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 (تسمي حاجتك: اختر لي خيري) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي (أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمَرِي وَآجِلِهِ)، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي (أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمَرِي وَآجِلِهِ)، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask of Your great bounty. For You decree and I have no power, You know and I have no knowledge, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter – and name your need: choosing a mentor for me – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end (or he said: in my present and future affairs), 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 my present and future affairs), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me whatever is good, and make me pleased with it.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyūb. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (wa tusammī ḥājataka: ikhtarlī khayrihī) khayrun li fī dīnī wa ma'īshatī wa 'āqibati amrī (aw qāla: 'ājili amrī wa ājalihi), faqdirhu lī, wa yassirhu lī, thumma bārik lī fīh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun lī fī dīnī wa ma'īshatī wa 'āqibati amrī (aw qāla: 'ājili amrī wa ājalihi), faṣrifhu 'annī waṣrifnī 'anhu, waqdir līl-khayra ḥaythu kāna, thumma arḍinī bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited specifically when you are contemplating a significant decision, such as choosing a mentor who will guide your religious or worldly pursuits. It should be recited after performing two rak'ahs of optional prayer (Salatul Istikhara) and then making the intention to seek Allah's guidance regarding the specific person you are considering as a mentor.
How to Read
Perform two rak'ahs of optional prayer (Salatul Istikhara). After the prayer, face the Qiblah, raise your hands slightly, and recite the Istikhara dua. Clearly mention the specific need (choosing a mentor) in the designated part of the dua. Focus your heart on Allah, seeking His wisdom and direction. After reciting the dua, reflect on any feelings, dreams, or clear inclinations that Allah may present to you. The outcome should ideally be a feeling of clarity or a clear direction.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), designed to seek Allah's guidance in all matters. By performing Istikhara, a believer acknowledges their own limitations in knowledge and power, entrusting their affairs to the All-Knowing, All-Powerful Creator. This practice brings peace of mind, confidence in decisions, and protection from potential regret, as one has sought the best from Allah Himself.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us a Surah from the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyūb. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr khayrun li fi dīnī wa ma'īshatī wa 'āqibati amrī (or he said: 'ājili amrī wa ājalihi), faqdirhu lī, wa yassirhu lī, thumma bārik lī fīh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi dīnī wa ma'īshatī wa 'āqibati amrī (or he said: 'ājili amrī wa ājalihi), faṣrifhu 'annī waṣrifnī 'anhu, waqdir līl-khayra ḥaythu kāna, thumma arḍinī bih.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)