The sehri and iftar dua are the two short supplications that frame every fast in Ramadan: one recited at Sehri, when you make the intention to fast, and one recited at Iftar, when you break the fast. Both are brief, both are easy to learn, and both carry a depth of meaning that is worth understanding rather than simply repeating. This guide gives you each dua in Arabic, with transliteration and English translation, explains when to read each one, and answers the questions people ask most often about them.
The duas below are the ones traditionally recited across Pakistan at Sehri and Iftar. They are presented here exactly as they appear in the duas section of Ramazan Calendar 2027, so you can learn them, teach them to your children, and keep them with you through the month.
Sehri and Iftar Dua: What to Recite and When
Each fast has two bookends. At Sehri, before the fast begins, you make the intention to fast and recite the Sehri dua. At Iftar, when the fast ends, you recite the Iftar dua as you break your fast. The Sehri dua looks forward: it states your intention for the fast ahead. The Iftar dua looks back with gratitude: it thanks Allah for the fast you have completed and for the food with which you break it.
Neither dua is long. The Sehri dua is a single short sentence, and the Iftar dua is only slightly longer. Most people learn both within a day or two of regular recitation, and children usually pick them up quickly by hearing them at the family table. The sections below give each dua in full, with its meaning explained word by word, so that you know what you are saying and why.
Sehri Dua in Arabic with Transliteration and Translation
The Sehri dua is recited at the time of Sehri, when you make the intention to keep the fast. Here it is in Arabic:
وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
Transliteration: Wa bisawmi ghadinn nawaiytu min shahri Ramadan
Translation: “And I intend to fast tomorrow in the month of Ramadan.”
The word-by-word meaning is simple and beautiful. Wa means “and.” Bi-sawmi means “with the fast” or “by fasting.” Ghadin means “tomorrow.” Nawaytu means “I intend.” Min shahri Ramadan means “from the month of Ramadan.” Put together, the dua is a clear statement of intention: you are declaring, before Allah, that you intend to fast the coming day of Ramadan.
One word sometimes causes confusion: “tomorrow.” In the Islamic day, the night comes before the day, so the fast that begins after Sehri is the fast of the day ahead, and the dua speaks of it as “tomorrow’s fast.” The point of the dua is the intention itself: you are consciously choosing to fast for the sake of Allah, and putting that choice into words.
It is important to understand the place of this dua. In Islamic teaching, the intention (niyyah) of the fast is made in the heart. The scholars explain that the intention itself is what matters, and that reciting these words aloud is a recommended and long-established practice in Pakistan, not a condition that makes or breaks the fast. If you wake for Sehri with the intention to fast, your intention is present. The dua gives that intention a voice, and saying it each morning helps you begin the fast with focus and purpose rather than by habit alone.
Iftar Dua in Arabic with Transliteration and Translation
The Iftar dua is recited at the time of breaking the fast. Here it is in Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu
Translation: “O Allah, I fasted for You, I believe in You, and I break my fast with the provision You gave me.”
Word by word, the dua unfolds in three movements. Allahumma means “O Allah.” Inni laka sumtu means “indeed, I fasted for You”, a reminder that the fast was kept for Allah alone. Wa bika aamantu means “and I believe in You”, a renewal of faith at the moment the fast ends. Wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu means “and I break my fast with the provision You gave me”, an acknowledgement that the food and drink before you came from Allah’s provision.
Read slowly, the dua turns the simple act of eating into worship. After a day without food or drink, the first sip of water and the first date are easy to rush. This dua asks you to pause, to remember why you fasted, to renew your faith, and to recognise the blessing in front of you. That pause is part of the reward of Iftar, and it is why many families recite the dua together before anyone takes the first bite.
The Meaning Behind the Words
Read together, the two duas tell the story of a fast from beginning to end. The Sehri dua is about intention: before the fast starts, you state why you are doing it and for whom. The Iftar dua is about gratitude: when the fast ends, you thank Allah for the strength to complete it and for the provision that ends it. Intention at the start and gratitude at the end are the two attitudes that give fasting its spiritual weight.
Both duas keep the focus where it belongs: on Allah. The Sehri dua says “I intend”, placing the choice in your heart. The Iftar dua says “I fasted for You”, placing the purpose of the fast with Allah. No one can tell from looking at you whether you are fasting or not, and these duas make the private act conscious, reminding you twice a day that the fast is between you and Allah.
