Allahumma Anfani Bima Allamtani Dua for Studying in Arabic & Meaning

Allahumma Anfa’ni Bima Allamtani (Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي وَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي وَزِدْنِي عِلْمًا) is a prophetic dua for studying and seeking beneficial knowledge. It is recorded on the authority of Abu Hurairah (raḍiyaAllahu ‘anhu) in Sunan Ibn Majah 251 and Jami at-Tirmidhi 3599. While some editors have flagged the chain of one narration as weak, Shaykh al-Albani graded the parallel Tirmidhi narration as Sahih in his Silsilah al-Sahihah (vol. 8 p. 158, no. 3151) — and the meaning of the supplication is, by scholarly consensus, sound and recommended.

This complete guide covers the full Arabic text with tashkeel and a copy-friendly version, the correct transliteration, the English meaning, a word-by-word breakdown the top-ranking pages do not provide, the source hadith with its authenticity discussion, the five best times to recite it, three companion duas from the Quran and Sunnah to recite alongside it, a practical four-step method that turns recitation into focused study, and answers to the questions Muslim students search for most often.

What “Allahumma Anfa’ni Bima Allamtani” Means

Allahumma Anfa’ni Bima Allamtani (also spelled Allahumma Anfani Bima Allamtani, Allahumma Infa’ni Bima Allamtani, or Allahumma Anfa’ani Bima ‘Allamtani in different romanisations) is a short, dense supplication built around four distinct requests. The opening word Allahumma is the vocative form reserved for direct address to Allah. Anfa’ni bima ‘allamtani asks Allah to make the knowledge you already carry actually benefit you — not merely sit in memory. Wa ‘allimni ma yanfa’uni asks Him to teach you what will be beneficial. Wa zidni ‘ilman asks Him to increase that knowledge. The closing wal-hamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal seals the dua with praise and gratitude regardless of the outcome.

Arabic with tashkeel (diacritical marks):

اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي وَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي وَزِدْنِي عِلْمًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ

Arabic without tashkeel (copy-friendly):

اللهم انفعني بما علمتني، وعلمني ما ينفعني، وزدني علماً، والحمد لله على كل حال

Transliteration:

Allahumma anfa’ni bima ‘allamtani, wa ‘allimni ma yanfa’uni, wa zidni ‘ilman, wal-hamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal.

English meaning:

“O Allah, benefit me by that which You have taught me, teach me that which will benefit me, and increase me in knowledge. And all praise is for Allah in every state.”

Where This Dua Comes From — Sunan Ibn Majah 251 & Jami at-Tirmidhi 3599

The primary source for this dua is hadith number 251 in Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of the Sunnah, in the chapter titled “Gaining benefit from knowledge and acting upon it.” The same supplication is also recorded as hadith number 3599 in Jami at-Tirmidhi, in the Book of Supplications. Both narrations come down to us on the authority of Abu Hurairah (raḍiyaAllahu ‘anhu), who reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say it regularly.

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say: ‘Allahumma anfa’ni bima ‘allamtani, wa ‘allimni ma yanfa’uni, wa zidni ‘ilman. Wal-hamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal’ — ‘O Allah, benefit me by that which You have taught me, teach me that which will benefit me, and increase me in knowledge. Praise belongs to Allah in every state.'”

Sunan Ibn Majah 251 (Book of the Sunnah); also Jami at-Tirmidhi 3599 (Book of Supplications).

Is the hadith authentic? The Albani vs. Darussalam discussion

If you have read other articles on this dua, you may have seen it called “weak” (Da’if). The reality is more nuanced, and worth understanding because it changes how confidently you can recite the supplication.

The Darussalam edition of Sunan Ibn Majah grades the specific chain that appears at hadith 251 as Da’if — meaning the chain of narrators contains a weakness that, by the technical standards of hadith verification, prevents the strongest grade. That is where the “weak” label originates.

However, Shaykh Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani — one of the most rigorous hadith verifiers of the modern era — examined the parallel narration in Jami at-Tirmidhi 3599 along with its supporting chains and graded the dua Sahih in his Silsilah al-Ahadith as-Sahihah (vol. 8, p. 158, hadith no. 3151). When a hadith has multiple chains, weak in one path but strengthened by another, the combined evidence can raise its grade to hasan or even sahih li-ghayrihi.

