Rabbi Zidni Ilma
Taha 20:114. Also known as Rabbi zidni ilman, My Lord, increase me in knowledge, Dua for knowledge
فَتَعَٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡحَقُّۗ وَلَا تَعۡجَلۡ بِٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يُقۡضَىٰٓ إِلَيۡكَ وَحۡيُهُۥۖ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدۡنِي عِلۡمٗا ﴿١١٤﴾
FataAAala Allahu almaliku alhaqqu wala taAAjal bialqurani min qabli an yuqda ilayka wahyuhu waqul rabbi zidnee AAilman
Exalted is Allah, the True King. Do not be hasty with the Quran before its inspiration to you is concluded, and say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge.”
Rabbi zidni ilma means my Lord, increase me in knowledge. It comes at the end of verse 114 of Surah Taha, the 20th surah, and is one of the shortest supplications in the Quran.
It is widely known as the prayer for students. Many Muslims say it before studying, reading or attending a class, and children often learn it early.
What it means
Exalted is Allah, the True King
The verse opens by exalting Allah as the King who is the Truth. Before speaking of knowledge, it reminds the listener whose knowledge and authority stand above all.
Do not rush the Quran
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is told not to hurry with the Quran before its revelation to him is complete. Commentators explain that he used to repeat the words quickly as they came, anxious not to lose them, and this told him to listen first.
Say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge
He is then told to ask for more knowledge. Rather than hurrying to hold onto what he had, he should ask Allah for more. Ibn Hajar noted that this is the only thing the Prophet ﷺ was explicitly told in the Quran to ask for an increase in.
Where it sits in Surah Taha
From verse 99 onward, Surah Taha describes the Quran as a reminder from Allah, and then the Day of Resurrection: the trumpet, the leveling of the mountains, voices hushed before the Most Merciful and faces humbled before the Living, the Sustainer. Verse 113 says the Quran was sent down in Arabic with warnings set out in different ways so people might be mindful. Verse 114 follows. Verse 115 then begins the story of Adam: Allah had made a covenant with him, but he forgot and lacked resolve, and the story continues with the angels bowing and Satan's refusal. A similar instruction not to hurry the recitation appears at 75:16 to 75:19.
How it is used
Muslims say this short prayer before study, lessons and reading. Imam al-Bukhari placed this verse in a chapter on the virtue of knowledge in the Book of Knowledge of his Sahih. Sahih al-Bukhari also reports, from Ibn Abbas, that the Prophet ﷺ used to move his lips quickly to memorize revelation as it came, until Allah revealed 75:16 to 75:19 telling him that collecting and reciting it was Allah's responsibility.
Questions
Where is Rabbi zidni ilma in the Quran?
It is at the end of Surah Taha, verse 114.
What does Rabbi zidni ilma mean?
It means: My Lord, increase me in knowledge.
Is Rabbi zidni ilma a dua for exams?
It is a general dua for knowledge and is often said before studying and exams. Many people also say the dua of Moses in 20:25-28 before exams or speaking.