Dua for Memorising the Quran: Authentic Supplications to Use
The most reliable duas to make before memorising the Quran come from the Quran itself: "Rabbi zidni 'ilma" (My Lord, increase me in knowledge) from Surah Ta-Ha 20:114, and the dua of Musa from Surah Ta-Ha 20:25-28. Both are short, easy to learn, and authentic beyond any question of grading.
Key Takeaways
- Rabbi zidni 'ilma, meaning My Lord, increase me in knowledge, comes from Surah Ta-Ha, verse 114.
- The dua of Musa, asking Allah to expand his chest, ease his task and untie his tongue, comes from Surah Ta-Ha, verses 25 to 28.
- Because both come directly from the Quran, there is no question about their authenticity.
- A longer memorisation dua shared widely online comes from a narration graded weak, so it's worth asking a scholar before relying on it.
- Dua works alongside effort, not instead of it: a steady routine and regular revision still do the heavy lifting.
Dua 1: "My Lord, Increase Me in Knowledge"
| Part | Dua |
|---|---|
| Arabic | رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًۭا |
| Transliteration | Rabbi zidni 'ilma |
| Translation | "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." (Sahih International) |
| Source | Surah Ta-Ha, 20:114 |
What makes this verse especially fitting for Hifz students is its context. The same verse tells the Prophet Muhammad not to hasten with the Quran before its revelation is completed to him, and then to say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." It pairs patience with the Quran and a request for more understanding, which is exactly the balance memorisation needs. You can read the full verse on quran.com.
Dua 2: The Dua of Musa
| Part | Dua |
|---|---|
| Arabic | رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةًۭ مِّن لِّسَانِى يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى |
| Transliteration | Rabbish-rah li sadri, wa yassir li amri, wahlul 'uqdatan min lisani, yafqahu qawli |
| Translation | "My Lord, expand for me my breast, and ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my speech." (Sahih International) |
| Source | Surah Ta-Ha, 20:25-28 |
This is the supplication the Prophet Musa (Moses) made when he was given a difficult task. Many students recite it before lessons or revision because it asks for exactly what memorisation needs: a calm, open heart, an easier task, and a tongue that recites clearly. You can read these verses in full on quran.com.
A Note on a Widely Shared Memorisation Dua
You may come across a much longer "dua for memorisation", taught with a special prayer on the night before Friday. It comes from a narration in Jami' at-Tirmidhi (number 3570), which is graded Da'if, meaning weak, in the Darussalam grading shown on sunnah.com. Scholars differ on how weak narrations should be used in acts of worship, so if you'd like to use it, ask your local imam or scholar first. The two Quranic duas above carry no such question.
When to Make These Duas
- Before a memorisation session, as a short, focused way to begin.
- Before a lesson with your teacher, especially when you're nervous about reciting.
- During revision of difficult passages, when a section just won't settle.
- At any time, in your own words too. You can always ask Allah for help in any language, alongside these Quranic wordings.
Dua Alongside Effort
Dua isn't a shortcut around the work of memorisation, it's what you bring to the work. The students who hold on to what they memorise are still the ones who protect a daily routine and keep up their sabqi and manzil revision. For practical help with that side, see our guide to staying motivated to memorise the Quran.
Parents may also find our guide to helping your child memorise the Quran useful, and if you'd like to understand the duas you recite word by word, our Quran Translation course teaches exactly that.
How Mariam Quran Tutor Can Help
Our Hifz programme combines a structured daily plan with a qualified hafiz teacher, and our Salah course helps students learn duas and their meanings properly. You can book a free trial lesson with no card required, or call +44 7848 496686.
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