-اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلاَهَا

Allaahumma aati nafsii taqwaahaa, wa zakkihaa anta khayru man zakkaahaa, anta Waliyyuhaa wa Mawlaahaa. (Zayd ibn Arqam (RA). Sahih Muslim #4899)

O Allah, bestow on my soul its taqwa. Purify it, for You are the Best of those who can purify it. You alone are its Guardian and Master.

Ameen

Taqwa means piety, having fear of displeasing Allah, and Allah consciousness. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallem) made this du’aa for himself. If he needed taqwa and Allah’s help in acquiring it, what does that tell us about our needs in this regard?

This du’aa is a reminder that we perpetually need purification of the heart, and that this can only come with Allah’s help.

(Source: Khalid Baig’s commentary to du’aa #42 in the Accepted Whispers: Munajat-e-Maqbul)