Ya Wadud
O Most Loving One — the Sufi zikr of divine love, tenderness, and the opening of the heart.
Original
Transliteration
Yā Wadūd
Translation
O Most Loving, O Source of all affection.
Quick answer
Ya Wadud means 'O Most Loving One.' It is the Sufi zikr of divine love, chanted to open and heal the heart, soften resentment, and restore harmony in relationships.
- Tradition
- Sufi Zikr
- Language
- Arabic
- Repetitions
- 11, 100, or 1,000 times — traditionally repeated over forty nights for a deep intention.
- Best time
- Evening and night, or before meeting someone with whom there is tension.
- Best for
- Opening the heart, Healing relationships, Self-compassion
Line by line
Yā
O — the vocative call of the lover to the Beloved.
Wadūd
The Most Loving — love not as feeling but as the very nature of the Divine.
Meaning
Literal
An invocation of Al-Wadud, the divine name meaning the Most Loving and Most Affectionate.
Spiritual interpretation
Sufism describes the path itself as love: the human being as a lover, God as the Beloved. Chanting Ya Wadud softens a hardened heart, heals wounds left by betrayal or loss, and is used to bring harmony between people. Rumi's poetry is essentially this name, elaborated.
What this mantra is used for
How to chant
Place a hand on the heart and chant softly, drawing out the 'oo' of Wadūd so the sound resonates in the chest. Many practitioners repeat it while holding a person or situation gently in mind.
When to chant
Evening and night, or before meeting someone with whom there is tension.
Traditional count: 11, 100, or 1,000 times — traditionally repeated over forty nights for a deep intention.
Origin & context
Al-Wadud appears in the Qur'an (11:90, 85:14) among the ninety-nine names of God. Central to the love-mysticism of Rumi, Ibn Arabi, and the Chishti order.
Related mantras
Allah Hu
God — He, the Absolute. The breath-zikr in which the name of God dissolves into pure presence.
Hasbi Rabbi Jallallah
My Lord is enough for me — a Sufi zikr of trust, surrender, and release from worry.
La ilaha illallah
There is no god but God — the central Sufi zikr of divine unity and the heart of Islamic remembrance.
Continue exploring
Share this mantra
Send the sacred sound, meaning, and a link to this page with someone who may benefit.
Frequently asked questions
What does Ya Wadud mean?+
It means 'O Most Loving One' — a call upon Al-Wadud, the divine name of pure, unconditional love.
What is Ya Wadud chanted for?+
For healing the heart, cultivating compassion, softening resentment, and restoring love and harmony between people.
How many repetitions are traditional?+
11, 100, or 1,000 repetitions; some practitioners keep a forty-night practice for a specific intention.