Dua Before Maghrib
3 Ways to Welcome the Night
As the sun sets and the time for the Maghrib prayer arrives, the day departs and the night begins. This transition is a beautiful moment to turn to Allah, and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught a supplication to recite as the night approaches, acknowledging the coming of the night and the departing of the day, and asking Allah for forgiveness. The dua before Maghrib welcomes the night with the remembrance of Allah and the seeking of His pardon.
اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا إِقْبَالُ لَيْلِكَ وَإِدْبَارُ نَهَارِكَ وَأَصْوَاتُ دُعَاتِكَ فَاغْفِرْ لِي
Allāhumma hādhā iqbālu laylika wa idbāru nahārika wa aswātu du‘ātika faghfir lī.
“O Allah, this is the coming of Your night and the departing of Your day and the voices of those who call to You, so forgive me.”
The time around sunset is blessed, a moment when the voices of those who call upon Allah rise together. By reciting the dua before Maghrib, the believer marks the end of the day with humility and turns to Allah for forgiveness as the night begins. This guide explains the dua before Maghrib and three ways to welcome the night, so that the worshipper may greet the evening with the remembrance and forgiveness of Allah.
Welcoming the Night with Allah
The Prophet (pbuh) taught a beautiful supplication to recite as the day ends and the night begins, the words quoted above: O Allah, this is the coming of Your night and the departing of Your day and the voices of those who call to You, so forgive me. The supplication acknowledges that the night and the day belong to Allah, and that the voices of His servants are raised in His remembrance at this hour, before humbly asking for His forgiveness.
This dua reflects a beautiful awareness of the passing of time. As one day departs and a new night arrives, the believer pauses to recognise the signs of Allah in the changing of day and night, and turns to Him seeking forgiveness for whatever shortcomings the day held. It is a humble and fitting way to mark the sunset, welcoming the night not with heedlessness, but with the remembrance and the pardon of Allah.
هَٰذَا إِقْبَالُ لَيْلِكَ وَإِدْبَارُ نَهَارِكَ
Hadha iqbalu laylika wa idbaru naharik
This is the coming of Your night and the departing of Your day
Three Ways to Welcome the Night
The arrival of the night is a beautiful time to turn to Allah. These three ways help the worshipper welcome the night before Maghrib.
- Recite the dua of the Prophet (pbuh), acknowledging the coming night and seeking forgiveness.
- Seek the forgiveness of Allah, turning to Him for pardon as the day comes to its close.
- Prepare for the Maghrib prayer, readying the heart to stand before Allah as night begins.
Greeting the Evening with Forgiveness
The dua before Maghrib welcomes the night the way the Prophet (pbuh) welcomed it, acknowledging the coming of the night and the departing of the day, and seeking the forgiveness of Allah. By reciting this beautiful supplication, turning to Allah for pardon, and preparing the heart for the Maghrib prayer, the worshipper greets the evening with humility and remembrance. This dua marks the sunset not with heedlessness but with the forgiveness and the closeness of Allah as the night begins.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua after Asr and the dua after Maghrib. Together they help the worshipper fill the evening with the remembrance and forgiveness of Allah.
As the day departs and the night arrives, the Prophet (pbuh) welcomed it by seeking the forgiveness of Allah. Learn the duas of salah with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on Facebook for a reminder to welcome the night with Allah, and on X where readers share how they greet the evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua before Maghrib is the supplication the Prophet (pbuh) taught to recite as night approaches: O Allah, this is the coming of Your night and the departing of Your day and the voices of those who call to You, so forgive me.
It is recited as the day ends and the night begins, around the time of sunset before the Maghrib prayer. It marks the transition from day to night with the remembrance of Allah.
It acknowledges that the night and day belong to Allah and that His servants call upon Him at this hour, then asks Him for forgiveness. It welcomes the night by seeking the pardon of Allah.
It is a blessed moment when one day departs and a new night arrives, and the voices of those who call upon Allah are raised. The believer marks it with humility and seeks the forgiveness of Allah.
Recite the dua of the Prophet (pbuh), seek the forgiveness of Allah, and prepare your heart for the Maghrib prayer. These greet the evening with the remembrance and pardon of Allah.