اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا
O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision, and acceptable deeds.
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman nafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan
When to Read
This dua is excellent to recite before you begin studying for your exams, or right before you enter the examination hall. It's also beneficial to say it when you feel overwhelmed or stuck on a particularly difficult question, asking Allah to grant you the insight needed to grasp it.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity, focusing your heart on Allah. Imagine the knowledge you are seeking flowing into your mind. It's recommended to raise your hands slightly as you supplicate, though this isn't a strict requirement for all duas. Ensure you understand the meaning of the words as you speak them.
Virtues & Benefits
This powerful supplication, taught by our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, asks for three essential things: 'ilman nafi'an' (beneficial knowledge), 'rizqan tayyiban' (goodly provision), and 'amalan mutaqabbalan' (acceptable deeds). Beneficial knowledge is precisely what we need for exams – knowledge that stays with us and benefits us in this life and the next. It's not just about passing, but about gaining understanding. Asking for goodly provision and acceptable deeds also encompasses the blessings Allah bestows upon those who strive diligently and honestly in their endeavors, including their studies.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, that she said: 'The Prophet ﷺ used to say, when he said the salaam after the prayer: "Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman nafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan" (O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision, and acceptable deeds).' (Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Du'a, Hadith 925. This hadith is classified as Hasan by scholars).