Prophet Mūsā ﷺ made this duʿāʾ when he had almost nothing: no home, no work, no protection, and a country he could not return to.
رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
Rabbi innī limā anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqīr.
Meaning: My Lord, I am truly in need of whatever good You send down to me.
It is found in Sūrah al-Qaṣaṣ, āyah 24.
Why did Mūsā leave Egypt?
Before his prophethood, Mūsā entered the city and found two men fighting — one from his own people, one from their opponents. He struck the second man, and the blow killed him.
He recognised at once how serious this was and asked Allah to forgive him. Allah forgave him, and Mūsā resolved never to support wrongdoing again.
The next day a man came running from the far side of the city to warn him that the leaders were deciding how to kill him. Mūsā left in fear, praying:
رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Meaning: My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.
What happened at the well of Madyan?
At the well he found shepherds watering their flocks, and two women standing apart, holding their animals back. He asked why they were waiting. They explained they could not water until the others had finished, and that their father was an old man.
Mūsā was exhausted and had nothing himself. He watered their animals anyway, asked for nothing, and withdrew to the shade. The āyah records both the act and the prayer in a single breath:
فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
Meaning: So he watered for them, then turned back to the shade and said: My Lord, I am truly in need of whatever good You send down to me.
How was it answered?
One of the women returned, walking modestly, to say her father wished to reward him for watering their flock. When Mūsā told the old man his story, he was reassured:
لَا تَخَفْ ۖ نَجَوْتَ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Meaning: Do not fear. You have escaped the wrongdoing people.
One of the daughters suggested her father hire him, calling him strong and trustworthy. The father offered him work and marriage to one of his daughters, on condition he work eight years, with ten at his own choosing. Mūsā accepted.
Safety, shelter, work and a family — opened in a short span after one sincere duʿāʾ.
Was the old man Prophet Shuʿayb?
The Qur’an does not name him. Some classical scholars identified him as Prophet Shuʿayb ﷺ; others disagreed. Because neither the Qur’an nor an authentic hadith settles it, this site refers to him simply as the elderly father of the two women rather than stating the identification as fact.
What does “whatever good” mean?
The word khayr is deliberately wide. It can take in:
- Lawful provision.
- Work.
- Food and shelter.
- Safety and protection.
- Marriage and family.
- Guidance, and any door worth opening.
The duʿāʾ asks for no particular outcome. It admits need before Allah and leaves the choosing to Him.
When might you say it?
- Looking for lawful work.
- In financial difficulty.
- Hoping for a righteous spouse.
- Starting again somewhere new.
- Alone, or uncertain what comes next.
It is not a formula that obliges Allah to send wealth or marriage. Its meaning is the admission itself — that every good thing comes from Him. You may find what the Qur’an says in hardship a companion to this one, and more in the seven essential duʿās.