اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (هنا تسمي حاجتك: مثلاً: هذا التخصص / هذه الجامعة / السفر للدراسة) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - وفي رواية: عاجل أمري وآجله - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - وفي رواية: عاجل أمري وآجله - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ 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 immense bounty. For You have power, and I have no power; You have knowledge, and I have no knowledge; and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (here you name your need: e.g., this specialization / this university / traveling for study) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or: in my present and my future), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, and if You know that this matter is evil for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or: in my present and my future), 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.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adhim. 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-amr (here you name your need: e.g., this specialization / this university / traveling for study) khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ishiati wa 'aqibati amri - وفي رواية: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Allahumma wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharun li fi dini wa ma'ishiati wa 'aqibati amri - وفي رواية: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khayra haythu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us the prayer of Istikhara to seek Allah's guidance when faced with a decision about which we are unsure. This is perfect for when you're deliberating on which school, university, or course of study to choose. It's not just about asking Allah for the 'best' option, but for Allah to guide you to what is truly best for you and to make you content with His decree.
How to Read
The Prophet ﷺ instructed us to pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer (nafl) and then recite this dua. It's recommended to recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah after Al-Fatihah, and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second rak'ah after Al-Fatihah. When you reach the part where it says 'this matter' (هذا الأمر), you should verbally state your specific need – in this case, choosing a school or university, or a particular course of study. After making the dua, you look for signs from Allah, which might come in the form of a feeling of clarity, a dream, or events unfolding. Importantly, make a firm intention to accept whatever Allah chooses for you.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful act of worship that affirms our reliance on Allah. By performing Istikhara, we are entrusting our affairs to the One who knows what is best for us, even when we don't. It brings peace to the heart, removes indecision, and helps us accept Allah's Qadar (divine decree) with contentment. It's a practical way to seek divine wisdom in everyday choices, ensuring our decisions align with Allah's pleasure and our ultimate good.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Qur'an. 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 bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adhim. 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-amr khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ishiati wa 'aqibati amri - or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Allahumma wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharun li fi dini wa ma'ishiati wa 'aqibati amri - or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khayra haythu kana, thumma radhdhini bih. And (he said) mention your need."