Ya Musarrifal Qulub Dua Meaning, Arabic and Hadith

Ya musarrifal qulub is a dua asking Allah to direct one’s heart towards obedience to him and asking Allah for firmness upon His deen of al-Islam. Here is the full dua in Arabic, English, Hadith and many more.

Ya Musarrifal Qulub Dua in Arabic

The full dua is written in Arabic as:

اللَّهُمَّ مُصَرِّفَ القُلُوبِ صَرِّفْ قُلُوبَنَا عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ

Transliteration

The correct transliteration is Allahumma musarrifal-qulubi, sarrif qulubana ’ala ta’atika.

Ya Musarrifal Qulub Meaning in English

Ya musarrifal qulub means O Allah! Controller of the hearts, direct our hearts to Your obedience.

Text of The Hadith

On the authority of Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (رضي الله عنه) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying:

“Verily, the hearts of the children of Adam (i.e. every human being) are between two fingers of the fingers of ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful), just like one heart, He directs them however He Wills.”

Then, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: O Allah! The One Who directs the hearts, direct our hearts towards Your obedience.

[Reported by Muslim, no. 2654]

Explanation of the Hadeeth

“O Allah! The One Who directs the hearts, direct our hearts towards Your obedience,” – The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of this supplication, highlighting the strong motivation behind it and the need for careful attention and frequent recitation.

This is seen in his preceding statement: “Verily, the hearts of the children of Adam (i.e. every human being) are between two fingers of the fingers of ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful), just like one heart, He directs them however He Wills.”

Something similar to this has also been narrated in the Hadeeth of Anas (رضي الله عنه), who said: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to frequently say:

يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ

Transliteration

Yā Muqallibal-qulūb, thabbit qalbī `alā dīnik.

Meaning

“O the One Who Turns the hearts [over or up and down], make my heart firm upon Your Deen (i.e. Islām).”

It is clear that Allah, the Most High, is the One Who takes control over the hearts of His servants. Then, He does with them as He Wills; none of them can prevent Him (from doing whatever He Wills).

Can anything willed (by the human being) escape His control? He does not leave the hearts of the human beings in the care of anyone of His created beings.

Hence, it is upon the human being to seek refuge in Allah, the Most High, and supplicate frequently with this supplication, just as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to supplicate with it frequently.

In this is an announcement to the whole Muslim Ummah that if his (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) pure soul was in need of seeking refuge in Allah (the One Free from Imperfections) to keep his heart firm, then what would be the situation of whoever is lower (in nearness to Allah) than him (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam); and every one of the worshippers of Allah is lower than him (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam)!

How much, then, is the Muslim in need of Allah making him firm upon His Upright Deen (al-Islam), which is the primary cause of salvation, success, and protection from sins and its dangers and disasters.

In this Hadith, there is an explanation of a great and significant matter, a serious and significant affair.

It emphasizes that Allah, in His infinite power, is the one who directly controls the hearts of His servants, guiding them as He wishes with complete authority.

He doesn’t delegate this task to any angel and keeps the secrets of His creation to Himself out of mercy, grace, and perfect wisdom.

It clarifies that a person has no control over their own happiness or misery; it is entirely in the hands of Allah. If someone is guided, it is by Allah’s guidance, and if someone goes astray, it is by His wise and just decree.

The Hadith underscores the importance of constant supplication to Allah for steadfastness in faith and obedience. It also highlights the Prophet’s teachings to his followers to maintain a balance of fear, reverence, and reliance on Allah, even in the face of challenges and uncertainties.

His statement, “direct our hearts to Your obedience.,” means to stabilize our hearts and direct them towards your obedience and pleasure in all aspects, including words, actions, and ethics.

And his saying, “towards [Your obedience],” implies that the heart should turn from one act of obedience to another, from prayer to fasting to charity.

Therefore, Allah is asked for steadfastness in religion as a whole, and the hadith, along with the one following it, indicates the importance of seeking Allah’s favor through various actions, including the effective implementation of His will and the profound wisdom involved.

Dua Benefits

1. Stability and Firmness in Obedience: The dua seeks Allah’s guidance to stabilize and firm the hearts in obedience. It acknowledges the need for a steadfast commitment to following Allah’s commands, ensuring consistency in actions and behavior.
2. Complete Submission: By asking Allah to direct the hearts towards His obedience, the believer expresses a desire for complete submission. It implies surrendering one’s will to Allah’s guidance and complying with His commands wholeheartedly.
3. Comprehensive Obedience: The phrase “towards Your obedience” indicates a broader understanding of obedience. It encompasses various aspects of life, including speech, actions, and character. The supplicant seeks alignment with Allah’s will in all facets of their existence.
4. Pleasing Allah: The dua implies a sincere intention to please Allah. By asking for the direction of hearts towards His obedience, the believer expresses a desire to act in a manner that brings contentment and pleasure to Allah.
5. Guidance in Words, Actions, and Ethics: The supplication emphasizes the need for guidance not only in actions but also in words and ethics. It encompasses a holistic approach to living in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
6. Acknowledgment of Allah’s Control: The phrase “O Allah! The One Who directs the hearts” acknowledges Allah’s supreme control over the hearts. It emphasizes the belief that Allah has the ultimate authority to guide and direct the innermost thoughts and intentions of individuals.
7. Consistent Seeking of Guidance: The act of making this dua implies an ongoing and consistent effort to seek Allah’s guidance. It recognizes that maintaining steadfastness in obedience is an ongoing process, and individuals need continuous guidance from Allah.
8. Dependence on Allah: The supplication reflects a deep sense of reliance on Allah for spiritual guidance. It acknowledges that true obedience is only achievable through Allah’s support and intervention in directing the hearts.
9. Recognition of Allah’s Unique Attributes: The reference to Allah as “The One Who directs the hearts” highlights a specific attribute of Allah. It underscores the uniqueness and perfection of Allah’s ability to guide and control the hearts, distinguishing Him from any creation.

In summary, this dua encompasses a comprehensive approach to seeking Allah’s guidance for stability in obedience, complete submission, and alignment with His will across various aspects of life, with a recognition of Allah’s unique attributes and a constant dependence on Him for guidance.