Dua for Spouses and Children
Al-Furqan 25:74. Also known as Rabbana hablana min azwajina, Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata a'yun, Dua for righteous family
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٖ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ﴿٧٤﴾
Waallatheena yaqooloona rabbana hab lana min azwajina wathurriyyatina qurrata aAAyunin waijAAalna lilmuttaqeena imaman
And those who say, “Our Lord, grant us delight in our spouses and our children, and make us a good example for the righteous.”
Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina is the Quranic dua for a family that brings joy. It is verse 74 of Surah Al-Furqan, the 25th surah, and it asks Allah for spouses and children who are a comfort to the eyes and for the person praying to be an example for the righteous.
It is part of a passage near the end of the surah that describes the servants of the Most Merciful, so it is the prayer of a particular kind of person, not only a request for a happy home.
What it means
A prayer said by Allah's servants
The verse describes the servants of the Most Merciful as people who say this prayer. It is listed among their qualities, alongside humility, night prayer, honesty and moderation.
Spouses and children who are a joy
They ask their Lord to grant them, from their spouses and their offspring, a coolness of the eyes. In Arabic, cool eyes describe deep contentment, the opposite of eyes hot with tears. Commentators say this joy comes most of all from seeing one's family obey Allah and live well.
Make us an example for the righteous
They also ask to be made leaders, or examples, for the mindful. The prayer turns from what they want for their family to what they hope to become themselves.
Where it sits in Surah Al-Furqan
From verse 63, Surah Al-Furqan describes the servants of the Most Merciful: they walk humbly and answer the ignorant with peace (verse 63), spend the night in prostration and standing (verse 64), ask to be kept from Hell (verses 65 and 66), spend without waste or stinginess (verse 67), avoid grave sins (verse 68), and repent, so that their bad deeds are replaced with good (verse 70). They do not bear false witness and pass by idle talk with dignity (verse 72), and they do not respond blindly to Allah's revelations (verse 73). Verse 74 gives their prayer for their families. Verses 75 and 76 promise them the Chamber, a high place in Paradise, as a reward for their patience, and verse 77 closes the surah.
How it is used
Muslims recite this dua when hoping to marry, at weddings, for their spouses, during pregnancy and for their children as they grow. No narration fixes a time for it. It is a Quranic supplication that can be said in any prayer or at any moment.
Questions
Which verse is the dua for a righteous spouse and children?
It is Surah Al-Furqan, 25:74. Another well-known dua for children is the prayer of Zechariah (Zakariyya) in 3:38, asking for good offspring.
What does qurrata a'yun mean?
It means coolness or comfort of the eyes. It is an Arabic expression for deep joy and contentment, the kind someone feels looking at what they love.
Can I make this dua before marriage?
Yes. Many people say it when hoping for a good spouse, as well as after marriage for their family.