When you want to understand

Study, memorisation, teaching, and the honest admission of not knowing.

1 I seek refuge from asking what I do not know

Nūḥ · 11:47 · after asking for something you should not have · excerpt, framing dimmed

Source: Sūrat Hud
11:47

قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْـَٔلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌۭ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِى وَتَرْحَمْنِىٓ أَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْخَٰسِرِينَ

Rabbi ʾinnī ʾaʿūdhu bika ʾan ʾasalaka mā laysa lī bihi ʿilmun wa-ʾillā taghfir lī wa-tarḥamnī ʾakun mina al-khāsirīna

English · Marmaduke Pickthall He said: My Lord! Lo! in Thee do I seek refuge (from the sin) that I should ask of Thee that whereof I have no knowledge. Unless Thou forgive me and have mercy on me I shall be among the lost.

Türkçe · Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır Nuh: "Ey Rabbim! Ben bilmediğim bir şeyi istemiş olmaktan dolayı sana sığınırım. Sen beni bağışlamazsan, bana merhamet etmezsen ben hüsrana uğrayanlardan olurum.

In the Qur’an (11:47), Nuh seeks refuge after being corrected and asks for Allah’s forgiveness and mercy.

Commentary, reflection and related duʿāʾ

2 Expand my chest, ease my task

Mūsā · 20:25–28 · before speaking to someone who frightens you · excerpt, framing dimmed

Source: Sūrat Taa-Haa
20:25–28

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةًۭ مِّن لِّسَانِى يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى

Rabbi ishraḥ lī ṣadrī wa-yassir lī ʾamrī waḥlul ʿuqdatan min lisānī yafqahū qawlī

English · Marmaduke Pickthall (Moses) said: My Lord! relieve my mind And ease my task for me; And loose a knot from my tongue, That they may understand my saying.

Türkçe · Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır Musa dedi ki: "Ey Rabbim! Benim göğsüme genişlik ver, İşimi kolaylaştır, Dilimden düğümü çöz Ki, sözümü iyi anlasınlar.

In the Qur’an (20:25), Musa begins his supplication by asking Allah to expand his chest.

Commentary, reflection and related duʿāʾ

3 Show me, that I may look upon You

Mūsā · 7:143 · longing for certainty rather than information · excerpt, framing dimmed

Source: Sūrat Al-A'raaf
7:143

وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِىٓ أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِى وَلَٰكِنِ ٱنظُرْ إِلَى ٱلْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوْفَ تَرَىٰنِى فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكًّۭا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًۭا فَلَمَّآ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Rabbi ʾarinī ʾanẓur ʾilayka

English · Marmaduke Pickthall And when Moses came to Our appointed tryst and his Lord had spoken unto him, he said: My Lord! Show me (Thy Self), that I may gaze upon Thee. He said: Thou wilt not see Me, but gaze upon the mountain! If it stand still in its place, then thou wilt see Me. And when his Lord revealed (His) glory to the mountain He sent it crashing down. And Moses fell down senseless. And when he woke he said: Glory unto Thee! I turn unto Thee repentant, and I am the first of (true) believers.

Türkçe · Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır Ne zaman ki, Musa, mikatımıza geldi, Rabbi ona kelâmıyla ihsanda bulundu. "Ey Rabbim, göster bana kendini de bakayım sana". dedi. Rabbi ona buyurdu ki; "Beni katiyyen göremezsin ve lâkin dağa bak, eğer o yerinde durabilirse, sonra sen de beni göreceksin". Daha sonra Rabbi dağa tecelli edince onu yerle bir ediverdi, Musa da baygın düştü. Ayılıp kendine gelince, "Sen sübhansın", "tevbe ettim, sana döndüm ve ben inananların ilkiyim," dedi.

From Sūrat Al-A'raaf, 7:143. The occasion of this supplication has not yet been written with a tafsīr citation.

Commentary and related duʿāʾ

4 Praise to the One who favoured us

Dāwūd · 27:15 · after being given an ability you did not earn · excerpt, framing dimmed

Source: Sūrat An-Naml
27:15

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ عِلْمًۭا وَقَالَا ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

Al-ḥamdu lillahi alladhī faḍḍalanā ʿalā kathīrin min ʿibādihi al-muʾminīna

English · Marmaduke Pickthall And We verily gave knowledge unto David and Solomon, and they said: Praise be to Allah, Who hath preferred us above many of His believing slaves!

Türkçe · Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır Andolsun ki biz, Davud'a ve Süleyman'a bir ilim verdik. Onlar: "Bizi mümin kullarının birçoğundan üstün kılan Allah'a hamd olsun" dediler.

From Sūrat An-Naml, 27:15. The occasion of this supplication has not yet been written with a tafsīr citation.

Commentary and related duʿāʾ

5 Increase me in knowledge

Muḥammad · 20:114 · before studying · excerpt, framing dimmed

Source: Sūrat Taa-Haa
20:114

فَتَعَٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُۥ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًۭا

Rabbi zidnī ʿilman

English · Marmaduke Pickthall Then exalted be Allah, the True King! And hasten not (O Muhammad) with the Qur'an ere its revelation hath been perfected unto thee, and say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.

Türkçe · Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır Hükmü her yerde geçerli gerçek hükümdar olan Allah yücedir. (Ey Muhammed!) Kur'ân sana vahyedilirken, vahiy bitmeden önce (unutma korkusu ile) Kur'ân'ı okumada acele etme; "Rabbim! benim ilmimi artır" de.

From Sūrat Taa-Haa, 20:114. The occasion of this supplication has not yet been written with a tafsīr citation.

Commentary and related duʿāʾ