اللَّهُمَّ عَلِّمْهُ الحِكْمَةَ وَقِنِيهَا، وَعَلِّمْهُ تَأْوِيلَ القُرْآنِ
O Allah, grant him wisdom and purify him of it, and teach him the interpretation of the Qur'an.
Allahumma 'allimhu al-hikmata wa qinniha, wa 'allimhu ta'wil al-Qur'an
When to Read
This dua is beautiful to recite when holding your newborn, perhaps after the Adhan and Iqamah have been called in their ear. It can also be made regularly during supplication, asking Allah to instill in your child a deep understanding and love for the teachings that stem from the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere intention and a heartfelt plea to Allah. Face the Qiblah if possible, and raise your hands in supplication. Imagine your child growing up with profound knowledge and love for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, implementing his teachings in their life. It's a personal supplication, so let your emotions guide you in asking Allah for this immense blessing for your child.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua, though seemingly focused on wisdom and Qur'anic interpretation, is deeply connected to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. True understanding of the Qur'an is inseparable from the Prophet's teachings and his Sunnah. By asking Allah to grant wisdom and Qur'anic knowledge, we are indirectly asking for the child to be guided by the light of the Prophet ﷺ. A child who understands the Qur'an deeply will naturally gravitate towards the Sunnah as the practical explanation of Allah's word. This sets the foundation for a lifelong love and adherence to the Prophet's way, which is the ultimate goal for any Muslim parent.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet ﷺ supplicated for Ibn 'Abbas saying: 'O Allah, teach him the Book (Qur'an) and the wisdom (Sunnah).' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4080. It is classified as Hasan by Al-Albani.) *Note: While the direct translation in the entry focuses on a specific wording for a newborn, the original hadith from Ibn Majah and other sources (like Sahih al-Bukhari 6306, Sahih Muslim 244) where the Prophet ﷺ made dua for Ibn Abbas includes the request for 'al-hikmah' (wisdom), which encompasses understanding and following the Sunnah. The wording provided in the main entry is a beautiful adaptation for the context of a newborn, asking Allah to instill the essence of this supplication into the child's life from the beginning.