اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy.
Allahummaftah li abwaba rahmatik
When to Read
This is the recommended dua for entering any mosque. When you enter the masjid with the intention of seeking Allah's help in memorizing the Quran, reciting this dua is a beautiful way to begin. It sets the intention that your presence in the house of Allah is for seeking His mercy, which is essential for any endeavor, especially one as profound as memorizing His Book.
How to Read
Recite this dua upon entering the Masjid. It is typically recited after stepping in with the right foot. The emphasis is on sincerity and understanding the meaning: you are directly asking Allah to bestow His mercy upon you, which encompasses all forms of blessings and assistance needed for your Quran memorization journey.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is a general supplication for entering the Masjid, seeking Allah's mercy. By extension, when you make this intention for memorizing the Quran, you are asking for Allah's mercy to facilitate your learning, understanding, and retention. Allah's mercy is the ultimate key to success in this life and the hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also taught us to seek knowledge and to strive in His way, and this dua aligns with that.
Source & Authentication
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلْيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ فَضْلِكَ. وَإِذَا خَرَجَ فَلْيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَزْقِكَ. " Sahih Muslim 713. The wording in some narrations is 'af-tabi abwaba fadlik' (open to me the gates of Your bounty), and in others 'abwaba rahmatik' (gates of Your mercy). Both convey the same essence of seeking Allah's immense blessings and favors upon entering.