Beyond the chain-by-chain discussion, the overwhelming view across the four Sunni schools is that the meaning of the supplication is sound, the wording is pure Quranic in tone, and reciting it is recommended. There is nothing in the words that contradicts the Quran or established Sunnah. So whether you take the Darussalam grading or the Albani grading, the practical ruling is the same: recite it freely as a dua for beneficial knowledge.

Word-by-Word Breakdown of the Arabic

Understanding each phrase makes the dua easier to memorise and far more meaningful to recite with presence of heart. None of the top-ranking English-language pages on this dua offers a full breakdown — here is the complete one:

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning
اللَّهُمَّ	Allahumma	O Allah (vocative form, used only for direct address to Allah)
انْفَعْنِي	Anfa’ni	Benefit me / cause me to gain benefit (imperative from naf’, benefit)
بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي	Bima ‘allamtani	By that which You have taught me (refers to knowledge already acquired)
وَعَلِّمْنِي	Wa ‘allimni	And teach me (new request, future-facing)
مَا يَنْفَعُنِي	Ma yanfa’uni	That which will benefit me (specifying the kind of knowledge sought)
وَزِدْنِي عِلْمًا	Wa zidni ‘ilman	And increase me in knowledge (echoes Surah Ta-Ha 20:114)
وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ	Wal-hamdu lillahi	And all praise belongs to Allah
عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ	‘Ala kulli hal	In every state / every circumstance

Two linguistic notes worth pausing on. First, the request anfa’ni bima ‘allamtani (“benefit me by what You have taught me”) is more profound than it first sounds. A person can carry vast knowledge in their memory and yet gain no benefit from it — they forget at exam time, they cannot apply it, or it leads them to arrogance rather than action. The dua asks Allah not only to grant knowledge, but to make that knowledge fruitful. Second, the closing wal-hamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal (“praise be to Allah in every state”) teaches the believer the right posture of a student: gratitude regardless of whether the result is success or struggle. It is the same phrase the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say when he encountered something that troubled him, and it appears in islamtics’ deeper guide to Alhamdulillah ‘ala kulli hal.

5 Best Times to Recite This Dua

The Prophet (ﷺ) recited this dua regularly, not at one fixed moment of the day. That said, certain windows magnify the spiritual weight of any supplication. Here are the five times Muslim students should make this dua a habit.

1. Before opening a book or starting a study session

The most direct application. Before you begin reading, revising, or memorising — pause for ten seconds, set your intention, and recite the dua once with focus. It anchors the session in seeking knowledge for Allah’s sake, not just for marks or rank.

2. In sujood during the five daily prayers

The Prophet (ﷺ) said the servant is nearest to his Lord while in sujood, so make supplication abundantly in it (Sahih Muslim 482). After completing the obligatory tasbih (subhana rabbiyal a’la), recite this dua quietly in Arabic — or, if you cannot yet, recite its meaning in your own language while in sujood. This is one of the most powerful moments to ask for beneficial knowledge.

3. In the last third of the night (Tahajjud)

The Prophet (ﷺ) said that in the last third of every night, Allah descends to the lowest heaven and says: “Who is calling Me, that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me, that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145, Sahih Muslim 758). For a student facing exams, no time is more potent than these final hours before Fajr.

4. After Fajr prayer — the blessed early-morning window

The Prophet (ﷺ) supplicated: “O Allah, bless my ummah in their early mornings” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 1212). Many of the scholars of Islam structured their study schedules so that the first session of the day immediately followed Fajr. Recite this dua, then study for ninety focused minutes. The retention difference compared to late-night cramming is enormous.

5. Right before an exam or oral presentation

Five minutes before walking into the exam hall, find a corner, perform two raka’at of salat al-hajah if time permits, and recite this dua three times. Then walk in trusting that Allah will allow you to benefit from what you have already learned. For a fuller list of exam-day duas, see our guide to 10 powerful duas for exam success.

Companion Duas to Recite Alongside

Allahumma Anfa’ni Bima Allamtani is the most direct supplication for a student, but the Quran and Sunnah contain other duas that pair naturally with it. Reciting them as a brief sequence before study turns the moment into a complete spiritual preparation.

Rabbi Zidni ‘Ilma — Surah Ta-Ha 20:114

Allah Himself taught the Prophet (ﷺ) this supplication in the Quran: “وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا” — “Wa qul rabbi zidni ‘ilma” — “And say, my Lord, increase me in knowledge” (Surah Ta-Ha 20:114). It is the only place in the Quran where Allah commands the Prophet (ﷺ) to ask for an increase in something. Recite it three times immediately after the main dua. The full islamtics guide to Rabbi Zidni ‘Ilma covers its context and tafsir in detail.

