Dua-e-Masura is the familiar name many families use for a short dua often taught after the Tashahhud (Attahiyat) in Salah — especially in South Asian teaching traditions. Whether you call it Dua Masura or simply “the dua after Attahiyat,” Muslims need the Arabic text word-for-word, with clear transliteration and meaning, so they can recite calmly in the final sitting before salam.
This guide gives the full Arabic, transliteration, English meaning, a simple word-by-word breakdown, when it is typically recited, and how to memorise it without rushing. For the Tashahhud text that comes before it, see Attahiyat full Arabic & English.
Dua-e-Masura — Arabic, transliteration & English
Allāhumma innī ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīrā, wa lā yaghfiru dh-dhunūba illā anta, faghfir lī maghfiratan min ʿindak, warḥamnī, innaka anta l-ghafūru r-raḥīm.
English: O Allah, I have wronged myself with much wrong, and none forgives sins except You, so forgive me with forgiveness from You, and have mercy on me. Indeed, You are the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Note: Authentic collections preserve more than one beautiful dua for the final sitting of prayer. Local teachers may teach a slightly different wording. If your mosque uses another established text, keep your teacher’s version consistent — do not mix fragments from two duas mid-prayer.
Word-by-word meaning (key phrases)
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| اللَّهُمَّ | Allāhumma | O Allah |
| إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي | innī ẓalamtu nafsī | I have wronged myself |
| ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا | ẓulman kathīrā | with much wrong / many wrongs |
| وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ | wa lā yaghfiru dh-dhunūba illā anta | and none forgives sins except You |
| فَاغْفِرْ لِي | faghfir lī | so forgive me |
| مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ | maghfiratan min ʿindak | with forgiveness from You |
| وَارْحَمْنِي | warḥamnī | and have mercy on me |
| الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ | al-ghafūru r-raḥīm | the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful |
When is Dua-e-Masura recited in Salah?
In many teaching sequences, the final sitting of Salah follows this order:
- Attahiyat (Tashahhud) — see the Attahiyat guide
- Salawat / Darood upon the Prophet ﷺ
- A dua such as this one (Dua-e-Masura in many curricula)
- Salam to the right and left
Exact obligations and recommended extras can vary by school of jurisprudence. This article teaches a commonly memorised text; for a personal ruling about what is required versus recommended in your prayer, ask a qualified local teacher.
How to memorise it (kids and adults)
- Listen to a clear audio model three times before speaking
- Echo half the dua, then the second half
- Join both halves slowly
- Practise inside a full mock prayer sitting, not only as a flashcard
- Review for seven days at the same prayer time
If hard letters (ظ، غ، خ…) slip, get live correction early — habits stick. Tajweed-aware help: learn Tajweed online or online Quran classes.
Common mistakes
- Rushing so that words blur together
- Mixing two different post-Tashahhud duas into one hybrid
- Skipping meaning entirely, then losing focus in prayer
- Only practising outside Salah posture — memory fails in the real sitting
Closing
Dua-e-Masura is a humble conversation after witnessing faith in the Tashahhud: admitting our wrongs and asking the One who alone forgives. Learn it accurately, recite it calmly, and let its meaning soften the end of your prayer.
Practice the full final-sitting sequence
Memory sticks when the dua lives inside its real neighbourhood. Practise this short sequence daily for a week:
- Attahiyat (full)
- Short salawat
- Dua-e-Masura
- Salam
Do it once after Fajr practice and once before sleep. Two calm reps beat ten rushed ones. If you are teaching a child, celebrate finishing the sequence more than finishing at high speed.
A one-minute meaning reflection
Before you memorise another line, sit with the meaning: “I have wronged myself… none forgives except You.” This dua trains humility at the end of Salah. Adults returning to prayer after years away often find this line emotionally heavy — that is not a problem; recite slowly and honestly.
Why your uncle’s wording may differ
Islamic teaching travelled through many regions. South Asian madrasah booklets popularised the label “Dua-e-Masura” for a specific text; other regions emphasise different authentic duas for the same slot in prayer. Both can be valid teaching choices. The practical rule is consistency: one complete dua, reviewed with a teacher, not a collage of internet screenshots.
Take one line today, recite it ten calm times, and revisit tomorrow. Steady worship literacy is built in ordinary weeks — not only in moments of urgency or high emotion.
If you share this with family, practise together once, then let each person rehearse privately so nobody feels tested in public.
If you share this with family, practise together once, then let each person rehearse privately so nobody feels tested in public.
Keep a simple notebook line: date, text practised, and one pronunciation target for the next session with a teacher.
Chunking script for the first three days
| Day | Chunk | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allāhumma innī ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīrā | Smooth, no rush |
| 2 | wa lā yaghfiru dh-dhunūba illā anta, faghfir lī… | Connect to day-1 chunk |
| 3 | Full dua + salam practice in sitting posture | Use inside mock prayer |
Parents can tap a table lightly for each phrase so children feel rhythm without racing. Adults should record themselves once and compare to a reliable audio model — not to chase studio perfection, but to catch missing words.
Build Salah literacy as a stack
Think of prayer texts as a stack: opening takbir habits, Al-Fatiha, short surah, Attahiyat, salawat, then this dua. Skipping the middle layers makes the top layer unstable. If your Fatiha is shaky, repair that before obsessing over speed in Dua-e-Masura. A tutor can sequence this kindly in live lessons.
Return to this page whenever you need the Arabic in one calm place — accuracy and humility matter more than finishing the memorisation in a single evening.
When you can, ask a qualified tutor to listen once — a two-minute correction early prevents years of mumbled habit.
Additional calm repetition on day 4 should focus on clarity of each word, not on increasing speed or volume.
Additional calm repetition on day 5 should focus on clarity of each word, not on increasing speed or volume.
Additional calm repetition on day 6 should focus on clarity of each word, not on increasing speed or volume.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dua-e-Masura the only dua after Attahiyat?+
No. Several authentic duas are taught for the final sitting. Stick to one complete version your teacher prefers.
Do I recite it in every prayer?+
Many Muslims recite a dua after Tashahhud in the final sitting of each obligatory prayer. Follow your school’s guidance on what is required versus recommended.
Can children learn this before perfect Tajweed?+
Yes — start with listening and clear chunks, then refine sounds with a tutor over time.
Should I learn Attahiyat first?+
Yes. Learn Tashahhud first, then Salawat, then this dua, so the sitting sequence feels natural.
Where can I get live pronunciation help?+
Book a free trial for live 1-to-1 correction via online Quran classes — mention you want Salah duas checked.