Dua Before Intimacy: Arabic, Meaning and Authentic Hadith

Before marital intercourse, say “Bismillah, Allahumma jannibnash-shaytana wa jannibish-shaytana ma razaqtana.” The wording is authentically recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 141.

The Dua at a Glance

Arabic

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ جَنِّبْنَا الشَّيْطَانَ، وَجَنِّبِ الشَّيْطَانَ مَا رَزَقْتَنَا

Transliteration

Bismillah, Allahumma jannibnash-shaytana wa jannibish-shaytana ma razaqtana.

English meaning

In the name of Allah. O Allah, keep Satan away from us and keep Satan away from what You grant us.

Source and Authenticity

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Prophet ﷺ taught this dua before intercourse and mentioned protection for a child if one is decreed from that union.

When and Why the Dua Is Said

The wording is said privately before intercourse. It begins in Allah’s name and asks that Satan be kept away from the couple and from any child Allah may decree. The hadith does not instruct couples to announce the prayer publicly or discuss private details afterward.

Learning it together can remove awkwardness. Either spouse can remember the words, and both can understand that intimacy in marriage is connected with worship, responsibility, and care—not shame.

Consent, Gentleness, and Privacy

A dua never replaces consent. Spouses should communicate, respect pain or hesitation, and avoid coercion. Illness, trauma, pregnancy, medication, and fatigue can affect intimacy; qualified medical or counseling support may be needed.

Private marital information should not be shared with friends or posted online. Questions that require a ruling can be asked discreetly to a trustworthy scholar, and health concerns can be discussed confidentially with a professional.

If the Dua Is Forgotten

Forgetting does not justify panic about a future child or accusations between spouses. The hadith encourages remembrance and protection; it is not a tool for blaming parents or explaining a child’s hardship.

After intercourse, follow the relevant rules of ghusl before prayer. Be considerate about cleanliness and emotional care afterward. The complete Sunnah-minded approach includes remembrance, lawful intimacy, mutual kindness, discretion, and purification.

How to Check a Dua Before Sharing It

Look for a reference that another person can open, not only a hadith number pasted onto an image. Confirm that the linked text actually contains the quoted wording and notice whether the page displays a grade. For Quranic duas, check the verse in context and avoid presenting a fragment with a meaning the surrounding passage does not support.

Next, separate the wording from claims around it. A dua may be sound while a promised number, deadline, or worldly result added by a caption has no evidence. If scholars differ over a narration, say so in plain language. Responsible uncertainty is more helpful than false confidence.

When teaching family or friends, begin with meaning and occasion. Correct gently and privately. People are more likely to keep a remembrance when they understand why it matters than when they feel tested on pronunciation. A short authentic practice learned well is a stronger foundation than a large unverified collection.

Save the source beside the wording in your notes. If you later turn it into a poster, lesson, or social post, include that source and any important grading caveat. This small habit helps stop misattributions from multiplying.

Ask for the Good Behind the Request

Look beneath the immediate need. A request for money may contain a need for safety; confidence may contain a need to fulfill a duty; finding something may contain fear of consequences. Naming the deeper good can make personal dua more honest and help identify practical actions.

Also ask for good character during the process: patience without passivity, courage without arrogance, gratitude without denial, and trust without neglecting responsibility. The way a result is pursued matters alongside the result itself.

Before You Leave This Page

Choose one version of the wording to learn, save its source, and decide on the real-life cue that will remind you to use it. Reading many alternatives at once can feel productive while making recall harder. Begin with the clearest supported practice and expand only when the foundation is stable.

If this guide answers a question for someone else, share the relevant section rather than overwhelming them with the entire article. A good religious resource should make accurate worship easier to begin, easier to understand, and easier to continue.

Related Dua Guides

• Dua for Marriage
• Dua for a Spouse
• How to Perform Ghusl

Use these related guides to build a small set of duas you understand instead of collecting dozens that you rarely use. Consistency, accuracy, and reflection matter more than the size of a list.

Do you feel your duas are unanswered?

Have you read the dua properly? Learn authentic duas, understand their meanings, and call upon Allah with greater confidence through DeenUp.

Take the Dua Quiz