Duas for Exams and Study
Recite these duas before tests and study sessions to ask Allah for clarity, ease, and retention.
Background
Knowledge is a trust from Allah, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as well as the prophets before him asked for it directly. The duas below combine the supplication Allah taught Musa ﷺ at the moment of his greatest test with the short remembrance the Prophet ﷺ encouraged for understanding. Recite them before opening your books, before entering the exam hall, and whenever you feel your memory falter.
Authentic Duas (2)
Quranic Duas
Rabbi Zidni Ilma
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
My Lord, increase me in knowledge.
Situations
Dua for Exam & Study — Rabbi Shrah li Sadri
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي، وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي، وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي، يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
My Lord, expand for me my chest, ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my speech.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dua before an exam?
'Rabbi-shrah li sadri wa yassir li amri' (Quran 20:25-26) — the supplication Allah taught Musa ﷺ — is among the most beloved for moments of pressure: 'My Lord, expand for me my chest and ease for me my task.'
Is there a dua for memorization?
'Rabbi zidni ilma' (Quran 20:114), 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge,' is the most concise and frequent dua of the Prophet ﷺ for knowledge and retention.