Islamic prayers for gaining beneficial knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and memorization. Essential duas for students and lifelong learners.
Seeking knowledge is a sacred duty in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim." Whether pursuing religious or worldly knowledge that benefits humanity, these duas help open the doors of understanding and wisdom.
The journey of knowledge is a lifelong pursuit that brings us closer to Allah. Through these authentic duas, we seek not just information, but beneficial knowledge that transforms our hearts, minds, and actions for the better.
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْماً
Rabbi zidni 'ilma
"My Lord, increase me in knowledge."
Quran 20:114
اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي وَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي وَزِدْنِي عِلْماً
Allahumma infa'ni bima 'allamtani wa 'allimni ma yanfa'uni wa zidni 'ilma
"O Allah, benefit me with what You have taught me, teach me what benefits me, and increase me in knowledge."
Ibn Majah
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْماً نَافِعاً، وَرِزْقاً طَيِّباً، وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman nafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan
"O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, good provision, and accepted deeds."
Ibn Majah
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُوراً، وَفِي لِسَانِي نُوراً، وَفِي سَمْعِي نُوراً، وَفِي بَصَرِي نُوراً
Allahumma ij'al fi qalbi nuran, wa fi lisani nuran, wa fi sam'i nuran, wa fi basari nuran
"O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, and light in my sight."
Bukhari & Muslim
اللَّهُمَّ فَقِّهْنِي فِي الدِّينِ
Allahumma faqqihni fid-deen
"O Allah, grant me understanding of the religion."
Bukhari
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَداً
Rabbana atina min ladunka rahmatan wa hayyi' lana min amrina rashada
"Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance."
Quran 18:10
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ
Read in the name of your Lord who created.
The first revelation emphasizes reading and knowledge
قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know?
Allah elevates those with knowledge
يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ
Allah will raise those who believe among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.
Knowledge elevates one's status
Essential knowledge every Muslim must acquire: basics of faith, prayer, purification, and halal/haram in daily life.
Specialized knowledge needed by the community: medicine, engineering, Islamic jurisprudence, and other beneficial sciences.
Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, Tafsir, Arabic language, and Islamic history that deepen understanding of the faith.
Sciences, technology, arts, and skills that benefit humanity and contribute to the betterment of society.
"Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise."
- Sahih Muslim
"The angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge, pleased with what he is doing."
- Abu Dawud
"The superiority of the learned over the worshipper is like the superiority of the full moon over the stars."
- Abu Dawud
"When a person dies, all his deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him."
- Sahih Muslim