Short answer
No surah guarantees money or exam results. The popular link between Surah al-Waqiah and protection from poverty comes from a weak hadith, which scholars allow acting on for virtues with hope, not certainty. The Quran's own keys to rizq are taqwa, istighfar, tawakkul and hard work, along with dua.
Reciting any surah with the hope of blessing in one's provision is permissible. Acting on a weak hadith in matters of virtue is allowed by the Hanafi and most other scholars, provided it is not severely weak and the practice is not believed to be a proven sunnah.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Many websites list a "surah for" every need: rizq, marriage, exams, beauty. Some of these come from weak hadith, and many from no source at all. The honest picture:
- Surah al-Waqiah for rizq: the report that whoever reads it every night will never be struck by poverty is from Ibn Mas'ud, recorded by al-Bayhaqi and others, and hadith scholars graded it weak. Reading it nightly with hope is fine; promising it as a cure for debt is not.
- Surahs with authentic virtues: al-Fatiha as a ruqyah (Bukhari), the Quls for protection, Ayat al-Kursi, the last two ayat of al-Baqarah, al-Kahf on Friday and al-Mulk at night. See surahs for daily needs.
- For exams: there is no specific surah. Use the Quranic dua "My Lord, increase me in knowledge" (20:114) and study hard. See dua for exams.
What the Quran itself promises for rizq: "Whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect, and whoever relies upon Allah, He is sufficient for him" (65:2 to 3). Nuh told his people to ask forgiveness, and Allah would send rain and increase them in wealth and children (71:10 to 12). Add halal work, keeping ties of kinship and giving sadaqah. See Quran verses about rizq and dua for success.
The evidence
Quran, Surah At-Talaaq 65:2-3
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا ﴿٢﴾ وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا ﴿٣﴾
And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allah. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
Taqwa and reliance on Allah are the Quran's keys to provision.
Quran, Surah Nooh 71:10-12
فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًۭا ﴿١٠﴾ يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًۭا ﴿١١﴾ وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍۢ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَٰرًۭا ﴿١٢﴾
And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.
Istighfar brings increase in provision.
Quran, Surah Taa-Haa 20:114
فَتَعَٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُۥ ۖ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًۭا ﴿١١٤﴾
So high [above all] is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."
The Quranic dua for learning and exams.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2276
Sahih... وما يدريك أنها رقية ...
"And how did you know that it (al-Fatiha) is a ruqyah?"
An authentic example of a surah with a specific benefit.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Taharah, discussion of acting on weak hadith in virtues. Weak hadith may be acted on in virtues with conditions.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.