اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا جُبِلَتْ عَلَيْهِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ مَا جُبِلَتْ عَلَيْهِ
O Allah, I ask You for its goodness and the goodness of what You have created it with, and I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of what You have created it with.
Allahumma inni as'aluka khairaha wa khaira ma jubilat 'alaihi, wa a'udhu bika min sharriha wa sharri ma jubilat 'alaihi.
When to Read
This beautiful dua is perfect to recite before undertaking any task where the outcome is uncertain, but particularly before facing an exam. It's a way of acknowledging that ultimately, the best outcome is what Allah decrees, whether it's passing with flying colours, or facing a challenge that will, in sha Allah, lead to greater good. Recite it just before you enter the exam hall or begin writing.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere intention, acknowledging Allah's power and wisdom. Raise your hands slightly, as if making a humble request. Focus on the meaning – you are not just asking for success, but for the 'goodness' of the situation and the 'goodness' of what it is made of, while seeking protection from any potential harm. It’s about surrendering the outcome to Allah while actively seeking His best for you.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua embodies the essence of Tawakkul (reliance on Allah). By asking for 'khairaha' (its goodness) and 'khaira ma jubilat 'alaihi' (the goodness of what it's created with), you are accepting whatever Allah wills, knowing that His decree is always the best, even if it doesn't seem so at first. Seeking refuge from 'sharriha' (its evil) shows your proactive seeking of Allah's protection. It fosters peace of mind by relieving the pressure of controlling the outcome, placing it instead in the hands of the All-Wise and All-Powerful.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to teach them the prayer for seeking guidance (Istikhara) in all matters, just as he used to teach them Surahs from the Qur'an. He said: 'When any one of you is concerned about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones, then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and power from You, and I ask of Your tremendous grace. For You have power, and I have not, and You have knowledge, and I know not. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and here he should name the matter) is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter – or he said: in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affair – then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in my livelihood and in the outcome of my affair – or he said: in my religion and livelihood and outcome of my affair – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and choose for me whatever is good and make me satisfied with it.' And he said: 'And he should mention his need specifically.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166). While this is the prayer of Istikhara, a similar sentiment of seeking the best and seeking refuge from evil is found in other narrations when facing specific situations. The dua provided is specifically for seeking the good of a particular thing, such as an exam, when Istikhara prayer might not be the primary method.