Dua before reciting the Holy Qur'an .It has been narrated that Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (a.s) used to say the following supplication before he would start reciting the Holy Qur'an

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ هَذَا كِتَابُكَ الْمُنْزَلُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ عَلَى رَسُولِكَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ

allahumma inni ashhadu ann hadha kitabuka almunzalu min `indika ala rasulika muhammadi bni `abdillahi salla allahu `alayhi wa alihi

O Allah I testify that this is the Book revealed by Thee on Thy Messenger Muhammad bin Abdillah, blessings of Allah be on him and on his children;

وَ كَلاَمُكَ النَّاطِقُ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكَ جَعَلْتَهُ هَادِياً مِنْكَ إِلَى خَلْقِكَ وَ حَبْلاً مُتَّصِلاً فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ

wa kalamuka alnnatiqu `ala lisani nabiyyika ja`altahu hadiyan minka ila khalqika wa hablan muttsilan fima baynaka wa bayna `ibadika

(these are) Thy Words, Thy Prophet gave tongue to, (whom) Thou appointed as a Guide for the people, and an uninterrupted closely connected link of protecting friendship between Thee and Thy servants.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي نَشَرْتُ عَهْدَكَ وَ كِتَابَكَ اللَّهُمَّ فَاجْعَلْ نَظَرِي فِيهِ عِبَادَةً وَ قِرَاءَتِي فِيهِ فِكْراً وَ فِكْرِي فِيهِ اعْتِبَاراً

allahumma inni nashartu `ahdaka wa kitabaka allahumma faj`al nazary fihi `ibadatan wa qira‘aty fihi fikran wa fikry fihi a`tibaran

O Allah I make publicly known Thy testament and Thy Book. O Allah let me pay full attention to (this) adorable pious work; let me notice and take warning from (this)thoughtful reflection;<

وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِمَّنِ اتَّعَظَ بِبَيَانِ مَوَاعِظِكَ فِيهِ وَ اجْتَنَبَ مَعَاصِيَكَ

waj`alny mimmn att`aza bibayani mawa`izika fihi wajtanaba ma`asiyaka

let me be one of them who exhort themselves from Thy plain warnings and preaching found in this Book, and keep from that which Thou has made unlawful.

وَ لاَ تَطْبَعْ عِنْدَ قِرَاءَتِي عَلَى سَمْعِي وَ لاَ تَجْعَلْ عَلَى بَصَرِي غِشَاوَةً

wa la tatba` `inda qira‘aty `ala sam`i wa la taj`al `ala basary ghishawatan

Do not seal my hearing and do not cover my eyes when I recite (it).

وَ لاَ تَجْعَلْ قِرَاءَتِي قِرَاءَةً لاَ تَدَبُّرَ فِيهَا بَلِ اجْعَلْنِي أَتَدَبَّرُ آيَاتِهِ وَ أَحْكَامَهُ آخِذاً بِشَرَائِعِ دِينِكَ

wa la taj`al qira‘aty qira‘atan la tadabbara fiha bali aj`alny atadabbru ayatihi wa ahkamahu Learning the laws of my religion

Do not let me recite for the sake of recitation , paying no attention to its meaning, but let me contemplate over its signs and commands, to know and understand the modus operandi of Thy religion.

وَ لاَ تَجْعَلْ نَظَرِي فِيهِ غَفْلَةً وَ لاَ قِرَاءَتِي هَذَراً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الرَّءُوفُ الرَّحِيمُ

wa la taj`al nazary fihi ghaflatan wa la qira‘aty hadharan innaka anta alrra´ufu alrrahimu

Do not let my concentration go slack, nor my recitation be like a delirious monologue. Verily Thou art full of pity, Merciful.