اللَّهُمَّ بَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَانَ وَأَعِنَّا عَلَى صِيَامِهِ وَقِيَامِهِ وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنَّا
Allahumma ballighna Ramadana wa a'inna 'ala siyamihi wa qiyamihi wa taqabbalhu minna
O Allah, let us reach Ramadan, help us to fast and pray in it, and accept it from us.
The Prophet ﷺ and the Companions would begin saying this months before Ramadan — some as early as Rajab. The expanded version addresses three anxieties: arrival (will I even live to see it?), performance (will I have the strength to fast and pray properly?), and acceptance (even if I do everything right, will it be accepted?). People who were with you last Ramadan may not be here this year. This du'a turns the anticipation of Ramadan into an act of worship and a reminder that every Ramadan could be your last. The third request — acceptance — is the most important, because worship without acceptance is effort without reward.
Related Du'as
اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ صِيَامِي وَقِيَامِي وَرُكُوعِي وَسُجُودِي
O Allah, accept my fasting, my standing in prayer, my bowing, and my prostration.
Atharاللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى صِيَامِهِ وَقِيَامِهِ
O Allah, help me to fast and pray during it (Ramadan).
Atharاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no deity except Allah. And Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise.
Sahihاللَّهُمَّ بَلِّغْنَا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ وَاجْعَلْنَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْمَقْبُولِينَ وَلَا تَحْرِمْنَا خَيْرَهَا وَاكْتُبْ لَنَا فِيهَا الْعِتْقَ مِنَ النَّارِ
O Allah, let us reach Laylatul Qadr, make us among the accepted in it, do not deprive us of its goodness, and decree for us in it freedom from the Fire.
Athar