Rabbi Ishrah Li Sadri
Taha 20:25–28. Also known as Rabbish rahli sadri, Dua of Musa, My Lord, expand my chest
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِي صَدۡرِي ﴿٢٥﴾ وَيَسِّرۡ لِيٓ أَمۡرِي ﴿٢٦﴾ وَٱحۡلُلۡ عُقۡدَةٗ مِّن لِّسَانِي ﴿٢٧﴾ يَفۡقَهُواْ قَوۡلِي ﴿٢٨﴾
Qala rabbi ishrah lee sadree Wayassir lee amree Waohlul AAuqdatan min lisanee Yafqahoo qawlee
25He said, “My Lord, put my heart at peace for me. 26And ease my task for me. 27And untie the knot from my tongue. 28So they can understand my speech.
Rabbi ishrah li sadri is the prayer Moses (Musa) made when Allah sent him to Pharaoh. It is found in Surah Taha, the 20th surah, at verses 25 to 28, and it asks for four things: an open heart, an easier task, a loosened tongue, and words that people can understand.
Because it was said by a prophet facing the hardest conversation of his life, many Muslims say it before exams, interviews, presentations and difficult talks.
What it means
Open my heart
In verse 25 Moses asks his Lord to expand his chest. The image is of a heart made wide and calm instead of tight with worry. Before he asks for help with the task, he asks for inner strength to carry it.
Make my task easy
In verse 26 he asks Allah to make his affair easy for him. He had just been told in verse 24 to go to Pharaoh, a ruler who had overstepped all bounds, and he knew he could not do it on his own.
Untie the knot from my tongue
In verse 27 he asks Allah to loosen a knot from his tongue. Elsewhere in the Quran, in 26:13 and 28:34, Moses says his tongue is not fluent and that his brother Aaron (Harun) speaks more clearly than he does.
So they understand what I say
In verse 28 he explains the purpose: so that people will understand his speech. He is not asking for eloquence for its own sake, but so the message reaches those who hear it.
Where it sits in Surah Taha
Surah Taha tells the story of Moses at length. From verse 9 he sees a fire while traveling with his family, and at the fire Allah speaks to him, gives him the signs of the staff and the shining hand, and in verse 24 sends him to Pharaoh. Moses then makes this prayer. In verses 29 to 32 he continues by asking for a helper from his family, his brother Aaron, to strengthen him and share his mission, so that together they might glorify and remember Allah often (verses 33 and 34). In verse 36 Allah tells him that his request has been granted, and then reminds him in the following verses of how He had cared for him since infancy.
How it is used
There is no specific narration setting a time for this prayer. Muslims use it naturally whenever they face a task that makes them anxious, particularly one involving speaking. Many parents teach it to children before school or exams. The Quran itself shows that Allah answered Moses in verse 36.
Questions
Where is Rabbi ishrah li sadri in the Quran?
It is in Surah Taha, the 20th surah, verses 25 to 28.
What does Rabbi ishrah li sadri mean?
It means: My Lord, expand my chest for me. The full passage continues by asking Allah to ease the task, loosen the knot from the tongue, and help people understand what is said.
Can I say this dua before an exam or presentation?
Yes. It is a Quranic supplication and can be said at any time. Many Muslims say it before exams, interviews or speaking in public because Moses said it before speaking to Pharaoh.