رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
My Lord, expand for me my breast, and make my task easy for me, and untie the knot from my tongue so they may understand my speech.
Rabbi-shrah li sadri, wa yassir li amri, wah-lul 'uqdatam mil-lisaani, yaf-qahu qawli
When to Read
This powerful dua from Surah Taha, originally recited by Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) when he was tasked with confronting Fir'awn, is perfect for children struggling with shyness or a lack of confidence in speaking. Recite it before your child needs to speak in front of others – perhaps before school presentations, addressing elders, or even just participating in group activities. You can recite it with them, blow gently onto them (with a little saliva, as the Prophet ﷺ did with some duas), or have them recite it themselves regularly, especially after Fajr prayer.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and conviction, envisioning your child speaking with clarity and confidence. Understand that the request is for Allah to open up their chest (remove anxiety), ease their affairs (make the act of speaking smooth), and remove any 'knot' from their tongue (enable clear articulation). Focus on the meaning of each phrase as you recite it. It's beautiful to recite this together with your child, making it a shared moment of seeking Allah's help.
Virtues & Benefits
This ayah directly asks Allah for the removal of obstacles to clear and confident speech. When Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) made this dua, Allah granted him eloquence and confidence to confront a tyrant. For our children, it can help them overcome the fear of judgment, the hesitation to express themselves, and the difficulty in articulating their thoughts. It's a direct appeal to the One who gifted us with the ability to speak and understand, seeking His assistance in making that gift shine brightly in our children.