The iftar dua
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
Dhahaba al-zama’u, wabtallatil-‘urūqu, wa thabatal-ajru in shā’ Allāh.
“The thirst has gone, the veins are moist, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.” Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet ﷺ said this when he broke his fast (Sunan Abi Dawud 2357, graded hasan by al-Albani).
What about “Allahumma laka sumtu”?
The well-known words “Allāhumma laka ṣumtu wa ‘alā rizqika afṭartu” (“O Allah, for You I fasted and with Your provision I broke my fast”) are reported in Sunan Abi Dawud 2358, but that narration is graded weak (da‘if) by al-Albani because of a break in its chain. Many people still say it as a general dua, which is fine as a dua in your own words, but the version above is the one with the stronger chain.
Your dua at iftar is not turned away
The Prophet ﷺ said there are three whose dua is not rejected, and the first is “the fasting person when he breaks his fast” (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 3598, graded hasan). Keep a few minutes before Maghrib for your own duas. Allah says: “When My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me” (Quran 2:186), a verse placed right among the verses about fasting.
How to break the fast
- Don’t delay it. “The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1957). Check tonight’s Maghrib time for your city.
- Start with dates. He broke his fast with fresh dates before praying; if there were none, dried dates; if none, a few sips of water (Sunan Abi Dawud 2356, graded hasan sahih).
- Then pray Maghrib, and eat your meal after or before as suits your family.
Suhoor
“Take suhoor, for there is blessing in it” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1923). Even a few dates and water count. There is no special dua for suhoor in the authentic Sunnah: the intention to fast is in your heart, and getting up to eat suhoor is itself a sign of it. Many people use the time before Fajr for Tahajjud and asking forgiveness.
See also: what breaks your fast · free Ramadan checklist · Laylat al-Qadr