Dua for Knowledge
3 Ways to Seek Beneficial Knowledge
Islam holds knowledge in the highest regard, and the very first word revealed in the Quran was a command to read. The dua for knowledge is the beautiful prayer Allah taught the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the Quran, asking simply to be increased in knowledge. It is the only thing Allah commanded His Prophet (pbuh) to ask for more of, showing how precious beneficial knowledge is, and teaching the believer to seek it constantly from its true source, Allah Himself.
This guide explains the dua for knowledge, its meaning, and three ways to seek beneficial knowledge, so that the believer may turn to Allah for the understanding that draws them closer to Him, asking the All-Knowing to increase them in the knowledge that benefits in this life and the next.
The Meaning of the Dua for Knowledge
The dua for knowledge comes from Surah Taha, where Allah instructs the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to say: my Lord, increase me in knowledge. Remarkably, this is the only matter in the entire Quran that Allah commanded His Prophet (pbuh) to seek an increase of. He was not told to ask for more wealth or worldly gain, but for more knowledge, which shows the immense value Islam places on beneficial knowledge and the constant pursuit of it.
The dua is brief but profound. By asking Allah to increase him in knowledge, the Prophet (pbuh) acknowledged that all knowledge comes from Allah, the source of every understanding, and that no matter how much one knows, there is always more to learn. It teaches the believer to remain humble before knowledge, never assuming they have learned enough, and to turn to Allah as the giver of understanding, seeking from Him the knowledge that brings the heart closer to Him. The seeker of knowledge, the Prophet (pbuh) taught, walks a path that Allah makes easy toward Paradise, and the angels lower their wings in approval of what they do, so dear is the pursuit of understanding to Allah.
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Rabbi zidni ‘ilma
My Lord increase me in knowledge
Three Ways to Seek Beneficial Knowledge
The believer seeks beneficial knowledge by asking Allah and pursuing it with sincerity. These three ways, joined with the dua, seek knowledge that benefits.
- Ask Allah to increase you in knowledge, seeking understanding from its true source.
- Seek knowledge for His sake, intending to draw closer to Allah and benefit others.
- Act upon what you learn, for beneficial knowledge is the knowledge that is put into practice.
هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Hal yastawil-ladhina ya‘lamuna walladhina la ya‘lamun
Are those who know and those who do not know ever equal
Seeking Knowledge That Draws You Closer
The only increase Allah commanded His Prophet (pbuh) to seek was knowledge, teaching the believer to pursue it throughout their life. The dua for knowledge asks Allah, the source of all understanding, to increase the believer in the knowledge that benefits in this life and the next. By asking Allah for knowledge, seeking it sincerely for His sake, and acting upon what is learned, the believer gains the beneficial knowledge that draws the heart closer to Allah and lights the path to Him. Such knowledge is not merely information stored in the mind, but a living light that shapes how a believer thinks, worships and treats others, growing richer the more freely it is shared with others and the more faithfully it is practised in daily life.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua for guidance that seeks the straight path, and the dua for steadfastness. Together they help the believer seek the beneficial knowledge and guidance that draw them closer to Allah.
The only increase Allah commanded His Prophet (pbuh) to seek was knowledge, the most precious of pursuits. Learn the Quranic duas with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on TikTok for a reminder to seek beneficial knowledge, and on Facebook where readers share how knowledge draws them closer to Allah.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua for knowledge is Rabbi zidni ‘ilma, my Lord, increase me in knowledge. Allah taught it to the Prophet (pbuh) in Surah Taha.
Say it when studying, seeking understanding, or beginning to learn, asking Allah to increase you in beneficial knowledge. It is beautiful to make a regular habit.
Because it is the only matter in the Quran that Allah commanded His Prophet (pbuh) to seek an increase of, showing the immense value of beneficial knowledge. He asked for more knowledge, not more wealth.
It teaches that all knowledge comes from Allah, that there is always more to learn, and that the believer should remain humble and keep seeking. Knowledge is sought from its true source, Allah.
Beneficial knowledge is knowledge sought for the sake of Allah, that draws the heart closer to Him and is acted upon. It benefits in this life and the next.
The dua for guidance seeks the straight path, and the dua for steadfastness keeps the heart firm. Together with the dua for knowledge, they draw the believer closer to Allah.