What should I say when I wake up?
Yes, there's a short dua: "Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilaihin-nushur." Roughly, it means "Praise be to Allah who gave us life after He caused us to die, and to Him is the return." The Prophet ﷺ said it every time he got up. After that, remembering Allah, making wudu and praying Fajr starts your day in the best way.
The waking-up dua
Hudhaifa reported that when the Prophet ﷺ got up from sleep, he would say "Al-hamdu li l-lahil-ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilaihin-nushur" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6312). It mirrors the bedtime dua "Bismika amutu wa ahya": at night you hand your soul to Allah, and in the morning you thank Him for giving it back.
You don't need to say it perfectly on day one. Saying "Alhamdulillah" as soon as you open your eyes is already a great start while you learn the full wording. For the night before, see What should I say before sleeping?
Why the first minutes matter
The Prophet ﷺ described Satan tying three knots at the back of a sleeper's head, whispering "The night is long, so keep on sleeping." When the person wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot comes undone, wudu undoes the second, and prayer undoes the third, so "he gets up in the morning lively and in good spirits" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3269).
That gives you a simple three-step morning routine:
- Remember Allah: say the waking dua, or at least "Alhamdulillah."
- Make wudu: washing your face also helps you actually wake up.
- Pray: Fajr if it's still in time, or a voluntary prayer if you woke at night.
If you wake up in the middle of the night
Waking at 3 a.m. isn't wasted time. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever wakes at night and says "La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir", followed by praise, glorification and "Allahumma ighfir li" (O Allah, forgive me), or makes any dua, "he will be responded to" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1154). If he then makes wudu and prays, his prayer is accepted. The full wording is in any good adhkar app.
After Fajr: the morning adhkar
Once you've prayed, the morning adhkar are a longer set of remembrances said between Fajr and the late morning. You don't have to learn them all at once. See What are the morning and evening adhkar?
- Say the waking dua, or "Alhamdulillah" while you learn it.
- Remembering Allah, wudu and prayer undo Satan's three knots.
- Night waking is a great time for dua.
- Follow Fajr with the morning adhkar when you can.
People also ask
What do I say if I forget to say bismillah before eating?
Yes, say "Bismillah fi awwalihi wa akhirihi" as soon as you remember. Forgetting isn't a sin, and you can still finish your meal.
Read the full answer →What dua do I say before eating?
Yes, just say "Bismillah" before eating or drinking, and "Alhamdulillah" when you finish. The longer Bismillah is fine too.
Read the full answer →What should I say before sleeping?
Yes, start with "Bismika amutu wa ahya." Then add the three Quls, Ayat al-Kursi and the 33/33/33 tasbih as the habit grows.
Read the full answer →Can I make dua in English during prayer?
It depends on the school. English dua outside salah is fine; inside it, scholars differ, so use short Arabic duas and ask in English after salam.
Read the full answer →Can I make dua in English?
Yes, you can make dua in English or any language. Allah understands every language; Arabic duas are a bonus, not a condition.
Read the full answer →