Rabbi Ishrah Li Sadri — Surah Ta-Ha 20:25-28

This is the dua of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) before he confronted Pharaoh: “رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي” — “My Lord, expand my chest for me, ease my task for me, and untie the knot from my tongue so they may understand my speech” (Surah Ta-Ha 20:25-28). It is unmatched for the moments when a student feels overwhelmed, blank, or unable to articulate what they know. Pair it with the main dua when you are revising a difficult topic. See the full Rabbish Rahli Sadri tafsir for context.

Allahumma La Sahla Illa Ma Ja’altahu Sahla — for difficulty

Narrated from Anas ibn Malik (RA): “Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja’altahu sahla, wa anta taj’alul-hazna idha shi’ta sahla” — “O Allah, there is no ease except in what You have made easy, and You make hardship, if You will, easy” (Sahih Ibn Hibban 974). When a chapter or concept feels impossible, this is the dua that opens it. A similar prophetic supplication for beneficial knowledge appears in our deeper guide on Allahumma Inni As’aluka ‘Ilman Nafi’an.

How to Make This Dua Effective — A 4-Step Method

A dua is not a magic spell. The Prophet (ﷺ) taught a complete adab (etiquette) of supplication, and applying it transforms a recited phrase into an answered prayer. Use these four steps every time you sit down to study.

Step 1 — Set the intention (niyyah)

Before opening the book, silently fix the intention: “I am studying this for the sake of Allah, to benefit myself and to benefit others with what I learn.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Actions are only by intentions” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1). A student who studies for Allah’s sake earns reward whether they pass the exam or not.

Step 2 — Make wudu

Performing ablution before study is not obligatory, but it removes spiritual heaviness and signals to your nafs that this session has weight. Many scholars of Islam — Imam Malik most famously — refused to study or teach hadith without being in a state of wudu out of respect for the words of the Prophet (ﷺ).

Step 3 — Open with praise and salawat

The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that any dua should open with praise of Allah and salawat upon him. Say Bismillah, then Alhamdulillah, then send salawat: Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad. Only then move into the main dua. Fadalah ibn ‘Ubaid (RA) heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say of a man who asked Allah for something without this preface: “This man rushed” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3477).

Step 4 — Recite with understanding, then close with hamd

Recite Allahumma anfa’ni bima ‘allamtani… understanding every phrase you are saying — that is what separates dua from background noise. After the supplication, repeat Alhamdulillah three times. Then begin to study with full attention. The dua opened the session; your effort closes the deal.

What the Sahaba Did for Memorization

The Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) were not given supernatural memories. They struggled with retention exactly like modern students. The way they handled that struggle is preserved in the hadith literature, and the example is instructive.

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) once came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and complained that he was forgetting the Quran he had memorised. The Prophet (ﷺ) did not tell him to study harder. He taught him a specific spiritual practice: pray on a Friday night, in the last third of the night if you can, otherwise in any part of it, and after several specific raka’at make a long dua asking Allah to fix the Quran in your heart, to grant you understanding of His Book, and to keep you firm upon it. ‘Ali (RA) reported that after he applied this practice for several weeks, his memory of the Quran returned and stayed (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3570).

Ibn Abbas (RA), the great Companion-scholar who became one of the foremost interpreters of the Quran, was known for the depth of his sincerity in seeking knowledge. He used to say: “I humbled myself as a student, so I was honoured as a teacher.” The transmitters who learned from him recorded that he wept openly when he could not understand a verse, and he made constant dua to be granted understanding. That sincerity — not raw memorisation technique — was what set him apart.

The pattern is consistent across the lives of the Sahaba and the early generations: effort plus sincere dua plus the discipline of seeking knowledge as worship. Allahumma Anfa’ni Bima Allamtani is the dua side of that equation. The study and revision are the effort side. Neither works without the other.

Benefits and Virtues of This Dua

Read carefully, the dua is far richer than a generic “help me pass” prayer. Here is what reciting it consistently actually does.

