اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ
Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman nafi'an wa a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa'
O Allah, I ask You for knowledge that is beneficial, and I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit.
Not all knowledge is equal. You can memorize facts that never change your behavior, earn degrees that never humble you, and accumulate information that never brings you closer to Allah. The Prophet ﷺ distinguished between 'ilm nafi' (knowledge that transforms) and 'ilm la yanfa' (knowledge that merely decorates). This du'a asks for the former and seeks protection from the latter.
Related Du'as
اللَّهُمَّ يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
O Allah, O Turner of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.
Sahihاللَّهُمَّ أَرِنِي الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُقْنِي اتِّبَاعَهُ وَأَرِنِي الْبَاطِلَ بَاطِلًا وَارْزُقْنِي اجْتِنَابَهُ
O Allah, show me the truth as truth and grant me the ability to follow it, and show me falsehood as falsehood and grant me the ability to avoid it.
Hasanرَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Our Lord, perfect our light for us and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things capable.
Sahihاللَّهُمَّ أَلْهِمْنِي رُشْدِي وَأَعِذْنِي مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي
O Allah, inspire me with right guidance and protect me from the evil of myself.
Hasan