Pregnancy is, by its nature, one of the most spiritually heightened seasons of a woman’s life. Alongside the medical care and practical preparation, Muslim mothers have an unparalleled companion: dua. The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said that the dua of a mother is rarely rejected. This article gathers ten of the most beautiful and authentic pregnancy duas — each with the Arabic text, transliteration, English meaning, and source — so you can return to them at any time.
If you prefer to listen rather than read, Sakina’s Premium tier includes all twenty-five of these duas with audio recitation. You can download the app here or keep reading.
Why dua matters during pregnancy
In the Qur’an, Allah records the duas of pregnant women as timeless, universal examples — not as background narrative but as teaching. The prayer of the mother of Maryam (عليها السلام) is preserved in Surah Al-Imran. The prayer of Zakariya عليه السلام for Yahya is there too. These verses are not just stories; they are prescriptions.
Adab of making dua: begin with praise of Allah, send salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ, ask with conviction, and raise your hands. Small, sincere duas repeated often are better than long ones said once.
1. Dua for a righteous child (Quran 3:38)
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
Rabbi hab li min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibah, innaka samee‘ud-du‘a.
“My Lord, grant me from Yourself a righteous offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.” Source: Surah Al-Imran, 3:38 — the dua of Zakariya عليه السلام.
2. Dua for a pious, devoted child (Quran 37:100)
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Rabbi hab li mina s-saliheen. “My Lord, grant me a righteous (child).” Source: 37:100 — the dua of Ibrahim عليه السلام.
3. Dua for strong iman in the family (Quran 25:74)
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata a‘yunin waj‘alna lil-muttaqina imama.
“Our Lord, grant us from our spouses and our offspring comfort to our eyes, and make us an example for the righteous.” Source: 25:74 — one of the duas of ‘Ibad ar-Rahman.
4. Dua before any new endeavour (for labour & delivery)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Bismillahi tawakkaltu ‘alallahi, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah. “In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah; there is no power nor strength except with Allah.” Source: Sunan Abi Dawud, authentic chain.
5. Dua of comprehensive goodness (Quran 2:201)
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-akhirati hasanah wa qina ‘adhaban-nar. “Our Lord, grant us good in this world and in the hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” Source: 2:201.
6. Ayat al-Kursi (Quran 2:255) — for protection
Reciting Ayat al-Kursi is one of the most powerful means of seeking Allah’s protection. Many mothers recite it morning and evening throughout pregnancy.
7. Dua for seeking refuge for the unborn child (from hadith)
أُعِيذُكِ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ
U‘eedhuka bi-kalimatillahi t-tammah min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli ‘aynin lammah. “I seek refuge for you in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and crawling creature, and from every evil eye.” Source: al-Bukhari 3371 — the dua the Prophet ﷺ would recite over al-Hasan and al-Husayn.
8. Dua of Musa عليه السلام for ease
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي
Rabbish rah li sadri, wa yassir li amri. “My Lord, expand my chest and ease my task.” Source: 20:25–26. Short enough to repeat through contractions.
9. Hasbunallah — for worry
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الوَكِيلُ
Hasbunallahu wa ni‘mal-wakeel. “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.” Source: 3:173. Recite when fear or uncertainty rises in the heart.
10. Morning & evening dhikr for protection
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيمُ
Bismillahi-l-ladhi la yadurru ma‘a smihi shay’un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama’, wa huwa s-sami‘u l-‘aleem. “In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in the heaven can cause harm. He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” Source: Abu Dawud 5088, Tirmidhi 3388 — authentic.
How to use these duas
Don’t try to memorise all ten at once. Pick the two or three that speak to you most, and say them deliberately each day — perhaps after Fajr and before sleep. Add the English if you don’t yet know the Arabic. The sincerity of the heart, not the accent of the tongue, is what Allah receives.
Inside Sakina we’ve recorded all twenty-five of these duas with audio so you can listen while driving, resting, or walking. Many mothers tell us the audio is how they finally memorised the ones they always wanted to. See everything inside the app.
Related guides
- Islamic guidance during pregnancy: surahs & Prophetic advice
- Fasting during Ramadan while pregnant
- 150 Muslim baby girl names
All duas listed here are drawn from the Qur’an or authentic hadith collections. For any Islamic ruling or scholarly context, please consult a qualified scholar you trust.