What Duas can I say with my child to feel calm and confident before a test? 

Parenting Perspective 

Establishing a Gentle Pre-Test Ritual 

Preparing for a test is not just about facts and figures, it is equally about nurturing a calm heart and a clear mind. For children, especially those in their early years or facing new academic challenges, tests can bring a mix of nervousness, fear of failure, and pressure to perform. As a parent, your role is to make this process feel less like a threat and more like a supported journey. Establish a gentle pre-test ritual. Begin the morning with calmness, no rushing, no comparisons. Share a warm breakfast together and allow time for quiet reflection or light conversation. Sit with your child, place your hand on their back or hold their hand, and guide them in taking three slow, deep breaths. Let this moment be one of emotional safety.

Using Specific Duas and Encouraging Language 

As you prepare to leave for the test or begin revision, recite the Dua of Prophet Musa (AS): O my Lord, open for me my chest…. This simple act not only brings spiritual strength but also signals to your child that Allah Almighty is with them. Speak encouragement that focuses on effort: ‘I am proud of your hard work’, or ‘Allah Almighty sees every step you have taken’. Avoid heavy phrases like ‘You must do well’ or ‘This is very important’ as they can increase anxiety. Instead, say: ‘Do your best and leave the rest to Allah Almighty’. Frame the test as one step on a longer journey. Tests may measure memory, but they do not define your child’s worth, character, or future. When your child sees that you value inner peace over outer performance, they learn to approach challenges with resilience and Tawakkul. 

Spiritual Insight 

Tests, like all moments of pressure, are opportunities to turn inward and remember the Source of all success. In times of stress or nervousness, the noble Quran offers both words and wisdom that comfort and guide the heart. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Taaha (20), Verses 25–28: 

(Prophet Musa (AS)) said: “O my Sustainer, fortify my mind (with confidence of achieving the impossible), and make it easy for me (to accomplish) all of what You have commanded me, and untie the restriction (of stuttering) from my tongue. So that they may understand my speech.” 

These were the words of Prophet Musa (AS) when he was assigned the mission to face Pharaoh, a task filled with fear and uncertainty. His words did not ask for the removal of the task, but for ease, clarity, and confidence to carry it through. Teaching your child to recite this Dua is more than a tradition, it is a mindset, a form of spiritual anchoring. 

In addition, remind your child that protection and help come from seeking Allah Almighty’s closeness. It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3945, that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated: 

“Whoever seeks refuge in Allah, He will protect him. “

The presence of Allah Almighty in your child’s consciousness during a test offers more than comfort, it fosters Imaan, discipline, and a reliance that shapes not only academic moments, but life itself. When tests are approached with faith, they stop being about pressure and start becoming pathways to growth. Encourage your child to see effort as worship, exams as an opportunity to practise Dua, and results as Allah Almighty’s will, always wise, always fair, always best.