Quran

I Seek Refuge From Asking What I Have No Knowledge Of

Mercy · Knowledge · Family

Quran 11:47

رَبِّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

Transliteration

Rabbi innī aʿūdhu bika an asʾalaka mā laysa lī bihi ʿilm, wa-illā taghfir lī wa-tarḥamnī akun mina al-khāsirīn.

Translation

My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking You for that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers.

Meaning and benefit

For humility, knowledge, and seeking forgiveness when one misunderstands a matter.

Background

This is the du‘ā’ of Nuḥ (‘alayhis-salām) after Allah admonished him for making du‘ā’ for his son who had drowned in the state of disbelief. • We see his humility and how he sought Allah’s protection, forgiveness and care. • We learn the importance of learning how to make du‘ā’ correctly so we don’t ask for something we shouldn’t be asking for. • Once again, we see ‘forgiveness + mercy’. They are both critical in the life of every believer and each time we make du‘ā’, we should ask Allah for both of these as they encompass all good. Without them, we will certainly be ‘amongst the losers’.

When to recite

Repentance · Learning

Source note

Classification: Quranic

Quranic supplication. The wording is from the Quran, so the Arabic should be recited as it appears in the mushaf.

Quran references

Hud 11:47

Sources

Quran source — Quran 11:47