اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ (اذكر الأمر هنا: مثلاً، شراء هذه السيارة، شراء هذا الجهاز) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance with Your knowledge, and I seek ability with Your power, and I ask of Your great 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: e.g., purchasing this car, purchasing this appliance) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter - or he said: in my present and my 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 Hereafter - or he said: in my present and my 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 (mention the matter here: e.g., purchasing this car, purchasing this appliance) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - or he said: 'aajili amri wa aajilih - faqdirhu 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 - or he said: 'aajili amri wa aajilih - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdir liyl-khayra haythu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are facing a decision about a significant purchase, such as a vehicle, a major home appliance, or any other important financial commitment where you feel uncertainty. It's best recited after performing two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (Salatul Istikhara), preferably before going to sleep, though it can be recited at any time you feel the need for Allah's guidance.
How to Read
It is recommended to perform Wudu' (ablution) as you would for any prayer. After praying two rak'ahs of Salatul Istikhara (which can be offered anytime outside of disliked prayer times), you then recite this dua. While standing or sitting, you make the intention for the specific purchase you are considering and then recite the dua, clearly mentioning the matter in the designated spot. The goal is to earnestly ask Allah for guidance, seeking the best outcome for you in this life and the next.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful way to connect with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) when faced with choices. It's not about seeing a dream, but rather about seeking Allah's guidance to make the decision that is ultimately best for you. By performing Istikhara, you are acknowledging your reliance on Allah, seeking His wisdom over your own limited knowledge, and trusting that He will guide your heart towards the right path or guide the situation away from you if it's not meant to be. This process brings immense peace of mind and contentment, regardless of the outcome.
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 in all matters, just as he used to teach us the Surahs from the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer other than the obligatory ones, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and power from You, and I ask for Your great bounty. For You have power, but I have no power. You have knowledge, but I have no knowledge. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [and in the narration of Ibn Maslamah: 'this task'] is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is evil 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 that is wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it. And the narrator said: And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'And he should mention his need.' [Sahih al-Bukhari 6306]