The Prophet’s Dua in the Cave During the Hijrah

Explanation
This dua is narrated to have been recited by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Thawr during the Hijrah. It is recited in moments of loneliness, helplessness and having no one to turn to.
Dua Text
يَا مُونِسَ الْمُسْتَوْحِشِينَ، يَا أَنِيسَ الْمُتَفَرِّدِينَ، يَا ظَاهِرَ الْمُنْقَطِعِينَ، يَا مَالَ الْمُقِلِّينَ، يَا قُوَّتَ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ، يَا كَنْزَ الْفُقَرَاءِ، يَا مَوْضِعَ شَكْوَى الْغُرَبَاءِ، يَا مُتَفَرِّدًا بِالْجَلَالِ، يَا مَعْرُوفًا بِالنَّوَالِ، يَا كَثِيرَ الْإِفْضَالِ، أَغِثْنِي عِنْدَ كُرْبَتِي بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ
Transliteration
Ya Munisal-mustawhishin, ya Anisal-mutafarridin, ya Zahiral-munqati’in, ya Malal-muqillin, ya Quwwatal-mustad’afin, ya Kanzal-fuqara’, ya Mawdi’a shakwal-ghuraba’, ya Mutafarridan bil-jalal, ya Ma’rufan bin-nawal, ya Kathiral-ifdal, aghithni ‘inda kurbati bi-haqqi Muhammadin wa alih.
Meaning
O Friend of the lonely, O Companion of those left alone, O Helper of those who have no one, O Wealth of those who have little, O Strength of the weak, O Treasure of the poor, O Refuge to whom strangers bring their complaints! O You who are unique in Your majesty, O You who are known for Your generosity, O You whose favour is abundant! Help me in my time of distress, for the sake of Muhammad and his family.
What Is Asked in This Dua
This dua begins with a series of calls that describe Allah through the eyes of lonely and helpless people. The servant calls on Allah as the Friend of the lonely, the Companion of those left alone, the Helper of those who have no one. Then they mention Him as the Wealth of those who have little, the Strength of the weak, the Treasure of the poor, the Refuge to whom strangers bring their complaints. Each call names a human need and the aspect of Allah that fills that need.
Then come attributes unique to Allah: unique in His majesty, known for His generosity, abundant in His favour. After all these mentions, the actual request is a single sentence: help me in my time of distress. This help is asked for the sake of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his family. These words, narrated to have been said in the cave during the Hijrah, remind us that Allah is with a person even in their loneliest moment.
When and How to Recite
According to the source, it is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recited it in the Cave of Thawr during the Hijrah; it is recited in moments of loneliness, helplessness and having no one to turn to. The source book states that a Muslim who falls into hardship will find a way out through this dua. No specific time or number is mentioned; it can be recited at any moment when one feels distress and loneliness.
Being in a state of wudu is preferable, not required. Applying each of the calls to one’s own situation and feeling their meaning while reciting brings the dua to life. Those who find the Arabic difficult can also make the dua with its English meaning.
Virtue
The source book states that a Muslim who falls into hardship will find a way out through this dua.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Prophet's dua in the cave recited?
It is recited in moments of loneliness, helplessness and having no one to turn to. The source does not mention a specific time; it can be recited whenever distress is felt.
How many times should the dua of the cave be recited? Is there a set number?
The source does not mention a specific number. Reciting it sincerely in a moment of distress and loneliness, while reflecting on its meaning, is considered enough.
Whose dua is the dua of the cave?
It is the dua narrated to have been recited by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Thawr during the Hijrah. It appears in the source book Majmu’at al-Ahzab.
Source
Majmu'at al-Ahzab, vol. 1, p. 544.
The text on this page was prepared by Dua Kitaplığı based on the work cited above. The Arabic text has been transcribed from the original with its vowel marks, and the transliteration in Latin letters and the English meaning are given separately. No virtue or number that does not appear in the source is added to this page. How do we prepare our content?
Published: 23 August 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026
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