اللَّهُمَّ فَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ وَعَلِّمْهُ التَّأْوِيلَ
O Allah, grant him understanding in the religion and teach him its interpretation.
Allahumma faqqihhu fid-deen wa 'allimhut-ta'weel
When to Read
This dua is beautifully suited for when a child is about to start school, begin a new class, or commence learning from a new teacher or mentor. You can recite it before they meet their teacher for the first time, or even during the first week of their studies. It's also beneficial to make this dua for your children regularly, perhaps after Fajr or Maghrib prayers, to consistently seek Allah's blessing upon their education and relationships with those who guide them.
How to Read
Make this sincere supplication with conviction, visualizing your child excelling in their studies and being well-regarded by their teachers. Place your hand on your child's head or shoulder while reciting, or make the dua for them after they have gone to school. The essence is making heartfelt dua with the intention that Allah softens the hearts of their teachers towards them and grants them beneficial knowledge.
Virtues & Benefits
Making this dua for your children invokes Allah's blessings for their academic and spiritual growth. By asking Allah to grant understanding in the religion, you are seeking for them to grasp not just secular knowledge but also the wisdom and guidance of Islam. Teaching them interpretation implies seeking for them the ability to understand deeper meanings and apply knowledge effectively. Such a prayer also implicitly asks for their teachers to be guided in their instruction and to be fair and kind to your child, fostering a positive learning environment.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) put his hand on my shoulder and said: 'O Allah, teach him the Book (Al-Kitab)." (Sunan Ibn Majah 352) Although the direct context is about learning the Quran, the principle extends to seeking beneficial knowledge and understanding from any qualified teacher.