اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ أَهْلِهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا جَبَلْتَنِي عَلَيْهِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا وَشَرِّ مَا جَبَلْتَنِي عَلَيْهِ. اللَّهُمَّ فَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ بِالنَّاسِ فِتْنَةً فَتَوَفَّنِي إِلَيْهَا غَيْرَ مَفْتُونٍ.
O Allah, I ask You for its (this matter's/venture's) goodness, and the goodness of those involved in it, and the goodness of what You have inclined me towards. And I seek refuge in You from its evil, and the evil of those involved in it, and the evil of what You have inclined me towards. O Allah, if You intend to test people with a trial, then take me to Yourself without putting me to trial.
Allahumma inni as'aluka khairaha wa khaira ahliha wa khaira ma jabaltani 'alayh, wa a'udhu bika min sharriha wa sharri ahliha wa sharri ma jabaltani 'alayh. Allahumma fa idha aradta bin-nasi fitnatan fa tawaffani ilayha ghaira maftun.
When to Read
This comprehensive dua is fitting when embarking on a new joint venture and you need to select a business partner. It should be recited before you finalize your decision, after you have identified potential candidates. It's a way of entrusting the matter to Allah, seeking His wisdom and protection from potential pitfalls associated with the partnership and the venture itself.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere intention and a heart full of trust in Allah. Begin by praising Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Focus on the meaning of the words, asking Allah for the best outcome in choosing your partner and the venture. Visualize the partnership being blessed and protected. It can be recited individually before consulting or meeting with potential partners, or as a group before a crucial decision-making meeting.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua, originally taught for seeking the good of a new spouse or a significant undertaking, is exceptionally relevant for choosing a business partner. It encompasses asking Allah for: 1. **Guidance to the best choice:** Seeking 'khairaha' (its goodness) ensures that the venture itself is beneficial and permissible. 2. **Goodness in the partner:** Asking for 'khaira ahliha' (the goodness of its people/those involved) is crucial for a harmonious and trustworthy partnership. 3. **Alignment with one's nature:** 'Khaira ma jabaltani 'alayh' (the goodness of what You have inclined me towards) helps ensure compatibility and shared vision. 4. **Protection from evil:** Seeking refuge from 'sharriha wa sharri ahliha' (its evil and the evil of its people) protects against betrayal, disputes, and loss. 5. **Spiritual protection:** The latter part, asking not to be tested with a trial, is a profound plea for Allah’s mercy, ensuring you remain steadfast and untainted by the potential negative consequences of a bad choice or a challenging business environment.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua to his companions when they were contemplating marriage. The narration states: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught us the istikhara prayer in all matters as he taught us the surahs of the Qur'an. He said: 'If one of you intends to do a thing, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and power from Your power, and I implore You from Your great bounty. For You are sufficient for me and You do not need me. You are the Knower of secrets. O Allah, if You know that this matter (then he should name the thing he wants to do) is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter, (or he said: in my deen, my livelihood and my life's outcome), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, if You know that this matter is bad for me in my deen, my livelihood and my life's outcome, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be and make me content with it.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166, 6306, 7390, Sahih Muslim 718). While the specific wording provided in the JSON is a variation often recited for various undertakings, the principle of seeking good and refuge from evil in matters of consequence, including business partnerships, is directly derived from the essence of istikhara and supplicatory duas taught by the Prophet ﷺ.