The moment of iftar — the first sip of water after a long day of fasting — is one of the most accepted times for dua. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The fasting person has at the time of breaking his fast a dua that is not rejected' (Ibn Majah 1753). The Sunnah gives us a short, beautiful sentence to say the moment the fast is broken.
The authentic dua for iftar
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ، وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ، وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
Dhahabaz-zama'u, wabtallatil-'uruqu, wa thabatal-ajru insha'Allah.
The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.
(Sunan Abi Dawud 2357 — narrated by Ibn Umar (RA), graded Hasan)
What about Allahumma laka sumtu?
The famous longer version — 'Allahumma laka sumtu wa 'ala rizqika aftartu' — is widely recited but its chain is weak (Da'if). Many scholars still permit reciting it as a general expression of gratitude, but the strongest authenticated wording at the moment of iftar is the one above. Some Muslims combine: open with a sip of water and Bismillah, then recite the Sunnah dua, then make personal supplication during this accepted hour.
When exactly to say it
- Wait until the adhan of Maghrib has begun — even one minute early breaks the fast invalidly.
- Take a single date and water (the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ) with Bismillah.
- Recite the iftar dua immediately after that first sip.
- Spend the remaining minutes before Maghrib prayer making personal dua — this is the accepted hour.
Why this moment is so blessed
The fasting person endures hunger and thirst all day for Allah alone — no human can verify your fast except you and Him. As reward, Allah opens a window of accepted dua at the very moment the test ends. Use it not just for the dua of the lips, but the dua of the heart: forgiveness, family, the Ummah, Palestine, the sick, the bereaved.
Hadith reference
The dua is in Sunan Abi Dawud (2357) on the authority of Ibn Umar (RA), graded Hasan by Imam al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud. The hadith about the dua of the fasting person being accepted is in Sunan Ibn Majah (1753), graded Hasan.