Ask for work with words that keep the goal clean: lawful provision, beneficial effort, an eased task, and whatever good Allah (SWT) knows you need. These prayers pair naturally with applications, preparation, and honest work.
Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir.
“My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.”
Musa (AS)'s humble prayer of need: asking Allah (SWT) for whatever good He sends, without limiting that good to money. It is a powerful dua when seeking lawful provision, work, shelter, help, or a new opening.
Rabbi-shrah li sadri, wa yassir li amri, wa-hlul 'uqdatan min lisani, yafqahu qawli.
“My Lord, expand for me my chest, ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue so they may understand my speech.”
Musa (AS)'s prayer for calm, an easier task, clear speech, and words that people can understand. It is especially relevant before an exam, interview, presentation, difficult conversation, or public speaking.
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman nafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan.
“O Allah (SWT), I ask You for beneficial knowledge, good provision, and accepted deeds.”
Allahumma-kfini bi-halalika 'an haramika, wa aghnini bi-fadlika 'amman siwak.
“O Allah (SWT), suffice me with what You have made lawful instead of what You have forbidden, and make me independent by Your bounty from everyone besides You.”
This supplication asks Allah (SWT) for enough lawful provision to avoid the unlawful, and for freedom from dependence on creation.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi-'ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratik, wa as'aluka min fadlika-l-'azim. Fa-innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa Anta 'Allamu-l-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-l-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, fa-qdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-l-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, fa-srifhu 'anni wa-srifni 'anhu, wa-qdur liya-l-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih.
“O Allah (SWT), I seek the good through Your knowledge and ability through Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. You are able and I am not; You know and I do not; You know the unseen. O Allah (SWT), if You know this matter is good for my religion, livelihood, and outcome, decree it for me, make it easy, and bless it for me. If You know it is harmful for my religion, livelihood, and outcome, turn it away from me and turn me away from it. Decree the good for me wherever it is, then make me content with it.”
Istikhara asks Allah (SWT), who knows what you cannot know, to facilitate a choice if it is good and turn both you and the choice away from each other if it is harmful.