اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (تسمي الحاجة: صداقة فلان) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ - 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 الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power. I ask of Your immense grace, for indeed You have power and I have none, You have knowledge and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (name the need: the friendship of so-and-so) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affairs – both in this world and the Hereafter – 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 the end of my affairs – both in this world and the Hereafter – then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me whatever is good, and make me content 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 (name the need: the friendship of so-and-so) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - 'ajilihi wa ajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - 'ajilihi wa ajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khayra haythu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are contemplating a significant friendship and are unsure about whether it is beneficial for you. It's important to have a clear intention about the specific friendship you are seeking guidance on. Perform Istikhara after performing Wudu, offering two rak'ahs of prayer (outside of the obligatory prayers), and then reciting this dua.
How to Read
Recite this dua after offering the two rak'ahs of Istikhara prayer. Clearly state the matter you are seeking guidance on in the designated spot within the dua (e.g., "صداقة فلان" - the friendship of so-and-so). It is recommended to repeat the dua seven times. After reciting the dua, you should try to remain in a state of contemplation, seeking signs in your heart or dreams. If clear inclination or aversion arises, act upon it. If not, you may repeat the process.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful way to entrust our decisions to Allah (SWT), acknowledging His perfect knowledge and wisdom. It helps us to align our choices with what is best for us in both this life and the next, seeking Allah's blessings and protection from potential harm. By seeking Istikhara for a friendship, we are asking Allah to guide us towards righteous companions who will support us in our deen and worldly affairs, and protect us from those who might lead us astray.
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach his Companions the Istikhara prayer in all matters as he taught them a Surah from the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you thinks about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones, and then say: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ - 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 الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ. And the Prophet ﷺ added: 'He should name his need.'