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 الأَمْرَ (تسمي حاجتك: تبني حيوان أليف جديد) 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 - عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ - 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 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 (name your need: adopting a new pet) is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my hereafter – for the immediate and the delayed – then decree 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 worldly life, and my hereafter – for the immediate and the delayed – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me whatever is good, 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-ghuyyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (name your need: adopting a new pet) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - 'aajilihi wa aajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr 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 bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are facing a decision and are unsure of the best course of action, particularly when considering adopting a new pet. It is recommended to perform it after performing two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer (Salat al-Istikhara) when you are prepared to make a decision and have a clear intention.
How to Read
Perform two rak'ahs of prayer. After completing the prayer and the salam, recite the Istikhara dua with sincere intention and concentration. When you reach the part 'Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr...', you should mention the specific matter you are seeking guidance for, in this case, 'adopting a new pet'. After reciting the dua, make supplication to Allah, and then rest assured, trusting that Allah will guide you. Signs may appear in dreams, or your heart may incline towards one option, or circumstances may unfold in a way that clarifies the best path.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua is a means of seeking Allah's wisdom and guidance in matters where one lacks knowledge or certainty. It fosters reliance on Allah (Tawakkul), acknowledging His supreme knowledge and power. By performing Istikhara, a Muslim seeks to align their decisions with what is best according to Allah's divine plan, leading to peace of mind and contentment, regardless of the outcome.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: 'The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all our affairs as he used to teach us the Surahs from the Qur'an. He said: "If one of you is concerned about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then say: 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-ghuyyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - 'aajilihi wa aajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr 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 bih. (And mention your need)."'