اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دُعَاءٍ لَا يُسْمَعُ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not fear You, from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not heard. O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and self-sufficiency.
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa', wa min qalbin la yakhsha', wa min nafsin la tashba', wa min du'a'in la yusma'. Allahumma inni as'alukal-huda wat-tuqa wal-'afafa wal-ghina.
When to Read
This dua is powerful to recite at the beginning of any study session, when starting a new learning endeavor, or any time you feel your mind wandering or being pulled towards distractions, both internal and external, while seeking knowledge. It's a shield against superficial learning and a plea for genuine understanding and righteous application.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere intention and focus. Raise your hands in supplication as is customary when making dua. Imagine seeking Allah's help directly to purify your intentions, strengthen your resolve, and safeguard your mind from harmful influences. Reflect on each phrase as you utter it.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua seeks refuge from four significant spiritual and intellectual ailments: knowledge that yields no benefit (often superficial or unapplied), a heart devoid of Allah's awe and consciousness, an insatiable soul driven by worldly desires, and prayers that go unanswered due to negligence or impurity. By seeking refuge from these, we protect our learning from becoming a mere accumulation of facts without purpose or spiritual growth. The second part of the dua asks for four essential qualities: guidance (hidayah) to the right path, piety (taqwa) to remain conscious of Allah, chastity (afaf) to remain pure in character and intention, and self-sufficiency (ghina) to be content with what Allah has provided, thus freeing us from the anxieties that can distract from learning. This holistic approach ensures that our pursuit of knowledge is both effective and righteous.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated that Yahya bin Yahya Al-Laithi narrated to us, he said: I read to Malik from Ibn Shihab, from Sa'id bin Al-Musayyab, from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say: 'Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa', wa min qalbin la yakhsha', wa min nafsin la tashba', wa min du'a'in la yusma'. (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not fear You, from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not heard.) Then Abu Hurairah said: This is from what we used to say. And Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: 'Allahumma inni as'alukal-huda wat-tuqa wal-'afafa wal-ghina.' (O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and self-sufficiency.)