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 (وَاذْكُرْ حَاجَتَكَ) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: 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 - أو قال: 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 ability from Your power, and I ask You of Your great 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 – and mention your need – is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my Hereafter (or: in my present and future affairs), 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 bad for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my Hereafter (or: in my present and future affairs), 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 content 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-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (wa-dhkur hajjatak) khairun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilih), faqdirhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Allahumma wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilih), fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdir li-l-khaira haithu kan, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
Perform the Istikhara prayer and recite this dua when you are facing a significant decision, such as a major career change. It's best to perform it after praying Isha, or at another time when you are free from distractions and can focus on seeking Allah's guidance. You can repeat it for a few nights until you feel a sense of clarity or peace regarding the decision.
How to Read
The practice of Istikhara involves performing two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, followed by reciting this specific dua. After reciting the dua, you would mention the specific career path or decision you are contemplating where the text says "and mention your need." For example, you might say: "Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna tarke hadhihi al-wazifa wal-ibtida' fi wazifa jadida khairun li..." (O Allah, if You know that leaving this job and starting a new one is good for me...). Focus on the meaning of the words and surrender your will to Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful supplication that allows us to consult the One who knows all outcomes. By performing Istikhara, we acknowledge our own limitations in knowledge and power, and place our trust in Allah's infinite wisdom and plan. It brings peace to the heart and clarity to the mind, ensuring that whatever decision we make is ultimately aligned with Allah's will, which is always for our best.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us the Surahs of 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: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge and ability by Your power and I ask from Your great bounty. For indeed You have the 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 matter – and he should specify his need – is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood and my end of affairs), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. But if You know that this matter is bad for me in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood and my end of affairs), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it and ordain for me whatever is good for me, and make me pleased with it.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)