Allāhumma aḥsin ʿāqibatanā — Dua for a Good Ending

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) relates: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray: 'O Allah! Make the end of all our affairs good. Protect us from the disgrace of this world and from the punishment of the Hereafter'" (Musnad Ahmad II/26/17721).

This dua contains three key requests:

Aḥsin ʿāqibatanā (Make our end good): Aqibah means the outcome. The end of every affair matters. A person may be good at the beginning, but if the end turns out badly, all of it goes to waste. The qualification "fi l-umūri kullihā" (in all our affairs) covers not one single affair but every affair. Marriage, work, worship, the Hereafter — the end of everything should be good.

The most important of all is the end of life, that is, death. To die upon faith, to give up one's soul saying "Lā ilāha illā Llāh," is the best of endings. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Deeds are according to their endings" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Riqaq 32).

Ajirnā min khizyi d-dunyā (Protect us from the disgrace of this world): Disgrace in this world is to be humiliated by committing sin, to lose one's honour, and to be brought low among people. Allah protects the believers from this disgrace.

Wa ʿadhābi l-ākhirah (Protect us from the punishment of the Hereafter): The punishment of the Hereafter is the punishment of the Fire. Protection is asked for both from the disgrace of this world and from the punishment of the Hereafter.

Reciting this dua morning and evening, when beginning an important task, and at all times is very effective for bringing one's affairs to a good end.