اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (اذكر اسم الأمر هنا: قبول منصب القيادة) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask of Your tremendous bounty. For indeed, You decree and I do not decree, and You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (mention the matter here: accepting the leadership role) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affair, 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 the outcome of my affair, 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-'adhim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (dhkur ism al-amr huna: qabul mansib al-qiyadah) khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ishati wa 'aqibati amri, faqduruhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ishati wa 'aqibati amri, fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdurlil-khayra haithu kana, thumma radhdini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when contemplating a significant decision, such as accepting a position of leadership. It is typically performed after fulfilling the requirements of Salat al-Istikhara (the Prayer of Seeking Guidance), which involves two rak'ahs of prayer followed by this supplication.
How to Read
Perform two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer. After completing the prayer, raise your hands (if comfortable) and recite this dua with sincerity and focus. Clearly mention the specific matter, like accepting a leadership role, in the designated part of the dua. Reflect on your heart's inclination and trust Allah's wisdom in guiding you.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a profound way to entrust our decisions to Allah, seeking His perfect knowledge and wisdom when faced with uncertainty. By turning to Allah, we gain peace of mind, knowing that the outcome, whatever it may be, is what Allah has chosen as best for us. It is a means to avoid regret and to find contentment in His decree, as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us, 'The best of the matters are their well-established ones, and the worst of the matters are their newly-introduced ones, and all innovations are misguidance.' (Sahih Muslim 867).
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara for all matters, just as he used to teach us Surahs from the Quran. He said: 'When one of you intends to do a matter, let him pray two Rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones, and then say: Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adhim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ishati wa 'aqibati amri (or 'ajili 'amri wa ajilihi) faqduruhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ishati wa 'aqibati amri (or 'ajili 'amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdurlil-khayra haithu kana, thumma radhdini bih. ' And the Prophet (peace be upon him) added: 'And he should mention his need (or affair).' (Translation based on Sahih al-Bukhari 6306 and others, with slight variations in wording across narrations).