Dua for Increase in Knowledge
Where this dua comes from
This is the only dua in the Quran the Prophet ﷺ was directly instructed to say — the verse reads "...and say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge" (Ta-Ha 20:114), immediately after a warning against rushing ahead with the Quran before its revelation to him was complete. Because of that placement, classical commentary connects the dua specifically to patience in learning: the instruction to not hurry appears in the same breath as the request for more knowledge, suggesting the two go together rather than knowledge being something to rush toward. In practice it's one of the most widely used short duas among students, often said before opening a book or beginning a lesson, precisely because of its brevity and direct Quranic origin.
When to recite
Before studying, or any time seeking to learn.