• It asks for benefit, not just knowledge. Many people carry knowledge that does them no good — they cannot apply it, it leaves them arrogant, or it leaves them as soon as the exam ends. The dua specifically asks Allah to make existing knowledge fruitful.
• It asks for the right knowledge. ‘Allimni ma yanfa’uni (“teach me what will benefit me”) is a request for Allah to guide your study choices — what to focus on, what books to read, which teachers to follow. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to seek refuge from “knowledge that does not benefit” (Sahih Muslim 2722).
• It asks for increase. Zidni ‘ilman echoes the only “give me more” command Allah issues to the Prophet (ﷺ) in the Quran (Surah Ta-Ha 20:114). The dua is a continuation of Quranic etiquette for the seeker.
• It seals every state with gratitude. Wal-hamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal trains the student to remain grateful whether the result is success, struggle, or apparent failure. This is the inner stability scholars of Islam have always pointed to as the mark of a real student.
• It is a complete dua in twelve words of Arabic. Short enough to memorise in one sitting, deep enough to recite a lifetime.

Common Mistakes Students Make With Study Duas

Reciting the dua is the easy part. The mistakes that drain its effect are subtle — and most Muslim students fall into at least one of them at some point.

• Reciting without understanding. A dua said as a phonetic chant, with no idea of what is being asked, drains the heart out of the supplication. Spend ten minutes learning the meaning of the seven phrases above. After that, every recitation becomes a real conversation with Allah.
• Expecting the dua to replace effort. No prophetic supplication ever cancelled the requirement to do the work. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Tie your camel and then trust in Allah” (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2517). Recite the dua, then study like your effort is the only thing that will get you through. Pray like only Allah can grant the outcome.
• Mixing in fabricated duas from social media. Many “study duas” circulating on Instagram and TikTok are not from the Sunnah at all — some are invented, some come from weak or fabricated sources. Stick to the wording above and the companion duas explicitly from the Quran and authentic hadith.
• Reciting only at exam time. The Prophet (ﷺ) used this dua regularly, not only when a crisis loomed. The believer whose tongue is moist with this supplication day after day will find Allah responds more readily on the day they truly need it.
• Forgetting to praise and thank Allah at the end. The closing wal-hamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal is not optional decoration. It is part of the dua. It teaches the believer that gratitude precedes outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Allahumma Anfa’ni Bima Allamtani” mean in English?

It means: “O Allah, benefit me by that which You have taught me, teach me that which will benefit me, and increase me in knowledge. And praise belongs to Allah in every state.” It is the prophetic dua for studying and seeking beneficial knowledge, narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) in Sunan Ibn Majah 251 and Jami at-Tirmidhi 3599.

Is the hadith of Allahumma Anfa’ni Bima Allamtani authentic?

The Darussalam edition of Sunan Ibn Majah grades the chain at hadith 251 as Da’if (weak). However, Shaykh al-Albani examined the parallel Jami at-Tirmidhi 3599 narration with its supporting chains and graded the dua Sahih in Silsilah al-Sahihah no. 3151. The meaning is sound and the supplication is recommended across the four Sunni schools.

When is the best time to recite this dua for studying?

The five most powerful times are: before opening a book or starting a study session, in sujood during the five daily prayers (the servant is nearest his Lord in sujood, per Sahih Muslim 482), in the last third of the night (Tahajjud), after Fajr prayer (the Prophet ﷺ asked Allah to bless his ummah in their early mornings, Jami at-Tirmidhi 1212), and right before any exam or oral presentation.

Can I recite this dua in English if I don’t know Arabic?

Yes. Allah understands every language, and the scholars of Islam permit personal supplication (du’a al-mas’alah) in any language a person is comfortable in. That said, the prophetic wording carries a special blessing — so the recommendation is to recite the Arabic even if imperfectly, alongside the meaning in your own language. Listen to a reciter, repeat phrase by phrase, and within a week you will have memorised the original.

What other duas should I recite before exams along with this one?

The strongest companions are Rabbi Zidni ‘Ilma from Surah Ta-Ha 20:114 (“My Lord, increase me in knowledge”), Rabbi Ishrah Li Sadri from Surah Ta-Ha 20:25-28 (the dua of Musa for clarity and eloquence), and Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja’altahu sahla for moments of difficulty. Our guide to 10 powerful duas for exam success brings them together with several others.

Can women recite this dua during menstruation?

Yes, without restriction. A woman in her menstrual period is permitted to recite all forms of dhikr and dua, including this supplication. The scholarly ruling that restricts touching the Mushaf and reciting full Quranic passages during menses does not apply to du’a al-mas’alah — even though this dua echoes Quranic phrasing, it is itself a prophetic supplication, not a Quranic recitation. Women preparing for exams should recite it freely throughout their period.