رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطِيئَتِي وَجَهْلِي وَإِسْرَافِي فِي أَمْرِي كُلِّهِ، وَأَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِي مِنْ نَفْسِي، وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِنَفْسِي مِنْكَ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَفْتُ، وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ بِالْقَصْدِ سَبِيلِي وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَمَلِ الأَثَمِ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي رَاضِياً بِقَضَائِكَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِي قَدَرِكَ، حَتَّى لاَ أُحِبَّ تَعْجِيلَ مَا أَخَّرْتَ، وَلاَ تَعْجِيلَ مَا قَدَّمْتَ.
My Lord, forgive my mistakes and my ignorance, and my extravagance in my affair, all of it. You know best about me from myself, and I know best about myself from You. O Allah, forgive me what I have committed and what I have delayed, what I have concealed and what I have shown openly, and what I have been extravagant in, and what You know better about than me. O Allah, make the right way easy for me, and I seek refuge in You from deeds that lead to sin. O Allah, make me content with Your decree, and bless me in what is destined for me, so that I do not wish to hasten what You have delayed, nor to delay what You have brought forward.
Rabbighfir li khatee'ati wa jahli, wa israafi fee amri kullih, wa anta a'lamu bi min nafsi, wa ana a'lamu bi nafsi minka. Allahummaghfir li ma qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu, wa ma asrartu wa ma a'lantu, wa ma asraftu, wa ma anta a'lamu bihi minni. Allahummaj'al bil-qasdi sabeeli, wa a'udhu bika min 'amalil-itham. Allahummaj'alni radhiyan bi qada'ika, wa barik li fi qadarika, hatta la uhibba ta'jeela ma akhkharta, wa la ta'jeela ma qaddamta.
When to Read
Recite this comprehensive dua before and during your exams. It's a beautiful supplication that covers seeking forgiveness for potential shortcomings, asking for guidance, and requesting contentment with Allah's plan. It’s particularly relevant when you feel you may have made minor mistakes or overlooked something, asking Allah to overlook them and to bless your efforts.
How to Read
Raise your hands in supplication as you would normally do for dua. Utter the words with sincerity and deep contemplation, focusing on the meaning of each phrase. Imagine yourself standing before Allah, acknowledging your limitations and seeking His mercy and guidance. Ensure your intention is pure – to do your best and seek His help in evaluating your efforts fairly.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua, taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to his uncle Al-Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), is incredibly encompassing. It seeks Allah's forgiveness for all types of errors, whether intentional or unintentional, known or unknown. It asks for guidance to the right path and protection from sinful deeds. Crucially for an exam setting, it includes seeking contentment with Allah's decree and blessing in one's destiny, which can help alleviate anxiety about the outcome and foster a sense of peace, trusting that Allah's evaluation is just and merciful. This can lead to a more positive mindset, allowing the examiner's focus to be on the overall understanding and effort.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them): Al-Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah, I want to ask for something. He said: What is it? He said: I want you to teach me something that I may ask Allah with it. He said: O Allah, forgive me what I have done in the past and what I will do, what I have concealed and what I have shown openly, what I have been extravagant in, and what You know better than I. O Allah, grant me the provision of the Day of Seeking, the provision of the Day of Judgment, and the provision of the Day of Seeing the Face of Allah, the Exalted, the Majestic. O Allah, I ask You for the firmness in the affair, and I ask You for the resolve for the right way, and I ask You for the gratitude for Your bounty, and I ask You for good worship, and I ask You for a sound heart, and I ask You for a truthful tongue, and I ask You for the good of what You know, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of what You know, and I ask Your forgiveness for all sins. And he said: O Allah, make me content with Your decree, and bless me in the appointed time after that, until I do not love to hasten what You have delayed, nor to delay what You have hastened. And he said: O Allah, help me to remember You, and to thank You, and to worship You well. I said: O Messenger of Allah, how should I supplicate? And he said: Say: O Allah, forgive me what I have done in the past and what I will do, what I have concealed and what I have shown openly, what I have been extravagant in, and what You know better than I. O Allah, grant me the provision of the Day of Seeking, the provision of the Day of Judgment, and the provision of the Day of Seeing the Face of Allah, the Exalted, the Majestic. O Allah, I ask You for the firmness in the affair, and I ask You for the resolve for the right way, and I ask You for the gratitude for Your bounty, and I ask You for good worship, and I ask You for a sound heart, and I ask You for a truthful tongue, and I ask You for the good of what You know, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of what You know, and I ask Your forgiveness for all sins. And he said: O Allah, make me content with Your decree, and bless me in the appointed time after that, until I do not love to hasten what You have delayed, nor to delay what You have hastened. And he said: O Allah, help me to remember You, and to thank You, and to worship You well. Then he said to him: O my uncle, you have asked for a great thing. Indeed, it is not easy for whom you have asked it, but it is easy for whom Allah has made it easy. When you ask Allah, say: O Allah, forgive me what I have done in the past and what I will do, what I have concealed and what I have shown openly, what I have been extravagant in, and what You know better than I. O Allah, grant me the provision of the Day of Seeking, the provision of the Day of Judgment, and the provision of the Day of Seeing the Face of Allah, the Exalted, the Majestic. O Allah, I ask You for the firmness in the affair, and I ask You for the resolve for the right way, and I ask You for the gratitude for Your bounty, and I ask You for good worship, and I ask You for a sound heart, and I ask You for a truthful tongue, and I ask You for the good of what You know, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of what You know, and I ask Your forgiveness for all sins. And he said: O Allah, make me content with Your decree, and bless me in the appointed time after that, until I do not love to hasten what You have delayed, nor to delay what You have hastened. And he said: O Allah, help me to remember You, and to thank You, and to worship You well. (Sahih Muslim 2725)