Iftar Dua: Arabic, Transliteration, Meaning and Authentic Hadith

After a full day of fasting in Ramadan, the moment of sunset is a moment of joy. Every year people ask what exactly to say at that moment and which iftar dua is the right one. Some forget the words; others find several versions and are unsure which to follow. This guide gives the dua for breaking the fast in Arabic, with transliteration and meaning, and makes clear, with hadith numbers, which wording is authentic and which has a weak chain.

What does iftar mean

Iftar is an Arabic word from the root fitr, meaning to break or open. In Islamic usage it means ending the day's fast by eating or drinking after sunset. In everyday speech the food you break your fast with is also called iftar.

It is sunnah to break the fast as soon as sunset is certain, without delay. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that people will remain upon goodness as long as they hasten to break the fast (Bukhari 1957).

The authentic iftar dua: Arabic, transliteration and meaning

The dua the Prophet said after breaking his fast was narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (RA). Shaykh al-Albani graded it hasan (Abu Dawud 2357).

Arabic:

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Transliteration: Dhahaba al-zama', wabtallat al-'uruq, wa thabata al-ajr, in sha Allah.

Meaning: The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is certain, if Allah wills.

The words themselves show that this dua is said after you have taken a sip of water or a date. So say "Bismillah" before you start, break your fast with water or a date, and then recite this dua.

The popular dua: Allahumma laka sumtu

This is the most widely known iftar dua in Bangladesh and South Asia. Many Ramadan calendars even print it as the "iftar niyyah".

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ

Transliteration: Allahumma laka sumtu, wa 'ala rizqika aftartu.

Meaning: O Allah, for You I fasted, and with Your provision I break my fast.

This report appears in Abu Dawud from Mu'adh ibn Zuhrah through a mursal chain, meaning the narrator did not name the Companion he heard it from. For that reason hadith scholars class it as weak. IslamQA explains that the hasan dua narrated by Ibn Umar is sufficient in its place. Because its meaning is sound, there is no sin in saying it, but it should not be treated as compulsory or as the only iftar dua.

Some books add "wa 'alayka tawakkaltu" or "bi rahmatika ya arhamar rahimin" at the end. These additions are not found in reliable hadith.

The duas compared at a glance

Duas are answered at iftar

The moment of iftar is a special time for dua. Ibn Majah 1753 reports that the supplication of a fasting person when breaking the fast is not turned back. The same narration mentions that the Companion Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) used to say at iftar:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ الَّتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي

Transliteration: Allahumma inni as'aluka bi rahmatika allati wasi'at kulla shay'in an taghfira li.

Meaning: O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy, which encompasses all things, to forgive me.

So rather than spending the last minutes before the adhan chatting or scrolling, make dua in your own language for your family, your country and the wider ummah. Even if you have not memorised any set wording, a sincere dua is enough.

Is there an "iftar niyyah"

Intention (niyyah) is a resolve of the heart. You need an intention for the fast itself, but there is no separate intention or Arabic formula to say aloud for iftar. Texts shared as the "iftar niyyah" are really iftar duas. In some places a long istighfar phrase is presented as the iftar niyyah; that too has no reliable basis.

What to break your fast with: the sunnah way

Anas (RA) said the Prophet used to break his fast before praying Maghrib with a few fresh dates; if there were none, with dry dates; and if there were none, with a few sips of water (Abu Dawud 2356). The order is therefore:

1. Fresh dates
2. Dry dates
3. Water
4. If none of these, any halal food

If iftar time arrives while you are travelling, break the fast with whatever you have, and if you have nothing, eat as soon as you can.

Things to do at iftar time

• Break the fast as soon as sunset is confirmed.
• Say Bismillah first, then the authentic dua.
• Make plenty of dua and istighfar in the minutes before iftar.
• Break the fast lightly with dates or water, pray Maghrib, then have the main meal.
• Cut down on fried food and sweets; favour water, fruit and easily digested food.

The reward for feeding a fasting person

Giving others iftar is one of the great good deeds of Ramadan. Zaid ibn Khalid al-Juhani (RA) reported that the Prophet said whoever gives a fasting person something to break the fast with will have a reward like his, without the fasting person's reward being reduced at all (Tirmidhi 807, sahih). Even one date or a glass of juice earns this, so share iftar with neighbours, rickshaw pullers or worshippers at the mosque.

Teaching children the iftar dua

Ramadan is a good time for the whole family to learn duas together. A few simple techniques help:

1. One part a day: teach "Dhahaba al-zama'" on day one, "wabtallat al-'uruq" the next, and so on.
2. Explain the meaning: children remember faster when they know what the words mean.
3. Say it together at the table: when adults recite aloud, children pick it up by listening.
4. Make a card: write the Arabic, transliteration and meaning and stick it by the table or on the fridge.
5. Encourage them: praise or a small gift once they have memorised it keeps them motivated.

How to know the exact iftar time

In Bangladesh the Islamic Foundation publishes the sehri and iftar timetable every Ramadan. Times outside Dhaka differ by a few minutes depending on the district, because sunset comes at different times in the east and west of the country. Check your own district's time and break your fast with the local mosque's adhan. As of November 2026, astronomical estimates suggest Ramadan 2027 may begin around 8 February 2027; the final date will be announced by the National Moon Sighting Committee.

Common mistakes

• Treating one dua as the only one: learn and recite the authentic dua too.
• Fearing the fast is invalid without the dua: the dua is sunnah, not a condition of a valid fast.
• Delaying iftar out of excess caution: once sunset is certain, delay goes against the sunnah.
• Spending iftar time on photos and phones: it is one of the best times for dua.

Final word

The most reliable dua for breaking the fast is "Dhahaba al-zama', wabtallat al-'uruq, wa thabata al-ajr in sha Allah". The popular "Allahumma laka sumtu" may be said, but it is good to know it is weak. Above all, iftar is a time when duas are answered, so ask Allah sincerely in your own words. Memorise these duas before Ramadan 2027 begins, and teach them to the younger members of your family.