5 supplications
Duas for Knowledge, Study and Exams
Seeking knowledge is a path to Paradise (Sahih Muslim). These supplications ask Allah for knowledge that benefits and for ease in what is difficult.
Expand my chest
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي، وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي، وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي، يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
Rabbishrah li sadri, wa yassir li amri, wahlul ‘uqdatan min lisani, yafqahu qawli.
My Lord, expand my chest for me, ease my task for me, and untie the knot from my tongue so they understand my speech. The dua of Musa before facing Pharaoh.
Source: Qur’an 20:25-28
Increase me in knowledge
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Rabbi zidni ‘ilma.
My Lord, increase me in knowledge.
Source: Qur’an 20:114
Benefit me with what You taught me
اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي، وَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي، وَزِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Allahummanfa‘ni bima ‘allamtani, wa ‘allimni ma yanfa‘uni, wa zidni ‘ilma.
O Allah, benefit me with what You have taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase me in knowledge.
Source: Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi; Sunan Ibn Majah
Beneficial knowledge, good provision
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا
Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi‘a, wa rizqan tayyiba, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbala.
O Allah, I ask You for knowledge that is beneficial, provision that is good, and deeds that are accepted. Said by the Prophet ﷺ after the dawn prayer.
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah
For ease
اللَّهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إِلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلًا، وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلًا
Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja‘altahu sahla, wa anta taj‘alul-hazna idha shi’ta sahla.
O Allah, nothing is easy except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy when You will.
Source: Sahih Ibn Hibban
The virtue of seeking knowledge
Knowledge is the only thing the Prophet ﷺ was commanded to ask for more of: “And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge” (20:114). He said: “Whoever takes a path seeking knowledge, Allah makes easy for him a path to Paradise” (Muslim), and he sought refuge from knowledge that does not benefit (Muslim).
Before study or an exam, the du‘a of Musa “My Lord, expand my chest and ease my task” combines with serious preparation, because du‘a does not replace effort. Students do well to begin with Bismillah, study regularly, avoid sins that dull the heart and thank Allah for every success.
Meanings of the du‘as for knowledge
The du‘a of Musa holds four requests: an expanded chest to bear the task, an easy affair, a loosened tongue to speak clearly, and that people understand his words. “O Allah, benefit me by what You taught me, teach me what benefits me and increase me in knowledge” (at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah) asks for useful knowledge, acting on it and more of it, for knowledge not acted upon is a proof against its owner. And “O Allah, nothing is easy except what You make easy” reminds the student that ease comes from Allah, so he neither boasts of his intelligence nor despairs at a hard subject.
Practical tips
- Begin each study session with Bismillah and the du‘a of Musa.
- Study at fixed times rather than all at once before the exam.
- Revise before sleeping and after Fajr, when the mind is fresh.
- Avoid sins and late nights that dull memory.
- Teach what you learn: it is the best way to keep it.
Duas for Knowledge, Study and Exams: questions and answers
Is there a du‘a before an exam?
“Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja‘altahu sahla…” — O Allah, nothing is easy except what You make easy (Ibn Hibban), along with the du‘a of Musa.
Does this apply to worldly subjects?
Yes. Useful knowledge includes medicine, sciences and trades, when sought with good intention to benefit people.