What is a wird in Islam?

What the word means

In Arabic, wird (plural awrad) originally meant coming to a water source again and again. In Islamic practice, it means the portion of worship you set for yourself and keep coming back to, usually at the same time each day. Early Muslims also called a daily Quran portion a hizb.

Is it from the sunnah?

Yes, the idea of a regular portion is. The Prophet ﷺ said the deeds most beloved to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are small (Sahih al-Bukhari 6464). He also said that if someone sleeps through his nightly portion (hizb) and reads it between Fajr and Dhuhr, it is written for him as if he read it at night (Sahih Muslim 747). That shows the Companions had set daily portions and that Allah values sticking to them.

What can go into a wird?

• The morning and evening adhkar, the most common base for a wird. See What are the morning and evening adhkar?
• A daily Quran portion, even one page or a few verses with translation.
• Tasbih after prayer: 33 SubhanAllah, 33 Alhamdulillah, 34 Allahu Akbar.
• Istighfar and salawat, for example 100 "Astaghfirullah" and some blessings on the Prophet ﷺ.

Some Sufi orders give their followers a specific wird written by their teachers. Scholars accept these when the words are sound and they aren't treated as obligatory or better than the sunnah adhkar. If you're new, starting with authentic adhkar from the sunnah is the simplest choice.

How to build one as a new Muslim

Start small enough that you'll never skip it, like five minutes after Fajr. Add to it slowly once it feels natural. A big routine that collapses after two weeks is less beloved to Allah than a small one you keep for years. This is also a great way to avoid burning out. See What is convert burnout and how do I avoid it?

If you miss your wird one day, don't feel guilty or give up. Do it later in the day if you can, and pick it up again tomorrow.