اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً
O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, pure provision, and deeds accepted (by You).
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman nafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan
When to Read
This dua is excellent to recite just before entering into prayer (Salat) or even during the supplication in the last part of the prayer, especially before the Tasleem (saying As-salamu alaykum). It's a beautiful way to set the intention for your prayer, asking Allah to make your connection with Him meaningful and your worship sincere.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a focused heart. As you say it, truly reflect on what you are asking for: knowledge that benefits you in this life and the next, sustenance that is pure and lawful, and actions that are accepted by Allah, meaning they are done correctly and with the right intention. This helps prepare your mind and heart for the prayer, making you less prone to distractions.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encompasses a comprehensive request for a well-rounded spiritual and worldly life. Beneficial knowledge leads us to the truth, pure provision keeps our bodies and souls clean, and accepted deeds are the ultimate goal of our worship. By asking for these, we are essentially praying for our entire experience of Islam to be effective and pleasing to Allah, which directly impacts our ability to focus and find clarity in our prayers.
Source & Authentication
The Mother of the Believers, 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), said: 'The Prophet ﷺ used to invoke Allah frequently. I said to him: 'O Messenger of Allah, I hear you invoking Allah frequently for... He said: 'O 'Aishah, I do not invoke Allah frequently for anything except that I ask Him for beneficial knowledge, pure provision, and accepted deeds.' (He used to say when the sun rose): 'O Allah, I ask You for good in this morning, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this morning and the evil of what comes after it.' And when evening came, he would say the like of that. And he would say: 'O Allah, I ask You for good in this evening, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this evening and the evil of what comes after it.' [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 925 - Graded Hasan by some scholars]