Exam Day: Duaa to Perfect Your Memory and Increase Your Knowledge

It’s that time of year again. People all around the world have their noses crammed in books, notes, and power points, studying for upcoming exams. Whether you are a college student prepping for the GRE or final exams, or a high schooler getting ready for that big SAT, you are probably nervous just thinking about those exams. Don’t fret – here’s a compilation of a few duas that you would probably like to have in your pocket, and on your tongue, before test day.

Seeking knowledge:

These ayah’s from Surah Taha (Verses 25-28) were the supplication of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him), who had a problem with fluency in speech. In order to get the compassion of Allah (swt), he would recite this dua in times of distress. Out of all duas for students, this supplication can serve many purposes, as it can be used for standardized tests, and to help improve your speech both orally and in writing.  Recite this duaa before delivering lectures, a big interview or any time you might need it:

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

Rabbishrah lee sadree Wayassir lee amree Wahlul ‘uqdatan min lisanee Yafqahoo qawlee

“O my Sustainer! Open up my heart and make my task easy for me, and loosen the knot from my tongue so that they might fully understand my speech.”

Before Studying:

َللَّهُمَّ اَكْرِمْنْيْ بِنُوْرِ الْفَهْمِ وَ خَرَّجَنِيْ مِنْ ظُلُمَاتِ الْوَهْمِ وَ افْتَحْ عَلَيْنَا اَبْوَابَ عِلْمَكَ، وَ انْشُرْ

عَلَيْنَا خُزَّانَ مَعْرِفَتِكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ،

اَللَّهُمَّ وَفِّقْنِيْ فِىْ الْمُطَالَعَةِ بِحَلِّ جَمِيْعِ مُشْكِلاَتِ الْمَسَآئِلِ مِنَ الْكُتُبِ بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

Allaahumma akrimnee binooril fahmi wa kharrajanee min z’ulumaatil wahmi waftah’ a’lainaa abwaaba i’lmak. Wan shur a’lainaa khuzzaanu ma’rifatika yaa arh’amar raah’imeen. Allaahumma waffiqnee fil mut’aala’ti bih’ablee jamee-i’ mushkilaatil masaa-ili minal kutubi birah’matika yaa arh’amar raah’imeen.

“Oh Allah, honor me by the light of understanding and take me out from the darkness of doubt and open upon us the doors of your knowledge and open upon us the treasure of your recognition, oh the best of the Merciful ones. Oh Allah, and give me Tawfeeq to study and solving all the difficult problems through books. By your mercy, oh the best of the merciful ones.”

After Studying:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَوْدِعُكَ مَا قَرأتُ وَمَا حَفَظْتُ، فَرُضُهُ عَليّ عِنْدَ حَاجَتِي إِلَيهِ، إِنّكَ عَلى مَا تَشَاءُ قَدِيرُ وَأَنْتَ حَسْبِي وَنِعْمَ الوَكِيل

Allahumma inni astaodeeka ma qara’tu wama hafaz-tu. Farudduhu ‘allaya inda hajati elahi. Innaka ‘ala ma-tasha’-u qadeer wa anta hasbeeya wa na’mal wakeel

“Oh Allah! I entrust you with what I have read and I have studied. Oh Allah! Bring it back to me when I am in need of it. Oh Allah! You do whatever you wish, you are my availer and protector and the best of aid.”

For Maintaining Concentration:

صَلّىَ اللهُ عَلى مُحَمّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمّد. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْألُكَ يَا مُذَكِرَ الخَيْرِ وَفَاعِلَهُ وَالآمِرَ بِهِ ذَكِرّنِي مَا اَنّسَانِهِ الشّيطَان

Salla-l-laahu alaa Muhammad wa aal-e Muhammad. Allahumma inni as’aluka yaa mudhakkira-l khayr wa faa’ilahu wa-l-aamimira bihi dhakir-ni maa ansaani-hi-shaytan.

“Blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and his progeny. O Allah, I ask you, the one who mentions goodness and actualizes it and commands it, remind me of that which the shaytan makes me forget.”

To Remember Forgotten Things:

The following dua’a was taught by our Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) to Imam Ali to be recited after every obligatory Salaat in order to develop a flawless memory. Who doesn’t want a flawless memory? Make it a habit or at least increase recitation of this dua before test day:

سُبْحانَ مَنْ لا يَعْتَدي عَلى أهْلِ مَمْلَكَتِهِ سُبْحانَ مَنْ لا يَأخُذُ اَهْلَ الاَْرْضِ بأَلْوانِ الْعَذابِ سُبْحانَ الرَّؤوُفِ الرَّحيمِ اَللّـهُمَّاْجَعلْ لي في قَلْبى نُوراً وَبَصَراً وَفَهْماً وَعِلْماً اِنَّكَ عَلى كُلِّ شَي قَديرٌ .

“Glory be to Him who does not treat the citizens of His Kingdom unjustly and harshly, Glory be to Him who does not let torment and pain come suddenly upon mankind, Glory be to the Compassionate, the Merciful. O Allah fill my heart and mind with true enlightenment, discerning intelligence, quick understanding and knowledge, Verily you are able to do all things.”

When Studying Something Difficult:

اللَّهُمَّ لاَ سَهْلاً إِلّاَ مَا جَعَلّتَهٌ سَهْلاً وَأَنّتَ تَجّعَلَ الحَزَنَ إِذَا شِئتَ سَهْلاً

Allahumma la sahla illama ja-‘altahu sahla anta taj ‘alu al hazana eza ma shi’ta sahal

“Oh Allah! Nothing is easy except what You have made easy. If You wish, You can make the difficult easy.”

To Suppress Anxiety and Fear:

You may often experience frustration, fear, and anxiety in exams, which may adversely affect your performance. Recite this dua, reported by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (pbuh) used to say when something upset him.

للَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَ الْحَزَنِ

وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ العَجْزِ وَ الْكَسَلِ

وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَ الْبُخْلِ

وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ و قَهْرِ الرجال

Allahumma inni a’oodhoo bika minal-hammi walhuzni, wal-‘ajzi wal-kasali wal-bukhli wal-jubni, wa dal’id-dayni wa ghalabatir- rajaal

“O Allah! I seek refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being oppressed by men.”

Don’t rely solely on these supplications to get you through the SAT, GRE or final exams. With a combination of hard work, patience, dedication, and Allah’s mercy upon you, there’s no way you won’t ace whatever upcoming text you