakah. So, my dear brothers and sisters, never stop making dua for good manners and good character. They are not just supplications. They are the bridge between your current self and the person Allah wants you to become.
We ask Allah to guide us to the best of manners and turn us away from evil manners, grant us a loving heart, a content soul, and manners that please You. Aameen
