رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
Rabbish rah lee sadree Wa yassir leee amree Wahlul ‘uqdatan milli saanee Yafqahoo qawlee
“My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance] And ease for me my task And untie the knot from my tongue That they may understand my speech.”
— Surah Ta-Ha, Ayat 25-28
Core Insights
- Public speaking and difficult tasks feel daunting, but naming our emotions (e.g., “I am anxious”) weakens their hold. Remember Allah’s promise: “Allah does not burden any soul with more than it can bear” (2:286). Trust in His design—you are capable of handling what He ordains.
- Musa (as) exemplifies unshakable resolve: he accepts Allah’s command without excuses, only asking for divine support to fulfill his task. His dua reflects humility, not doubt—he knows the “what” (his mission) and turns to Allah for the “how” (strength and clarity).
- Avoid the trap of seeking escapes when faced with hard duties. Musa (as) embraced his fate with conviction, recognizing that some tasks require courage to begin—and Allah’s grace to complete.
Allah entrusted Musa (as) with a monumental mission: to confront Pharaoh, a tyrant who enslaved his people and transgressed against Allah’s laws. He commanded: “Go to Firaawn; indeed, he has transgressed.” (20:24)
Imagine the weight of this task: confronting a ruler known for cruelty, oppression, and disregard for human life. Yet Musa (as) did not dispute his duty. He accepted Allah’s command with grace and full trust—but he also acknowledged his human vulnerability.
Scholars have debated whether Musa (as) faced a speech impediment. Unlike their spiritual infallibility, prophets (peace be upon them) share human experiences, including physical challenges. One account from Tafsir scholars tells of Musa (as) as a child, when he pulled Pharaoh’s beard. Paranoid of an Israelite uprising (later leading him to order the killing of newborns, 2:49), Pharaoh threatened to execute the child. Asiyah—Pharaoh’s wife and Musa (as)’s adoptive mother—pleaded for mercy, arguing he was too young to distinguish right from wrong. To test this, Pharaoh placed a fiery coal and a ruby before Musa (as); if he chose the ruby, he would be killed. Jibreel (as) guided Musa (as)’s hand to the coal, which he placed in his mouth, burning his tongue and hindering his speech. This convinced Pharaoh of the child’s “ignorance” and spared his life.
Pharaoh later mocked Musa (as)’s speech, boasting to his people: “My people, do I not have dominion over Egypt, and are these streams not flowing beneath me? Can’t you see? Or am I [not] better than this one [i.e., Moses] who is insignificant and hardly makes himself clear?” (43:51-52)
Other scholars argue Musa (as) did not have a physical impediment—rather, his speech was perceived as “confusing” by those hostile to his message. Regardless of the details, Musa (as) felt the weight of his task: to speak truth to power, even when his own voice felt unsteady. In that moment, he turned to Allah (swt) with a dua that remains a source of strength for anyone facing intimidating challenges.
Breaking Down Musa (as)’s Dua
1. “Rabbish rah lee sadree” – “My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance]”
This is not a literal request, but a plea for inner confidence. Musa (as) asked Allah to calm his nerves, settle his fears, and fill his heart with conviction. When we face public speaking, conflict, or daunting tasks, our minds often race with self-doubt. This part of the dua reminds us to seek Allah’s peace—He alone can quiet our anxieties and give us the assurance to move forward.
2. “Wa yassir leee amree” – “And ease for me my task”
Musa (as)’s resolve is striking here: he does not question the task or seek an escape. Instead, he accepts his duty and asks Allah to make the path easier. This teaches us to avoid excuses when faced with hard things. Too often, we look for ways to avoid responsibility—hoping for external delays or distractions to “let us off the hook.” Musa (as) rejects this mindset: his mission is fixed, and he trusts Allah to guide him through it.
Allah’s “ease” can come in two forms: either He refines our skills through practice (making the task feel lighter over time), or He removes unexpected barriers (showing us the task was never as hard as we feared). Either way, the dua reminds us that ease is a gift from Allah—we need only ask for it with sincere hearts.
3. “Wahlul ‘uqdatan milli saanee” – “And untie the knot from my tongue”
Musa (as) anticipated the physical and mental blocks that come with fear: the racing heart, the mumbled words, the forgotten thoughts. This part of the dua acknowledges our human limitations—even when we are prepared, anxiety can “tie” our tongues. It also teaches us the power of self-awareness: just as naming anger can help us control it, recognizing our nervousness can help us overcome it.
When we face public speaking or difficult conversations, we can follow Musa (as)’s lead: pause, turn to Allah, and ask Him to untie the “knot” of anxiety. Remember, Allah does not burden us beyond our capacity (2:286)—the “worst-case scenario” we fear is often far less terrifying than our minds make it out to be.
4. “Yafqahoo qawlee” – “That they may understand my speech”
Musa (as)’s final plea is selfless: he does not ask for praise or personal success, but for clarity—so that Pharaoh and his people may grasp the truth of his message. This reminds us that our words matter most when they serve Allah’s purpose. Whether we are speaking to a crowd, advising a friend, or sharing our faith, our goal should be to communicate with clarity and sincerity—so that others may understand the truth we wish to convey.
Musa (as)’s dua is a timeless guide for anyone facing fear, self-doubt, or daunting tasks. It teaches us to combine resolve with humility: accept our duties, seek Allah’s support, and trust that He will give us the confidence, clarity, and ease we need.
Next time you feel anxious about speaking up, taking on a hard task, or confronting a challenge, turn to this dua. Remember Musa (as)—a prophet who faced a tyrant with a trembling voice but a steadfast heart. Allah answered his prayer, and He will answer yours too—if you ask with sincerity and trust in His plan.
May Allah grant us the confidence to speak truth, the courage to face our tasks, and the clarity to convey His message. Ameen.
About the Author
jislam
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"Allah's guidance to spread the Qur'an, unite Muslims, and strengthen Islam!" "هداية الله لنشر القرآن وتوحيد المسلمين وإعزاز الإسلام!"