What is the best dua to begin and end a meeting?
What is the best dua for opening and closing a meeting?
We should always begin and end our gatherings with the remembrance of Allah. This brings blessings to the meeting and reminds us of our higher purpose.
When we end the meeting it should also be with Allah’s name, praise, and repentance for anything that was said that He may have disliked.
The Prophet ﷺ warned that a gathering in which Allah is not remembered and salawat is not sent upon the Prophet ﷺ becomes a source of regret.
A meeting a gathering in which words are spoken, decisions are made, responsibilities are carried and sometimes mistakes are committed. For this reason, a believer should not enter a meeting heedlessly, and should not leave it without praise, remembrance and seeking forgiveness.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
مَا جَلَسَ قَوْمٌ مَجْلِسًا لَمْ يَذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ فِيهِ، وَلَمْ يُصَلُّوا عَلَى نَبِيِّهِمْ، إِلَّا كَانَ عَلَيْهِمْ تِرَةً، فَإِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُمْ، وَإِنْ شَاءَ غَفَرَ لَهُمْ
“No people sit in a gathering in which they do not remember Allah and do not send blessings upon their Prophet, except that it will be a source of regret for them. If He wills, He will punish them, and if He wills, He will forgive them.” (Tirmidhi)
In any case, our work, business, meetings, planning and administration should not distract us from Allah. A believer remains connected to Allah in the mosque, in the street, at work, in business, while driving, while walking, and while dealing with people.
Allah stated regarding Jumu‘ah:
فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ
“Hasten to the remembrance of Allah.”
(Surat al-Jumu‘ah 62:9)
And He praised those whose worldly responsibilities do not distract them from His remembrance:
يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ
رِجَالٌۭ لَّا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَـٰرَةٌۭ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ
“In them, He is glorified morning and evening by men whom neither trade nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah.”
(Surat al-Nur 24:36–37)
So whether it is a work meeting or a religious gathering, we have to be mindful of Allah.
In particular, in a meeting is there is a potential for slipping into arrogance, altercation, backbiting, and other sins of the tongue
Moreover, it is important to purify your intention for the meeting and this reminds you that decisions taken should be inline with His commands.
The best opening for a meeting
For a short everyday meeting, class or community discussion, you can begin with:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ
Bismillāh, wal-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh.
“In the name of Allah. All praise belongs to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.”
A short dua for barakah in the meeting
You may then say:
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا الْمَجْلِسَ مَجْلِسَ خَيْرٍ وَبَرَكَةٍ، وَوَفِّقْنَا فِيهِ لِمَا تُحِبُّ وَتَرْضَى
Allāhumma ijʿal hādhā al-majlisa majlisa khayrin wa barakah, wa waffiqnā fīhi limā tuḥibbu wa tarḍā.
“O Allah, make this gathering a gathering of goodness and blessing, and grant us success in it to do what You love and are pleased with.”
This is not a fixed Prophetic formula, but it is a permissible dua with a good meaning.
If you are speaking, teaching or presenting
You may recite the dua of Musa (peace be upon him):
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي
وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي
وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي
يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
Rabbi ishraḥ lī ṣadrī.
Wa yassir lī amrī.
Waḥlul ʿuqdatan min lisānī.
Yafqahū qawlī.
“My Lord, expand my chest for me, ease my task for me, and untie the knot from my tongue so that they may understand my speech.” (Surat Taha 20:25–28)
This is especially useful before a speech, lesson, presentation, meeting or difficult conversation.
The best dua for closing a meeting
The most established dua to say at the end of a gathering is Kaffarat al-Majlis, the expiation of the gathering.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ
Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa biḥamdik, ash-hadu an lā ilāha illā ant, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk.
“Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.”
Why this dua matters
No meeting is free from shortcomings. We may speak too much, speak too sharply, waste time, allow our ego to enter or fail to fulfil someone’s right. This dua ends the meeting with tasbih, praise, tawhid, seeking forgiveness and repentance.
Ending with the final ayahs of Surat al-Saffat
It is also recommended to end meetings and gatherings with the final ayahs of Surat al-Saffat. These ayahs declare Allah is pure from any imperfection, send peace upon the messengers, and praise Allah.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ
وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Subḥāna Rabbika Rabbil-ʿizzati ʿammā yaṣifūn.
Wa salāmun ʿalal-mursalīn.
Wal-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-ʿālamīn.
“Pure is your Lord, the Lord of honour and might, from what they describe. And peace be upon the messengers. And all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (Surat al-Saffat 37:180–182)
These verses are especially suitable at the end of Qur’an circles, Islamic classes, lectures, community meetings and gatherings of knowledge.
Simple structure for opening and closing a meeting
At the beginning, say:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ
Bismillāh, wal-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh.
“In the name of Allah. All praise belongs to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.”
At the end, say:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ
Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa biḥamdik, ash-hadu an lā ilāha illā ant, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk.
“Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.”
Then close with:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ
وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Subḥāna Rabbika Rabbil-ʿizzati ʿammā yaṣifūn.
Wa salāmun ʿalal-mursalīn.
Wal-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-ʿālamīn.
“Pure is your Lord, the Lord of honour and might, from what they describe. And peace be upon the messengers. And all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
In this way, the meeting begins
h Allah’s name and ends with forgiveness, tasbih, peace upon the messengers and praise of Allah.