6 supplications
Duas of Prophet Musa (Moses)
Musa is mentioned in the Qur’an more than any other prophet, and his life moved from danger to danger: the river, Pharaoh’s palace, the flight to Madyan, the mission and the sea. At each turn he spoke to his Lord, and his short supplications remain among the most recited by Muslims today.
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
After a mistake
رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi inni dhalamtu nafsi faghfir li.
My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me. “And He forgave him; He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Source: Qur’an 28:16
When fleeing injustice
رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
Rabbi najjini minal-qawmidh-dhalimin.
My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.
Source: Qur’an 28:21
I am in need of Your good
رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir.
My Lord, I am truly in need of whatever good You send down to me. The dua of Musa in Madyan.
Source: Qur’an 28:24
For himself and his brother
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِأَخِي وَأَدْخِلْنَا فِي رَحْمَتِكَ ۖ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
Rabbighfir li wa li-akhi wa adkhilna fi rahmatik, wa anta arhamur-rahimin.
My Lord, forgive me and my brother, and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.
Source: Qur’an 7:151
The du‘a of Musa’s people
عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
‘Alallahi tawakkalna, rabbana la taj‘alna fitnatan lil-qawmidh-dhalimin, wa najjina bi-rahmatika minal-qawmil-kafirin.
In Allah we put our trust. Our Lord, do not make us a trial for the wrongdoing people, and save us by Your mercy from the disbelieving people.
Source: Qur’an 10:85-86
The context of each supplication
Musa said “My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me” (28:16) after he struck a man who died from the blow; he did not justify himself but turned straight to his Lord, and Allah forgave him. When he fled Egypt, he said “My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people” (28:21).
Alone and hungry in Madyan, after watering the flock of two women, he sat in the shade and said: “My Lord, I am in need of whatever good You send down to me” (28:24). Within moments, one of the women came back to invite him; he found work, a home and a wife. Many Muslims recite this du‘a when seeking work, provision or marriage.
Before facing Pharaoh, he asked for an expanded chest, an easy task and a fluent tongue (20:25-28), the du‘a students recite before exams and speakers before speaking. After the incident of the golden calf, he prayed for himself and his brother Harun (7:151).
Musa, the one who spoke with Allah
Allah spoke to Musa directly, earning him the title Kalimullah. Yet the Qur’an shows him as a man of short, sincere du‘as in moments of fear, need and regret. This teaches that closeness to Allah does not depend on long words, but on honesty and humility.
Putting these duas into practice
- Say “Rabbi-shrah li sadri” before exams, interviews and difficult conversations.
- Say “Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir” when looking for work or a spouse.
- After a mistake, say “Rabbi inni dhalamtu nafsi faghfir li” without delay or excuses.
- Pray for your brothers and sisters by name, as Musa prayed for Harun.
- When facing injustice, combine du‘a with lawful means of protection.
Duas of Prophet Musa (Moses): questions and answers
Which du‘a of Musa is for provision?
“Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir” (28:24): My Lord, I am in need of whatever good You send down to me.
Is Rabbi-shrah li sadri only for exams?
No. It suits any task that needs courage, clarity and ease, such as a job interview, a difficult conversation or a speech.