Rabbana Hablana Min Azwajina: Meaning of Quran 25:74

Many Muslims learn "rabbana hablana min azwajina" as part of a longer prayer for their families, and then wonder what each word means. The short version is that it asks Allah for family who bring comfort and joy. The longer version takes the words one at a time and places them in their surah.

Where the phrase comes from

The phrase is found in Surah Al-Furqan, verse 74. Here is the verse itself:

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ﴿٧٤﴾

And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us a leader [i.e., example] for the righteous."

The verse is a dua, which means a personal prayer or request to Allah. "Rabbana" means "our Lord," and the word "rabb" is used for Allah as the one who nurtures and sustains. Many people say the verse in the first person plural, "our Lord," because it's a prayer that can be said by a family or a community together.

Word by word

Here is a simple breakdown of the Arabic phrase, using transliteration:

Word	Plain meaning
Rabbana	Our Lord
Hab lana (often written "hablana")	Grant us, give us
Min azwajina	From among our spouses, from our wives
Wa dhurriyyatina	And our offspring, our children
Qurrata a'yun	Comfort to our eyes

The word "hablana" is sometimes written as one word in transliteration, but the root idea is "give us as a gift." So the request isn't for something earned. It's a gift from Allah.

Note that "azwajina" is the plural of "zawj," which means a spouse or partner. It can mean husband or wife, and in this verse it refers to the spouses of the believers.

What "comfort to our eyes" means

"Comfort to our eyes" is one of the most loved expressions in this verse, and it's also one of the easiest to misread. In everyday English it sounds like something physical, but here it's an idiom. It describes joy, contentment, and a sense of peace that comes from seeing someone you love well.

Many people understand it as the joy of seeing family members follow the right path. A parent who sees a child growing in faith, or a spouse who is kind and devout, is said to have a cool or comforting sight. That's why the dua asks for it.

Scholars and readers have explained this phrase in different ways over the centuries, so it's best to keep the meaning simple: a family that brings real peace and joy to the heart.

The context in Surah Al-Furqan

Surah Al-Furqan is a Meccan surah. The verses just before verse 74 describe the servants of the Most Merciful, and they show what kind of people are speaking this dua. Two of those verses are worth reading next to it:

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًا وَقِيَٰمًا ﴿٦٤﴾

And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer]

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا ﴿٦٥﴾

And those who say, "Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering;

The picture is of people who stand in prayer at night, who are humble, and who worry about their own accountability. Verse 74 is their family prayer. It isn't a request for worldly status alone. It's a request for a household that also turns to Allah.

The verse that follows describes the reward for those who are patient, and it speaks of a high place in Paradise. So the dua sits between a description of good character and a promise of reward.

Using this dua in daily life

A dua doesn't need to be long to be meaningful. Many people use "rabbana hablana min azwajina" as a short prayer for their marriage, their children, or their relatives. You can say it in Arabic, or in your own language, and you can add your own words after it.

Some people like to keep the verse in front of them. A simple way to do that is to put the ayah on your phone's home screen, so you see it several times a day. Ayanur is an iPhone app that shows one short ayah of the Quran on a home screen widget. It shows the Arabic text, the translation in the language you choose, and the surah name with the ayah number. Its list of short ayat includes several rabbana duas, so you can find a verse like this one there.

Frequently asked questions

What does "hablana" mean?

"Hablana" is the common transliteration of "hab lana," which means "grant us" or "give us." It comes from a root meaning to give as a gift.

Is the dua always said for children only?

No. The verse mentions both spouses and offspring. It's a dua for the whole family, and many people say it in that wider sense.

Where can I read the full verse with translation?

The full text is in Surah Al-Furqan, verse 74, shown above in this post. You can also find it in the Saheeh International translation.

Why does the verse say "make us a leader for the righteous"?

It's a request to be an example for people who are mindful of Allah. Many understand it as a hope that a family will guide others toward good, not only enjoy good for itself.

If you want more duas from the Quran, read Rabbana Duas in the Quran, and for a short dua about this life and the next, see Rabbana Atina Fid Dunya Hasanah. If you want to see short ayat on your phone, Quran Verse on iPhone Lock Screen explains how that works.