Dua for marriage and a good spouse: Arabic, meaning and how to ask.

If you are longing to get married, or praying for a good husband or wife, you are in good company — the prophets themselves turned to Allah when they needed a spouse, a family or simply relief from loneliness. This guide gathers duas for marriage from the Quran and Sunnah, with the Arabic, a transliteration and the meaning, and explains how and when to make them. Whether you are a sister asking for a righteous husband or a brother asking for a good wife, these words are for you.

Before you begin: the etiquette of dua

Dua is worship in itself. You are not bothering Allah by asking for marriage — He loves to be asked. A few points of adab help your dua come from the right place:

• Sincerity and certainty. Ask with a present heart and trust that Allah hears you. The Prophet ﷺ taught that dua is answered as long as we do not become impatient and say, "I prayed but was not answered."
• Halal means. Scholars mention that a halal income and lifestyle help a dua to be accepted. Ask for marriage while keeping your search halal.
• Praise first. Begin by praising Allah and sending salawat on the Prophet ﷺ, then ask.
• Ask in your own words too. The Arabic duas below are beautiful, but you can also ask in English, Urdu or any language, as specifically as you like.

Times when dua is especially hoped to be accepted include the last third of the night, between the adhan and the iqamah, while fasting and at the time of breaking the fast, in sujood (prostration), and on Fridays. Scholars differ on some details — for example, whether to make personal duas in Arabic only during the obligatory prayer — so follow the guidance of a teacher you trust.

1. Dua for a good spouse and children — Surah al-Furqan 25:74

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

Rabbanā hab lanā min azwājinā wa dhurriyyātinā qurrata a‘yunin waj‘alnā lil-muttaqīna imāmā.

Meaning: "Our Lord, grant us from our spouses and our offspring comfort to our eyes, and make us leaders of the righteous."

This is the dua most often recommended for a good husband or wife and righteous children. "Comfort to our eyes" means someone whose presence brings you joy and peace — exactly what you hope for in a spouse. Many people make it daily while searching, and continue making it throughout their marriage.

2. The dua of Musa — Surah al-Qasas 28:24

رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

Rabbi innī limā anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqīr.

Meaning: "My Lord, I am truly in need of whatever good You send down to me."

Musa (peace be upon him) made this dua when he had fled Egypt and arrived in Madyan alone, tired and with nothing. He had just helped two young women water their flock, then sat in the shade and turned to Allah. Soon after, one of the women returned to invite him to her father — and that meeting led to his marriage. The dua itself is general: it asks for any good Allah chooses to send. That is why so many people make it when hoping for marriage — it expresses need without dictating the answer.

3. The dua of Zakariya — Surah al-Anbiya 21:89

رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ

Rabbi lā tadharnī fardan wa anta khayrul-wārithīn.

Meaning: "My Lord, do not leave me alone, and You are the best of inheritors."

Zakariya (peace be upon him) made this dua in old age, asking Allah for a child, and Allah answered him with Yahya. Its words — "do not leave me alone" — speak to anyone who feels the loneliness of waiting, which is why many people also make it when asking for a spouse.

4. A dua for all good — Surah al-Baqarah 2:201

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ‘adhāban-nār.

Meaning: "Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."

This was one of the duas the Prophet ﷺ made most often. Some scholars of tafsir explained "good in this world" as including a righteous spouse, alongside knowledge, provision and well-being. It is a comprehensive dua to make for marriage and everything that comes with it.

5. The dua for newlyweds — from the Sunnah

بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ، وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكَ، وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ

Bārakallāhu laka, wa bāraka ‘alayka, wa jama‘a baynakumā fī khayr.

Meaning: "May Allah bless you, and send blessings upon you, and bring you together in goodness."

The Prophet ﷺ used to say this to congratulate someone who had just married (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi). Say it to friends at their nikah — and look forward to hearing it said to you.

Dua for marriage soon, or for marriage to be easy

There is no special formula for "marriage soon". The duas above, made consistently and with patience, are what the scholars recommend — together with asking in your own words: "O Allah, make marriage easy for me, bless me with a righteous spouse soon, and make it good for my deen and my dunya." Ask for ease in the process too: that families agree, that obstacles are removed, and that you are protected from anyone who would harm you.

If a proposal has arrived, ask Allah to make the matter clear to you and to make it easy if it is good. That is exactly what istikhara is for.

Dua for marriage to a specific person

Many people ask whether it is allowed to make dua to marry a particular person. Scholars generally say it is permissible to ask Allah for something specific, as long as what you ask for is halal — for example, "O Allah, if this person is good for my deen, my life and my akhirah, make it easy for us to marry." The safest way to ask is to tie it to what is good, because you cannot see the full picture and Allah can.

Pair that dua with istikhara and with contentment: if it does not happen, trust that Allah has protected you from something or is preparing something better. Avoid anything that crosses into haram — secret relationships, or forms of "spiritual" help that claim to force someone's heart.

Dua alongside action

Dua and effort go together. The Prophet ﷺ taught us to tie the camel and then trust in Allah. While you make dua, take the halal steps open to you: let your family know you are ready, ask trusted people for introductions, and search with clear intentions. Many sisters and brothers today also use a Muslim marriage app built for nikah rather than dating. On Zawaj, proposals replace swiping so intentions are clear from the first message, verification and reporting tools help keep things genuine, and you can involve your wali or family whenever you are ready.

Keep making dua through every stage — while you search, when a proposal comes, before the nikah and throughout your marriage.

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

More guides: istikhara for marriage, what is nikah? and what is mahr?. Or read what the Quran says about marriage and dealing with rejection in the marriage search.