اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ (وَلْيُسَمِّ الْحَاجَةَ بِعَيْنِهَا) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ
O Allah, I seek Your guidance with Your knowledge, and I seek ability with Your power, and I ask of Your immense favor. For indeed, You have power and I have no power; You know and I do not know; and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and he should name his need specifically) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end – or he said: in this life and the hereafter – then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end – or he said: in this life and the hereafter – then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree for me that which is good, wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma fa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (wa yusammil-hajah bi 'ayniha) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri, faqdurnahu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri, fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdurlil-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This powerful dua, known as Salat al-Istikhara, is recited when you are facing a significant decision and feel uncertain about the right path. It's not for matters where the right and wrong are clear, but for those where two options seem equally viable or where the outcome is unclear. Recite it after performing the two rak'ah prayer of Istikhara, preferably when you are calm and focused, and have no immediate intention of sleeping.
How to Read
First, perform the two rak'ah prayer of Istikhara with the intention of seeking Allah's guidance. After the prayer, recite this dua, clearly stating the specific matter you are seeking guidance on where it says '(wa yusammil-hajah bi 'ayniha)' – for example, 'Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna **az-zawaj min fulanah** khayrun li...'. Then, reflect on your heart. The signs are often a feeling of ease and inclination towards one option, or a sense of unease and aversion towards the other, although sometimes the guidance comes later through dreams or circumstances. Trust that Allah will guide you.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a direct way to seek Allah's perfect knowledge and wisdom when our own is limited. It brings immense peace of mind, knowing that you have submitted your decision to the All-Knowing Creator. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this so that the Ummah would not feel lost when facing decisions. By performing Istikhara, you entrust the outcome to Allah, seeking His blessings and His will, which is always the best for the believer.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with them both): The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara (prayer) in all matters as he taught us the Surahs of the Qur'an. He said, 'When anyone intends to do any deed, he should pray two rak'ahs other than the obligatory ones and then say: 'O Allah! I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and by Your power I seek ability, and from Your great bounty I seek (Your favor), for You grant ability but I have no ability, (You know all but I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen). O Allah! If You know that this task is good for me in my religion and my livelihood and in my undertaking and in my output – or he said: for my present and my future – then decree it for me, and make me have it, and bless it for me. And if You know that this task is bad for me in my religion and my livelihood and in my undertaking and in my output – or he said: for my present and my future – then turn it away from me and me away from it and decree for me the good wherever it may be and make me be pleased with it.' The narrator said: 'And he (the Prophet ﷺ) said: 'Then he should mention (name) his need.'