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 (اذكر الأمر هنا: خيار التربية لابني/ابنتي) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and seek power from Your might, and I ask from Your immense bounty. 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 (mention the matter here: the upbringing choice for my son/daughter) is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my hereafter (or he said: in my present and future affairs), then ordain 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 worldly life, and my hereafter (or he said: in my present and future affairs), 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 satisfied 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-amr (mention the matter here: the upbringing choice for my son/daughter) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qaala: fi 'aa jili amri wa aajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Allahumma wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qaala: fi 'aa jili amri wa aajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur liyl-khayra haythu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is specifically for when you are faced with a significant decision regarding your child's upbringing and are unsure of the best path forward. This could involve choices about education, religious instruction, schooling, or any other major aspect of shaping their character and future. It is recommended to recite this dua after performing two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (Salatul Istikhara) when you feel you have gathered enough information but still lack clarity on the right direction.
How to Read
The Sunnah is to first pray two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, ideally outside of the times when voluntary prayers are disliked. After the prayer, you recite the Istikhara dua, mentioning the specific matter of your child's upbringing in the designated spot. It is important to approach the prayer and dua with sincerity and a genuine desire for Allah's guidance. After making the dua, you should then proceed with the decision, and observe any inclinations or feelings that Allah may place in your heart, or signs that may appear. Do not seek to interpret dreams specifically, but rather focus on the overall feeling of peace or unease, or the ease with which a particular path unfolds.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a beautiful way to entrust your affairs to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. By seeking His guidance, you acknowledge His perfect knowledge and power, recognizing that He alone knows what is best for you and your child. This process brings immense peace of mind, removing the burden of decision-making from your shoulders and placing it in the hands of the All-Wise Creator. It fosters reliance on Allah (Tawakkul) and strengthens your connection with Him, knowing that He will guide you towards what is ultimately beneficial and protect you from harm, even if the path isn't immediately clear to you.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara (prayer for guidance) in all matters as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about an undertaking, he should pray two Rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then say: O Allah, I ask of You the good through Your knowledge, and ability through Your power, and I beg of You of Your grace, for verily You have the power, and I have not, and You have knowledge, and I have not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You consider this undertaking good for my religion and my subsistence and for (my) Hereafter, (or he said: 'good for my worldly life and my Hereafter') then decree it for me, and make it easy for me, and then bless me in it. And if You consider this undertaking bad for my religion and my subsistence and for (my) Hereafter, (or he said: 'bad for my worldly life and my Hereafter') then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be and cause me to be pleased with it.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306).