The formulas the Prophet ﷺ used, plus the places they belong. Your own language is valid on Arafah — these are the bones.
Talbiyah
From Ihram until Ramy of Jamarat al-Aqabah on the 10th. Raise your voice (men); women recite softly.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Labbayk Allahumma labbayk. Labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk. La shareeka lak.
Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Surely all praise, blessing, and dominion are Yours. You have no partner.
Intention for Ihram
At the miqat, after ghusl and dressing in Ihram, as you make the intention.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً · لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ حَجًّا
Labbayk Allahumma ‘umrah. / Labbayk Allahumma hajjan.
Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah. / Here I am, O Allah, for Hajj. Speak the one that matches your ihram. Qiran: “for Hajj and Umrah.”
On first seeing the Kaaba
The first moment the Kaaba comes into view. Pause if you can, face it, and ask.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
Allahu Akbar. La ilaha illallah.
Allah is the Greatest. There is none worthy of worship except Allah. No specific wording from the Prophet ﷺ is established for this moment. Say the takbir, send salawat, and ask in your own words. The guidebook line “increase this House in honour…” is not a proven hadith.
Starting each circuit of Tawaf
At the Black Stone line (or its parallel, if you cannot reach it) at the start of every lap.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Bismillah, Allahu Akbar.
In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.
Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone
Each lap of Tawaf, on the short stretch from Rukn al-Yamani to Hajar al-Aswad.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil-akhirati hasanah, wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Beginning Sa‘i at Safa
Climb Safa, face the Kaaba, recite the verse, then make takbir and dua.
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللَّهُ بِهِ
Innas-Safa wal-Marwata min sha‘a’irillah. Abda’u bima bada’Allahu bih.
Indeed, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. I begin with what Allah began with.
On Safa and Marwa
At the top of Safa and Marwa, facing the Kaaba. Repeat the tawhid formula three times, making dua between them.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ. لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.
Allah is Greatest (three times). There is none worthy of worship except Allah, alone, without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things capable.
The best dua on Arafah
The Prophet ﷺ said this is the best dua on the Day of Arafah. Repeat it often during wuquf, then add your own asks.
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.
There is none worthy of worship except Allah, alone, without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things capable.
With each pebble at the Jamarat
As you throw each of the seven pebbles. Stop the Talbiyah at the first pebble of Jamarat al-Aqabah on the 10th.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.
Entering a mosque
Step in with the right foot at Masjid al-Haram, Masjid an-Nabawi, or any mosque.
اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy.
Leaving a mosque
Step out with the left foot.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِن فَضْلِكَ
Allahumma inni as’aluka min fadlik.
O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty.
Travel dua
On boarding, from Sahih Muslim. The first line is also Qur’an 43:13–14.
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَىٰ. اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَٰذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ الْمُنقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ
Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadhal-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-‘amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana hadha watwi ‘anna bu‘dah. Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min wa‘tha’is-safar, wa ka’abatil-manzar, wa su’il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.
Glory to the One who subjected this to us, though we could not have done it ourselves, and to our Lord we will return. O Allah, we ask You in this journey for righteousness, taqwa, and deeds You are pleased with. Make this journey easy and fold up its distance. You are the Companion on the journey and the Guardian of the family. I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, a gloomy sight, and a bad return in wealth and family.
After the two rak‘ahs
After the two rak‘ahs of tawaf, behind Maqam Ibrahim or anywhere in the Haram if it is crowded.
اللَّهُمَّ اعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Allahumma a‘inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ‘ibadatik.
O Allah, help me to remember You, to thank You, and to worship You well. This is the dua the Prophet ﷺ taught Mu‘adh after salah. It is not a special Ifadah formula — any dua is sound here.
Farewell at Tawaf al-Wada
A personal request during farewell tawaf. It is widely said, but it is not a wording fixed by the Prophet ﷺ.
اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْهُ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ بِبَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ، وَارْزُقْنِي الْعَوْدَ إِلَيْهِ
Allahumma la taj‘alhu akhiral-‘ahdi bi-baytik al-haram, warzuqnil-‘awda ilayh.
O Allah, do not make this my last visit to Your Sacred House, and grant me return to it.