Allahummahdini wa Saddidni — The Dua for Guidance and Straightness

Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) relates: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: 'Say: Allahummahdini wa saddidni (O Allah! Guide me and make me straight). When you say guidance, have in mind the road; when you say sadad, have in mind the straight flight of an arrow'" (Sahih Muslim, Dhikr 76/2725).

This short but powerful dua contains two requests:

Ihdini (Guide me): Guidance is to find the right road and to walk upon it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "When you say guidance, have in mind the road." That is, it means "Show me the right road and make me walk upon it." In every salah (prayer) we say "Ihdina's-sirata'l-mustaqim" (Guide us to the straight path). This request must be repeated constantly.

Saddidni (Make me straight): Sadad is to reach the target directly. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "When you say sadad, have in mind the straight flight of the arrow." To go straight like an arrow is to reach the target without

swerving, without swerving. In order to reach the target one must not swerve from the road.

The two requests complete each other: guidance shows the road, and sadad makes one walk upon it without swerving. Guidance is the beginning, sadad is its continuation. After attaining guidance, one must keep saying "saddidni" in order not to swerve away from it.

It is recommended to read this short dua often — morning and evening, after the prayers, and at the start of every important task.