Duas for provision, work and studies

The duas

1. At daybreak, before you set out to work

   اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لِأُمَّتِي فِي بُكُورِهَا

   Allâhumma bârik li-ummatî fî bukûrihâ

   O Allah, bless my community in its early morning hours.

2. Right after the salâm of the fajr prayer

   اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا

   Allâhumma innî as'aluka 'ilman nâfi'â, wa rizqan tayyibâ, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalâ

   O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, wholesome provision and deeds that are accepted.

3. When you pay back someone who lent you money

   بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِي أَهْلِكَ وَمَالِكَ، إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ السَّلَفِ الْحَمْدُ وَالْأَدَاءُ

   Bâraka Llâhu laka fî ahlika wa mâlik, innamâ jazâ'u s-salafi l-hamdu wa l-adâ'

   May Allah bless you in your family and in your wealth. The reward for a loan is only gratitude and repayment.

4. Before studying, and whenever you seek knowledge

   1. فَتَعَـٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُۥ ۖ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا

      fataʿāla llāhu l-maliku l-ḥaqq | walā taʿjal bil-qur'āni min qabli 'ay yuqḍā 'ilayka waḥyuh | waqur rabbi zidnī ʿilmā

      So high [above all] is Allāh, the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muḥammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur’ān before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."

      Ta-Ha 20:114

5. Before an exam, an interview, or anything that daunts you

   1. قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى

      qāla rabbi shraḥ lī ṣadrī

      [Moses] said, "My Lord, expand [i.e., relax] for me my breast [with assurance]

      Ta-Ha 20:25

   2. وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى

      wayassir lī 'amrī

      And ease for me my task

      Ta-Ha 20:26

   3. وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِى

      waḥlul ʿuqdatam mil lisānī

      And untie the knot from my tongue

      Ta-Ha 20:27

   4. يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى

      yafqahū qawlī

      That they may understand my speech.

      Ta-Ha 20:28

6. When you are looking for work or provision runs short

   1. فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

      fasaqā lahumā thumma tawallā 'ila ẓ-ẓilli faqāla rabbi 'innī limā 'anzalta 'ilayya min khayrin faqīr

      So he watered [their flocks] for them; then he went back to the shade and said, "My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need."

      Al-Qasas 28:24

7. When you fear going without, or being treated unfairly

   اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْفَقْرِ وَالْقِلَّةِ وَالذِّلَّةِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أُظْلَمَ

   Allâhumma innî a'ûdhu bika mina l-faqri wa l-qillati wa dh-dhillah, wa a'ûdhu bika min an azhlima aw uzhlam

   O Allah, I seek refuge in You from poverty, from scarcity and from humiliation, and I seek refuge in You from wronging others or being wronged.

8. For everything at once: faith, livelihood, and what comes after

   اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِيَ الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي، وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي، وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ، وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ

   Allâhumma aslih lî dîniya l-ladhî huwa 'ismatu amrî, wa aslih lî dunyâya l-latî fîhâ ma'âshî, wa aslih lî âkhiratî l-latî fîhâ ma'âdî, wa-j'ali l-hayâta ziyâdatan lî fî kulli khayr, wa-j'ali l-mawta râhatan lî min kulli sharr

   O Allah, set right my religion, which is the safeguard of my affairs. Set right my worldly life, in which is my livelihood. Set right my life to come, to which I return. Make life an increase for me in every good, and make death a rest for me from every evil.

9. When you need to see clearly and choose well

   1. رَبِّ هَبْ لِى حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

      rabbi hab lī ḥukmaw wa'alḥiqnī biṣ-ṣāliḥīn

      [And he said], "My Lord, grant me authority and join me with the righteous.

      Ash-Shu'ara' 26:83

When to say them

The dua for beneficial knowledge is said after the salam of the fajr prayer; the morning blessing, when leaving for work.

The verses of Musa are said before an exam, an interview or any step that feels daunting.