Have you ever wondered what is the best dua that you can give to anyone? It is a prayer for their guidance. Not everyone is on the right path. This dua can be said for anyone, but especially those who seek guidance and want to lead a truthful life. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the most beneficent and the most merciful. He chooses whomever He wills and guides him. This is exactly where this small supplication comes in handy. Allah Yahdina, which is written in Arabic as:
الله يهدينا
is translated to “May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) guide you.” How precise and profound prayer it is. You are asking Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for guidance and the right direction for the other person. To human is to err and so it is natural to go astray at some point in one’s life. The important thing is to ask Allah to show us the right path and guide us towards it when we go astray. Muslims often find solace in powerful phrases such as “Allah Yahdina.” It reminds us we are not alone; Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is with us. Let’s learn more about Allah Yahdina dua and delve into the significance of asking for guidance from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and the comfort it brings.
Allah Yahdina (الله يهدينا) is easy on the tongue, but those unfamiliar with the dua may have trouble saying it initially. For a better understanding, let’s go through the phonetic pronunciation. The correct way to pronounce Allah Yahdina is ‘aa-luhu yah-dee-na’
1. Allah: Pronounced as ‘aa-luhu’ with a strong emphasis on ‘hu’ at the end.
Sounds like ‘Allahoo’
2. Yahdina
Yah: Pronounced as ‘yah’ as in ‘yeah’
Sounds like ‘yahh’
Di: Pronounced as ‘dee’ as in ‘deep’
Sounds like ‘dee’
Na: Pronounced as ‘na’ like in ‘naive’
Sounds like ‘na’.
When you put it all together, it is pronounced like ‘aa-luhu yah-dee-na.’
Allah Yahdina may seem like a simple prayer but it is used in some contexts more than ever. The purest form of expressing love is by asking Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) to guide the person you love. Always remember that duas hold the power to change fate, so ask Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) with a belief that He is there for you, and He’ll listen to you.
One of the most common instances where Allah Yahdina is used more frequently is when someone sneezes and says Alhamdollillah. Those around the sneezer respond with “yarhamukallah,” which means “May Allah show mercy on you.” In turn, the person who sneezed can respond by saying Allah Yahdina or “Yahdina wa Yahdikumulla,” which means may Allah guide us and have mercy upon us.” It is a beautiful sunnah set by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
Apart from this, there is no set time or instance where you can ask Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for guidance. There is no obligation on times of doing dhikr so feel free to recite it as much as you want.
As mentioned above, Allah Yahdina is said most commonly in response to the dua given by those around us when we sneeze. This is common practice because it is proven by hadith as the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad. Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"When one of you sneezes, he should say, 'Alhamdulillah (Praise is to Allah), and his (Muslim) brother should say to him, 'Yarhamuka Allah (May Allah have mercy on you). When he says this to him (the last phrase), he should reply, 'Yahdikum Allah (May Allah guide you) and grant you well-being." Related by Al-Bukhari. (Book 16, Hadith 1490).
In a similar context, Jews used to sneeze in front of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) in the hope that they would hear ‘May Allah have mercy on you. In Jami` at-Tirmidhi, it is narrated by Abu Musa:
The Jews used to sneeze in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ), hoping that he would say: 'Yarhamukumullah (May Allah have mercy upon you).' So, he said: 'Yahdikumullahu Wa Yuslihu Balakum (May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs).'
Allah Yahdina serves as a constant reminder that guidance only comes from Allah, and whoever has found Allah is truly guided. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) possesses infinite knowledge far beyond the human capacity. He knows what is in our hearts. If He finds even a bit of righteousness in the heart, He guides that person. Al-Hasan bin Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said:
"Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) taught me some phrases to say during Al-Witr: 'O Allah guide me among those You have guided, pardon me among those You have pardoned, befriend me among those You have befriended, bless me in what You have granted, and save me from the evil that You decreed. Indeed, You decree, and none can pass a decree, and none can pass decree upon You; indeed, he is not humiliated whom You have befriended, blessed are You our Lord and Exalted.' (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 464)
Guidance comes from Allah, the Lord of all worlds. In Surah Al Qasas, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) says, “You cannot guide anyone you like: God guides whosoever He pleases. He knows best who will come to guidance.” No one in the world has the power to guide a person if Allah has chosen him to go astray. In Surah Yunus, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) reminds ummah by saying. “Ask: "Is there one among those you associate with God who can show the way to the truth?" Say: "It is God who shows the way to truth." Then who is more worthy of being followed -- He who guides to the truth, or he who cannot find the path until shown the way? What has happened to you that you judge in such a wise? (10:35)
May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) have mercy upon all of us and show us the right path under His divine guidance. Ameen.
Allah Yahdina is a guiding light for every Muslim. It is a beautiful reminder that only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) can guide you, and in His path lies the truth. Allah's guidance can pave the way through tough times and challenging obstacles. It is a powerful prayer for others as guidance by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) can bring comfort in hardships in every aspect of life. Allah Yahdina is more than just words; it is a powerful act of faith and a call for guidance. May we all strive to follow Allah's guidance and find success in this world and the hereafter.
There is no obligation to say ‘Allah Yahdina’ whenever you want. However, it is most commonly said by a sneezer in response to someone who wished them well.
The simple meaning of ‘Allah Yahdina’ is ‘May Allah guide you.’ It is a beautiful prayer for others.
The best response to Allah Yahdina is ‘JazakAllah Khair’. When someone says, ‘May Allah guide you,’ you can reply by saying, ‘May Allah reward you with goodness.’
As seen in Sunnah, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to respond to Jews by saying, ‘May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs.’ So, yes, you can say Allah Yahdina to non-Muslims.
Allah Yahdina is written as ‘الله يهدينا.’
