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 - سَمِّه (تَعْلِيمَ ابْنِي/ابْنَتِي) - خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance [in deciding] with Your knowledge, and I seek ability [to fulfill] with Your power, and I ask from Your immense grace. For indeed, 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 – specify it (the education of my son/daughter) – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affairs (or: in my present and future matters), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affairs (or: in my present and future matters), 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 satisfied with it.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra - sammihi (ta'leema ibni/ibnati) - khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khaira haithu kana, thumma ardini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when facing a significant decision, such as choosing the right educational path for your child. This could be selecting a school, deciding on a major, or determining the type of learning environment that best suits their talents and future. It's crucial to perform Istikhara with a sincere intention, after having done your due diligence and considered the available options.
How to Read
The Istikhara prayer typically involves performing two rak'ahs of prayer, not from the obligatory prayers, followed by reciting this specific dua. It is recommended to do this with a clear mind and a sincere heart, preferably at night, and then to sleep. Trust that Allah will guide you through dreams, or by making one path feel more clear and comfortable in your heart, or by making obstacles appear in the other. Avoid repeating the Istikhara excessively once you feel a sense of clarity.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer is a profound way to seek Allah's wisdom and guidance when we are uncertain. By turning to Allah, we acknowledge our limitations and His absolute knowledge and power. It helps to relieve the burden of decision-making and brings peace of mind, knowing that we have entrusted the outcome to the Best of Planners. It's a practical application of Tawakkul (reliance on Allah) after taking the necessary steps.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 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 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: "O Allah, I seek Your guidance with Your knowledge, and seek ability with Your power, and I ask for Your great bounty. For You have power, and I have no power; You have knowledge and I have no knowledge. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this task is good for me in my religion and world, then ordain it for me, and make it easy for me, and bless it for me. But if You know that this task is evil for me in my religion and world, 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 content with it." ' Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) added: 'At that time, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'And he should mention his need.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306).