Surah Taha (طه) • Ta-Ha

Rabbi zidni ilma"My Lord, increase me in knowledge" · Quran 20:114

Also written Rabbi zidni ilman · Dua for knowledge · رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

20:114

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

fataʿālā l-lahu l-maliku l-ḥaqu walā taʿjal bil-qur'āni min qabli an yuq'ḍā ilayka waḥyuhu waqul rabbi zid'nī ʿil'man

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."

— Saheeh International

exalted be God, the one who is truly in control. [Prophet], do not rush to recite before the revelation is fully complete but say, ‘Lord, increase me in knowledge!’

— M. A. S. Abdel Haleem

Then High above all be Allâh, the True King. And be not in haste (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) with the Qur’ân before its revelation is completed to you, and say: "My Lord! Increase me in knowledge."

— Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

Juz 16Page 320meccan

What is Rabbi zidni ilma about?

Verse 114 of Surah Ta-Ha ends with the shortest dua in the Quran: "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." It was addressed to the Prophet ﷺ in the context of receiving revelation, with the instruction not to hurry with the Quran before its revelation was complete. The lesson drawn from it is that even the Prophet was told to ask for more knowledge, so no one is above learning. Commentators note that the Prophet ﷺ was never commanded to ask for an increase in anything except knowledge. It is the dua students and teachers say before study, and it is written above the doors of many Islamic schools.

When is it recited?

  • Before studying, memorising or teaching, and at the start of lessons.

Sources: Quran 20:114. Reviewed by Ummatey editorial, October 2026.

Word by Word

فَتَعَـٰلَىfataʿālāSo high (above all)
ٱللَّهُl-lahu(is) Allah
ٱلْمَلِكُl-malikuthe King
ٱلْحَقُّۗl-ḥaquthe True
وَلَاwalāAnd (do) not
تَعْجَلْtaʿjalhasten
بِٱلْقُرْءَانِbil-qur'āniwith the Quran
مِنminbefore
قَبْلِqablibefore
أَنan[that]
يُقْضَىٰٓyuq'ḍāis completed
إِلَيْكَilaykato you
وَحْيُهُۥۖwaḥyuhuits revelation
وَقُلwaquland say
رَّبِّrabbiMy Lord
زِدْنِىzid'nīIncrease me
عِلْمًۭاʿil'man(in) knowledge
Read full Surah TahaListen in context