The Prophet ﷺ said: "Fasting is a shield." These supplications accompany the faster from suhoor to iftar, through the blessed nights of Ramadan, and on the Day of ʿArafah.
The fasting day's anchors: Suhoor (the intention is in your heart). Throughout the day — pour out duas, your tongue is closest to Allah. At iftār — say the iftār dua. In the last 10 nights of Ramadan — the Laylat al-Qadr dua. Outside Ramadan, fast Mondays, Thursdays, and the 9th of Dhul Ḥijjah every year.
Dua 1
Intention for fasting
Before Fajr, at suhoor — the intention is in the heart
Man lam yubayyiti ṣ-ṣiyāma mina l-layli fa-lā ṣiyāma lah.
Whoever does not make the intention to fast from the night before has no fast.
Widely-used verbal formula
وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
Wa bi-ṣawmi ghadin nawaytu min shahri Ramaḍān.
I intend to fast tomorrow for the month of Ramaḍān.
Abū Dāwūd 2454, an-Nasāʾī.
There is no specific Prophetic verbal formula for the niyyah — the intention is in the heart, and eating suhoor IS the intention for the day's fast. The Ḥanafī school holds that the intention in the heart before Fajr is sufficient; verbalising it is not prohibited and is practised widely.
Thalāthu daʿawātin lā turaddu: daʿwatu ṣ-ṣāʾim, wa daʿwatu l-imāmi l-ʿādil, wa daʿwatu l-maẓlūm.
Three supplications are not rejected: the supplication of the fasting person, the supplication of the just ruler, and the supplication of the oppressed.
Tirmidhī 3598 — narrated by Abū Hurayrah.
The time just before Maghrib, while you are still fasting, is one of the most powerful windows for dua. Use it. Ask for everything you need — your dunyā, your ākhirah, your family, your forgiveness. The fasting tongue is closest to Allah.
Dua 4
The dua of Laylat al-Qadr
In Ramadan, especially the last ten nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th)
O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.
Tirmidhī 3513 — narrated by ʿĀʾishah.
ʿĀʾishah asked: “O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say?” He replied with this dua. Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months (83+ years).
Dua 5
If invited to eat while fasting
When someone offers you food and you are fasting
إِنِّي صَائِمٌ
Innī ṣāʾim.
I am fasting.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1894, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1151.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “If someone invites any of you to eat while fasting, let him say: ‘I am fasting.’” The fasting person then makes dua for the host.
Ṣiyāmu yawmi ʿArafah, aḥtasibu ʿala llāhi an yukaffira s-sanata llatī qablahu wa s-sanata llatī baʿdah.
Fasting the Day of ʿArafah — I hope from Allah that it expiates the sins of the year before it and the year after it.
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1162 — narrated by Abū Qatādah.
Two years of sins forgiven for one day of fasting. This is NOT for pilgrims (who should not fast on ʿArafah while standing there), but for every other Muslim worldwide — the 9th of Dhul Ḥijjah every year.
Allāhumma innī laka ṣumtu wa bika āmantu wa ʿalā rizqika afṭart.
O Allah, for You I fasted, in You I believed, and with Your provision I break my fast.
Abū Dāwūd 2358.
This wording is widely practiced. The hadith chain has been discussed by scholars — some grade it weak, others acceptable. The confirmed stronger version is the dua above: Dhahaba ẓ-ẓamaʾu…