In a nutshell: Before opening the Quran, Muslims begin with a heartfelt dua to prepare their souls and seek Allah’s protection from distractions. This prayer, through Isti’adhah and Basmalah, transforms recitation into a sacred act of worship rooted in sincerity and spiritual focus. It marks the shift from worldly thoughts to divine connection, grounding the reader in humility and reverence.

You’re holding the Quran. Before your eyes scan the first line, before your lips form the first word, a moment of preparation is essential. Dua for reading Quran is about preparing your heart. 

We call this the etiquette (Adab) of recitation, and it begins with a pure intention (Niyyah) and a specific prayer, or dua, to center your soul for the conversation about to begin.

Why Do We Say a Dua Before Reading Quran?

Think of it as shifting your entire state of being. You are moving from the distractions of the dunya—the emails, the to-do lists, the mental chatter—into a sacred conversation. The primary purpose of the dua before reading Quran is to seek protection. 

It’s a conscious act of asking Allah to shield you from the whispers and “spiritual static” of Shaytan (Satan), whose entire goal is to distract you, to plant doubt, or to make your recitation a hollow, mechanical act.

This prayer before reading Quran clears the channel. This dua before reading Quran is an acknowledgment that you cannot gain any wisdom from this book without Allah’s help and protection. 

Dua before reading Quran transforms your recitation from a simple act of reading into an act of worship.

What to Say Before Reading Quran?

Before reading Quran you say Isti’adhah to seek refuge in Allah from Satan. Allah instructs us in the Quran:

“فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ” 

(Fa ‘idha qara’ta al-Qur’ana fasta’idh billahi min ash-Shaytan ir-rajeem) 

“So when you recite the Qur’an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.” (Surah An-Nahl, 16:98)

This act of seeking refuge is called the Isti’adhah. It is the essential ‘dua’ to begin your connection with the Quran. 

It is your statement of humility, recognizing that your strength and focus come only from Him.

So, the two essential phrases that open your recitation are the Isti’adhah followed by the Basmalah.

1. The Isti’adhah (Seeking Refuge)

You say this once before you begin your recitation session:

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ 

(A’udhu Billahi min-ash-Shaytan-ir-Rajeem) 

“I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.”

2. The Basmalah (Naming Allah) 

After the Isti’adhah, you begin the chapter by saying:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ 

(Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem) 

“In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.”

You recite the Basmalah at the beginning of every Surah (chapter) you read, with the single exception of Surah At-Tawbah.

Dua Before Reading Quran for Setting Your Intention Purely

Why have you opened the Quran today? Are you seeking comfort for an anxious heart?  An answer to a difficult question? Or simply to be in the presence of your Lord?

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us that “actions are judged by intentions.” 

Any simple, internal dua can transform your reading from a routine task into a dedicated act of worship (ibadah).

It can be as simple as a silent plea from the heart: 

“O Allah, I am reading Your words seeking Your guidance and Your pleasure. Please open my heart to them and accept this from me.” 

This plea aligns your entire being with the sacredness of the text you are about to engage with.

Dua Before Reading Quran in Arabic

These supplications serve as a perfect expression of our hopes, fears, and sincere intentions as we approach Allah’s words.

Here are some of these profound duas that you can integrate into your personal practice, turning to Allah with humility before you begin.

“اللهم افتح لي بالقرآن بصيرتي، ويسر لي تلاوته.”

“Allahumma-ftah lee bil-Qur’ani baseerati, wa yassir lee tilawatah.”

“O Allah, open my insight with the Quran, and make its recitation easy for me.”

You are asking for baseerah—spiritual insight. You are asking Allah for the Quran to be the key that unlocks your heart’s eye, allowing you to see the wisdom between the lines. 

It is also a practical request for help, asking Allah to make the physical act of recitation—the intricate and beautiful rules of Learn Quran with Tajweed—smooth and effortless on your tongue.

Enroll Now in Our Tajweed Course 

“اللهم ذكرني منه ما نسيت، وعلمني منه ما جهلت.”

“Allahumma dhakkirni minhu ma naseet, wa ‘allimni minhu ma jahilt.”

“O Allah, remind me of what I have forgotten from it, and teach me what I am ignorant of from it.”

This is the ultimate dua of a student. It is a humble acknowledgment of our own limitations. We are forgetful, and we are ignorant. 

This prayer places your Quran Memorization and Hifz under Allah’s care, asking Him to protect what you have learned. 

