Guide · Ramadan

Dhikr for the first 10 days of Ramadan: the days of mercy.

The first ten days of Ramadan — the first ashra — are traditionally associated with Allah's mercy (rahmah). They are also the days that decide your whole month: the habits you lock in before day ten are the ones that survive to day thirty. Here's the dhikr to focus on, the duas of mercy, and a simple plan.

The three ashras of Ramadan

Ashra means "ten." Ramadan is commonly divided into three: the first ten days associated with mercy, the middle ten with forgiveness, and the last ten with seeking Laylatul Qadr. Whatever the strength of that famous division, the practical wisdom in it is sound — and the scholars agree the last ten are singled out in the authentic Sunnah, which is why we cover them separately in our last-10-nights guide.

The duas of mercy for the first ashra

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ Rabbi ighfir warham wa anta khayrur-rahimin — "My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of those who show mercy." — Quran, Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:118

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ Ya Hayyu ya Qayyum bi-rahmatika astaghith — "O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, by Your mercy I seek help." — Al-Hakim, graded sahih

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-akhirati hasanah wa qina 'adhaban-nar. — Quran 2:201 · the dua the Prophet ﷺ made most often

The daily dhikr to lock in before day 10

• Morning adhkar after Fajr — you're already up for suhoor; this is the easiest month of the year to start.
• Evening adhkar after Asr — pairs naturally with the pre-iftar hours.
• After-salah dhikr — 90 seconds after each of the five prayers.
• SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi ×100 — the single most reward-dense daily count.
• The fasting person's dua before iftar — the minutes before maghrib are never-rejected dua time.

A simple plan for days 1–10

1. Days 1–3: just the after-salah dhikr plus the iftar dua. Small and unbreakable.
2. Days 4–6: add the morning adhkar after Fajr (you're awake anyway).
3. Days 7–10: add the evening adhkar and the 100× SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi. By day ten the full daily framework is running — and the rest of Ramadan rides on it.

Then: the middle ten, and the last ten

From day 11, shift the emphasis to istighfar — 100× Astaghfirullah a day, plus Sayyidul Istighfar morning and evening. And from day 20, everything turns toward Laylatul Qadr — our last-10-nights dhikr guide takes over from there.

Further reading

• Ramadan dhikr: the full 30-day guide
• Dhikr for the last 10 days & Laylatul Qadr
• Morning adhkar: the full list