Pregnancy Supplications in Islam: Separating Fact from Fiction

Pregnancy Supplications in Islam: What the Quran and Hadith Really Say

Question: People say that when a woman is pregnant, she should recite Surah Maryam and Surah Muhammad, as it will result in a beautiful child and ease in her matters. Is this true? Can you suggest any specific supplications for a smooth pregnancy, as I face difficulties during pregnancy?

Answer:Those who say that reciting Surah Maryam and Surah Muhammad during pregnancy will result in a beautiful child and ease in matters are lying because there is no such instruction in the Quran or Hadith. Our guidance comes from the Quran and Hadith, and anything not found in these sources has no basis in Islam.

Therefore, you should neither tell others such things nor remain silent when someone else does. Instead, you should warn them that this is a false statement. Allah has forbidden us from speaking without knowledge. Allah says:

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ (الإسراء: 36)

“And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge.”

Additionally, be aware that neither Allah nor His Messenger has prescribed any specific supplication for pregnancy. If someone suggests a specific supplication for pregnancy, understand that it is not from the religion but from that person’s own ideas. However, it is true that a woman faces various difficulties during pregnancy, especially during childbirth. In such cases, a woman should frequently pray to Allah in her own language, as Allah understands all languages and hears and responds to every caller. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught several supplications for times of distress, which you can also recite. However, making a specific supplication a routine with a fixed number of recitations is an innovation (Bid’ah).

One supplication for times of distress is:

اللّهُمَّ إِنِّي أسْأَلُكَ العَفْوَ وَالعافِيةَ في الدُّنْيا وَالآخِرَة ، اللّهُمَّ إِنِّي أسْأَلُكَ العَفْوَ وَالعافِيةَ في ديني وَدُنْيايَ وَأهْلي وَمالي ، اللّهُمَّ اسْتُرْ عوْراتي وَآمِنْ رَوْعاتي ، اللّهُمَّ احْفَظْني مِن بَينِ يَدَيَّ وَمِن خَلْفي وَعَن يَميني وَعَن شِمالي ، وَمِن فَوْقي ، وَأَعوذُ بِعَظَمَتِكَ أَن أُغْتالَ مِن تَحْتي (Sahih Ibn Majah: 3135)

“O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in this world and the Hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religion, my worldly affairs, my family, and my wealth. O Allah, conceal my faults and calm my fears. O Allah, protect me from the front, behind, right, left, and above. I seek refuge in Your greatness from being taken unaware from beneath.”

Similarly, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Whoever is afflicted with a calamity should recite:

اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو، فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ (Sahih Al-Jami: 3388)

“O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself for the blink of an eye. Correct all my affairs for me. There is no deity except You.”

You can find more authentic supplications in books of prayers and recite them, or you can pray to Allah in your own language for relief from difficulties, ease in your matters, and health and well-being for yourself and your child. Also, pray that Allah makes the difficulties of pregnancy an expiation for your sins.

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi حفظه الله

⟨Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah, Saudi Arabia⟩