Rabbana La Tuzigh Qulubana: Dua to Keep the Heart Guided (Quran 3:8) – Arabic, Hindi, Urdu & Meaning

Guidance is the greatest gift, and a believer worries about losing it. This short dua asks Allah to keep our hearts from going astray after He has guided us, and to give us His mercy. It is in Surah Al-Imran, verse 8.

Quran Reference

• Surah: Al-Imran (Chapter 3), verse 8
• Read online: Quran 3:8 on Quran.com
• Comes right after: Quran 3:7, which speaks about people who have deviation in their hearts and about those who are firm in knowledge

Word-by-Word Meaning

• Rabbana – our Lord
• La tuzigh – do not let (it) deviate
• Qulubana – our hearts
• Ba’da idh hadaytana – after You have guided us
• Wa hab lana – and grant us
• Min ladunka – from Yourself
• Rahmatan – mercy
• Innaka anta al-Wahhab – indeed You are the Bestower, the One who gives freely

Simple Explanation

In Quran 3:7, Allah speaks about two kinds of people: those who have deviation in their hearts, and those who are firm in knowledge and say that all of it is from their Lord. The dua in 3:8 follows those words, and the translation adds ‘who say’ before it.

The dua teaches us two things:

• Ask Allah to keep your heart straight. Guidance is not something we own forever. We need Allah to keep us on it.
• Ask for His mercy. We ask Allah to give us mercy from Himself, because we cannot earn guidance by our own power.

We end the dua with Allah’s name Al-Wahhab, the Bestower. It means that Allah gives freely, without being asked to give back.

A warning about turning away is also in Quran 61:5, which says that when people deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate.

What Does the Authentic Hadith Say?

The Hadith below is not an explanation of verse 3:8 itself. It is a related dua of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the same meaning: asking Allah to keep the heart firm.

1. The dua he said most often. In Jami at-Tirmidhi 3522, Shahr bin Hawshab asked Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) what dua the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said most often when he was with her. She said it was: ‘Ya Muqallibal-qulub, thabbit qalbi ‘ala dinik’ (O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion). When she asked him why, he said that every human heart is between two of Allah’s fingers, and He makes steadfast whom He wills and lets deviate whom He wills. Tirmidhi graded it Hasan.

Reference: Jami at-Tirmidhi 3522

2. The same dua from Anas. Jami at-Tirmidhi 2140 reports from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would often say the same words, and that the hearts are between two fingers of Allah’s fingers, He changes them as He wills. Tirmidhi graded it Hasan. Scholars of Hadith differ in how they grade its chain, and the main meaning is supported by the narration of Umm Salamah above.

Reference: Jami at-Tirmidhi 2140

For the words about Allah’s fingers, believers accept them as they came, and only Allah knows their reality.

Benefits and Lessons

• Guidance can be lost, so ask to keep it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Allah to keep his heart firm very often.
• Do not feel safe because of your past good deeds. We still need Allah’s help to stay firm.
• Ask Allah for mercy, not only for rewards. The dua asks for mercy from Allah Himself.
• Learn Allah’s name Al-Wahhab. It reminds us that Allah gives freely.
• Take action too. A good way to stay firm is to keep our worship regular, remember Allah and stay with good company.

When Can I Make This Dua?

Allah invites us to call upon Him (Quran 40:60), so you can make this dua at any time. The Hadith shows that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said ‘Ya Muqallibal-qulub’ very often.

Some websites recommend making this dua every morning after Fajr. We have not found an authentic Hadith that sets this as a rule, so this is not verified as a fixed practice. It is still a good habit.

Common Questions

Is this dua only for people who have doubts? No. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself asked Allah to keep his heart firm, so every believer can ask for it.

Are the dua of Quran 3:8 and ‘Ya Muqallibal-qulub’ the same? They are different words with a similar meaning. One is from the Quran, and the other is from the Hadith. Both ask Allah to keep the heart firm.

Is there a fixed reward for reciting it? We have not found an authentic Hadith that gives this verse a fixed reward or a fixed number of recitations.

Are the Hindi and Urdu lines the Quran? No. The Arabic is the word of Allah. The other lines are only to help you read and understand. Please learn the correct pronunciation from a qualified teacher.

More Duas on Guidance and Steadfastness

• Dua for Guidance: Ihdinas Siratal Mustaqeem (Quran 1:6–7)
• Rabbana Afrigh Alayna Sabran: Dua for Patience (Quran 2:250)

References

• Quran 3:7–8 – quran.com/3/8
• Quran 40:60 – quran.com/40/60
• Quran 61:5 – quran.com/61/5
• Jami at-Tirmidhi 3522 – sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3522
• Jami at-Tirmidhi 2140 – sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2140

Conclusion

This dua shows us what a believer fears most: losing guidance. The answer is to ask Allah for a firm heart and for His mercy, again and again.

May Allah keep our hearts firm on guidance and grant us His mercy. Ameen.