Duas for knowledge, clear speech and right decisions
Supplications for knowledge and clear speech — "My Lord, increase me in knowledge" (20:114), the dua of Musa before a hard conversation (20:25–28), and istikhara from the Sunnah.
In the whole of the Quran there is only one supplication asking for an increase of anything, and what it asks to increase is knowledge: "My Lord, increase me in knowledge" (20:114). A little earlier in the same Surah Ta Ha, Musa (peace be upon him) asks before facing Pharaoh: "expand my breast, ease my task, and untie the knot from my tongue, so that they may understand my speech" (20:25–28).
With them stand the words of the angels, "we know nothing except what You have taught us" (2:32); the plea of the youths of the cave, "prepare for us right guidance in our affair" (18:10); the qualification to be said about the future (18:24); and the request of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) for sound judgement (26:83–87). From the Sunnah comes istikhara, the supplication of one seeking guidance before a decision.
The Quranic supplications are set down in the Book itself rather than transmitted through hadith, and each carries its sura and ayah, so it can be checked against the mushaf. Istikhara is given with Arabic text, diacritics, translation and its hadith source.
Chapters in this category
Supplications from the Quran
- For an increase in knowledgeQuran 20:114
- Musa's supplication before a hard conversationQuran 20:25–28
- Admitting the limits of one's knowledgeQuran 2:32
- The supplication of the People of the CaveQuran 18:10
- "Perhaps my Lord will guide me"Quran 18:24
- Ibrahim's supplication — for wisdom, a good name and ParadiseQuran 26:83–87
Related categories
- Morning and evening adhkarMorning and evening adhkar — a collection of duas and remembrances of Allah to be recited after Fajr and after Asr, with Arabic text, translation, and audio.
- Duas before sleep and upon waking upDuas and adhkar to recite before sleep and upon waking, including Ayat al-Kursi, al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, and an-Nas with translation and audio.
- Daily duas — clothing, home, and the streetDuas when dressing and undressing, entering and leaving the home, and using the toilet — the complete set of everyday adhkar.
- Duas for wudu and prayerAdhkar before and after ablution (wudu), and all duas inside prayer — from takbir to salam, including sujood, ruku, tashahhud, and salawat on the Prophet ﷺ.
- Duas before and after eatingAdhkar before eating, after eating, when drinking, for the host, for the one who gave you drink, for iftar at someone's home, and for the first fruits of the season.
- Duas for travelThe complete traveler's duas: before setting out, on mounting, on ascents and descents, on entering a town, on stopping, and on returning home.