More than that, it is a direct request for knowledge—a plea for Him to teach you the vast meanings you have not yet grasped, opening the doors to a deeper Tafseer Course and lifelong learning.

“اللهم اجعل تلاوتي لك خالصة، وقلبي متبعاً له.”

“Allahumma-j’al tilawati laka khalisah, wa qalbi muttabi’an lah.”

“O Allah, make my recitation purely for Your sake, and make my heart an obedient follower of it.”

Here, you are purifying your intention. You are asking that this act of reading not be for show, or praise, or worldly gain, but for Allah and Allah alone (ikhlas). 

The second half of the dua is the critical outcome: you are pleading for the Quran to not just be words on your tongue, but for it to descend into your heart and become the guide for your actions, making you a “follower” of its commands and wisdom.

“اللهم اجعل القرآن أنيساً لي في الدنيا وشفاءً لي في الآخرة.”

“Allahumma-j’alil-Qur’ana aneesan lee fid-dunya wa shifa’an lee fil-akhirah.”

“O Allah, make the Quran a companion for me in this world and a healing for me in the Hereafter.”

This is a beautifully personal request that speaks to the loneliness we can feel even in a crowded world. You are asking Allah for the Quran to be your anees—a close, intimate companion that brings comfort, solace, and guidance to your worldly life. And you are asking for it to be your shifa’a—a source of healing for your soul when you stand before Him in the next life.

“اللهم اجعل نظري فيه عبادة، وقراءتي تفكراً، وفكري اعتباراً.”

“Allahumma-j’al nadhari feehi ‘ibadah, wa qira’ati tafakkuran, wa fikri ‘itibaran.”

“O Allah, make my looking into it an act of worship, my reading of it a deep reflection, and my thinking about it a source of admonition.”

This final dua elevates every single aspect of your engagement with the Mus’haf. You are asking that the mere act of looking at the sacred text be counted as ibadah (worship). 

You are praying that your recitation is not just a passive reading, but an active, deep reflection (tafakkur). And finally, you ask that this reflection leads to i’tibar—the state of taking heed, learning the lesson, and allowing it to truly change your life and your character. 

Read Also: Rules for Reading and Reciting the Quran

Do You Have to Make Wudu Before Reading Quran?

Yes, if you are reading from a Mushaf. And no if you are reading from memory or device. So, the answer depends on how you are reading the Quran.

1. To Physically Touch the Mushaf

If you are holding and reading from the Mushaf (the bound, Arabic-only hardcopy of the Quran), the consensus among scholars is that yes, you must be in a state of Wudu (ablution). This is an act of profound respect for the physical sanctity of Allah’s words.

2. To Read from Memory or a Digital Device

If you are reading from memory, or reading from a digital app on your phone or tablet, Wudu is not considered obligatory (fard).

However, while it may not be obligatory, it is highly recommended (mustahabb). Approaching the Quran in a state of physical purity only enhances your spiritual purity and readiness to receive its light. 

Think of it as preparing for a meeting with someone you deeply respect—you would want to be at your best. The Adab is not just about rules, but about showing the deepest reverence you can.

Read Also: Dua After Reading Quran

Begin Your Guided Study Of The Quran Today with Quranica

Quranica provides the authentic, expert guidance required to bridge the gap between your heart’s plea and true comprehension.

Learn one-on-one with native Arab tutors, all of whom are graduates of the prestigious Al-Azhar University.

Study with experts who are Ijazah-certified to teach the Quran and have deep experience guiding non-Arabic speakers.

Master the sound, meaning, and language through our focused courses, including Learn Quran with Tajweed, the Online Quran Tafseer Course, and Quranic Arabic programs.

Bring this light to your entire family with our dedicated Online Quran Classes for Kids.

Access this world-class, authentic education at competitive, accessible pricing.

Explore our full range of courses.

Book your free evaluation class and start your first real lesson today.

Conclusion

Reciting dua before reading the Quran is a moment of intention and surrender. It reminds the believer that true understanding and reflection come only through Allah’s guidance and protection from Shaytan’s whispers.

Through supplications like A’udhu Billahi min-ash-Shaytan-ir-Rajeem and Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem, the heart aligns with the purpose of recitation—seeking mercy, clarity, and spiritual insight rather than mere words.

Approaching the Quran in purity, both physical and spiritual, deepens the experience and honors the sacred text. Every word then becomes not just a reading, but a healing dialogue with the Divine, enriching both faith and life.