This article statistically investigates the impact of heat production on the unstable MHD natural convection transport of nanofluid flow via a perforated sheet. The ordinary differential equations (ODEs) are derived from the partial differential equations (PDEs) by using of the similarity transformation. The dimensionless ordinary differential equations (ODEs) may be numerically resolved with the help of the MATLAB ODE45 tool and the finite difference method (FDM) along with the shooting strategy. Four innovative water-based nanofluids such as TiO2, Cu, Al2O3, and Ag are considered nanoparticles. The numerical results have been explained for the role of numerous non-dimensional numbers or parameters such as heat generation or absorption (Q), nanoparticle volume fraction (φ), Dufour number (Df), Prandtl number (Pr), magnetic force parameter (M), Soret number (Sr), and Schmidt number (Sc) on the fluid flow, and heat and mass transfer rates. The fluid temperature drops but velocity is enhanced for higher amounts of Q. Copper nanoparticle volume fraction up to 4 % shows a rise in temperature, concentration, and velocity curves. Heat transfer rate ( − θ′(0)) diminishes by about 124 %, while the values of f′(0) promote by approximately 26 % owing to an increase in the values of Q (heat generation) from 1.0 to 2.0. The value of ( − θ′(0)) increases by 49 %, but f′0 decreases by 15 % due to a rise in Q (heat absorption) from -3.0 to -10.0. The local skin friction coefficient (f′(0)) diminishes by about 65.21 % due to an increase in the values of the magnetic force parameter (M) from 0.5 to 3.5 whereas the rate of heat and mass transfer remain unchanged. As φ increased from 0.01 to 0.04, the local skin friction coefficient (f′(0)) exhibited a 36 % increase, while the heat transport rate (θ′(0)) decreased around by 10 %. In conclusion, a comparison was made between our findings and those of the published research. The comparison indicates a high degree of consistency.