There is also a practical benefit to understanding the words. A dua recited with understanding stays with you through the day. When thirst grows in the afternoon, the memory of the morning’s intention steadies you. When the Iftar table is laid out in the evening, the words of gratitude keep the meal from becoming mere appetite. Learn the translation alongside the Arabic, and the duas will do more for you than any memorised sounds ever could.
When Exactly to Read Each Dua
The Sehri dua is read at Sehri time, when you eat the pre-dawn meal and make your intention to fast. Read it before the Sehri time ends, as part of your preparation for the fast. Many people recite it after finishing their meal, as a closing act of Sehri before Fajr prayer. The exact moment within Sehri does not matter as much as the intention behind it. What matters is that you make the intention before the fast begins.
The Iftar dua is read at the time of breaking the fast, just before you take your first bite or sip. The usual practice is to have your Iftar ready, recite the dua, and then break the fast, traditionally with a date if one is available, followed by water. If you forget the dua until after you have started eating, you can still recite it. Forgetting the words does not affect the fast, because the fast was completed by abstaining from dawn to sunset with the intention to fast.
If you are new to these duas, read the transliteration a few times, listen to a family member recite the Arabic, and say the words along with them. Within a few days the Arabic will feel natural, and understanding the translation will help the words stay in your memory far longer than repetition alone.
Sehri and Iftar Timings: Knowing the Right Moment
The duas belong to two precise moments of the day, so knowing your city’s Sehri and Iftar times matters. Sehri ends at the Fajr time for your city, and Iftar begins at the Maghrib time for your city. These times differ from city to city across Pakistan, and a timetable made for one city will not be correct for another.
The timings on this site are calculated for each city’s exact location using the University of Islamic Sciences, Karachi method, with Fajr and Isha at eighteen degrees, which is the standard method used across Pakistan. Both Hanafi and Jafria timings are shown: for Jafria timings, Sehri ends ten minutes earlier and Iftar is ten minutes later. Timings may vary by one to two minutes depending on your exact location, so confirm them with your local masjid. You can find the complete thirty-day timetable for your own city on our cities page.
What Breaks a Fast? A Quick Note
A question that often comes up alongside the duas is what actually breaks a fast. Eating or drinking deliberately breaks the fast, while forgetting and eating by accident does not, provided you stop as soon as you remember. Beyond that simple rule, there are many situations people ask about, from medicines to rinsing the mouth. Because the details matter and rulings can differ, we have covered them in a dedicated guide: read what breaks a fast for a fuller explanation. For anything you are unsure about, ask your local imam or a scholar you trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sehri dua?
The Sehri dua is: Wa bisawmi ghadinn nawaiytu min shahri Ramadan. It means: And I intend to fast tomorrow in the month of Ramadan. It is recited at Sehri time, when you make the intention to keep the fast.
What is the Iftar dua?
The Iftar dua is: Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu. It means: O Allah, I fasted for You, I believe in You, and I break my fast with the provision You gave me. It is recited at the time of breaking the fast, just before the first bite or sip.
Is reciting the Sehri dua compulsory?
No. The intention (niyyah) of the fast is made in the heart, and that intention is what matters. Reciting the Sehri dua aloud is a recommended and long-established practice in Pakistan, not a condition for the fast. If you wake for Sehri intending to fast, your intention is present even if you do not say the words.
What if I forget to read the dua?
Forgetting the dua does not affect your fast. The fast is completed by abstaining from dawn to sunset with the intention to fast. If you forget the Sehri dua, your fast still stands if you intended to fast. If you forget the Iftar dua until after you have started eating, you can still recite it afterwards.
Can I read the dua in English?
Understanding the dua in English is valuable, and the translations in this guide are here for exactly that reason. The traditional practice is to recite the Arabic words, as generations of Muslims have done. Learning the Arabic alongside its English meaning gives you both: the traditional words and the understanding that makes them meaningful.
When do I read the Iftar dua, before or after eating?
The usual practice is to read the Iftar dua just before breaking the fast, when the food and drink are ready and the Iftar time has arrived. Recite the dua, then break your fast, traditionally with a date if one is available, followed by water.
Conclusion
The sehri and iftar dua are small in words and large in meaning. The Sehri dua gives your fast its intention before the day begins. The Iftar dua gives your fast its gratitude when the day ends. Learn both in Arabic, understand them in English, and recite them daily through Ramadan. They take only a few seconds each, but they turn the routine of eating and abstaining into conscious worship. May Allah accept your fasts, your duas, and your efforts in this blessed month.