اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (تسمي حاجتك) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - عاجله وآجله - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - عاجله 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 for Your immense favor. For indeed, You know and I do not know, and You have knowledge of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (name your need) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end (or: in my present and future), then ordain 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: in my present and future), then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me whatever is good, 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 aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (name your need) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - 'aajilihi wa aajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feehi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - 'aajilihi wa aajilihi - fasrifhu 'annee, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bihi.
When to Read
This is the prescribed dua for *Istikhara*, a prayer of seeking guidance from Allah. It is particularly relevant when you are in a state of indecision about selecting a spiritual master or sheikh to follow. You would recite this dua after performing *Salat al-Istikhara* (the Prayer of Istikhara), which consists of two rak'ahs followed by this supplication. The key is to have a sincere intention to seek Allah's direction on this significant decision.
How to Read
Perform two rak'ahs of prayer (preferably not during the disliked times for prayer). In the first rak'ah, after reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, recite Surah Al-Kafirun. In the second rak'ah, after reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas. After the tasleem (salutation), raise your hands and recite this Istikhara dua, specifically mentioning the decision of choosing a spiritual guide in the place indicated by '(name your need)'. It is also recommended to make dua in your own words afterwards, and to have trust in Allah's plan, looking for signs or a sense of peace/discomfort regarding the decision.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful Sunnah practice that acknowledges our limitations and reliance on Allah's perfect knowledge and wisdom. By performing Istikhara for choosing a spiritual master, you are entrusting this crucial decision to the One who knows what is truly best for your spiritual growth and worldly well-being. It purifies your intention, seeking Allah's blessing and protection from making a wrong choice that could lead you astray or hinder your progress on the deen. The outcome of Istikhara, whether a clear inclination or a feeling of aversion, is from Allah, and the emphasis is on accepting His decree and finding contentment in His choice for you.
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he taught us the Surah from the Quran. He said, 'If anyone of you is concerned about some matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and seek power from Your power, and ask from Your great bounty. You have power, but I have no power. You know all things that are hidden. O Allah, if You know that this task (and here he should mention the task explicitly) is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter, then ordain it for me, and make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, if You know that this task is bad for me in this world and in the Hereafter, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.' The Prophet ﷺ added, 'At that time, one should fulfill his need.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306 - Note: The specific wording provided above is a more comprehensive version found in other narrations, but the essence and the Hadith itself are authentic and widely used for Istikhara. The number 5938 is also commonly cited for the general practice of Istikhara).