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 (ويسمي حاجته: عزمي هذا على الوفاء بنذري/عهدي) 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 - عاجله وآجله - 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 You 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 – [specify your need here: my resolve to fulfill my vow/oath] – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end – for the present and the 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 end – for the present and the future – 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-ghuyūb. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (specify need: 'azmi hadha 'alal-wafā'i bi nadhri/ 'ahdi) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - 'ajilihi wa ajilihi - faqdur li, wa yassirhu li, thumma bārik li fīh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - 'ajilihi wa ajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li al-khayra haythu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
Recite this dua when you have made a vow or an oath (a 'nadhr' or 'ahd') and you are unsure about the best or most appropriate way to fulfill it. This could be a vow to do a good deed, to abstain from something, or any promise made to Allah. You are seeking clarity on the wisest course of action to ensure you fulfill your commitment correctly and with the best outcome.
How to Read
It is recommended to perform two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer before reciting this dua. After the prayer, raise your hands and recite the dua, clearly specifying your intention (the matter you are seeking guidance on, in this case, the fulfillment of your vow/oath). It's important to have a sincere heart, complete reliance on Allah, and to be in a state of purity. After making the dua, try to proceed with the option that feels most settled in your heart, or that Allah makes easy for you.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a beautiful means of seeking Allah's guidance when faced with a decision. By turning to Allah, the Knower of all affairs, we entrust our matters to Him and seek the best outcome, whether it's proceeding with an action or abstaining from it. This practice cultivates reliance ('tawakkul') on Allah and brings peace of mind, knowing that we have sought divine wisdom.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us the Istikhara in all matters as he taught us the Surah from 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 Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask You 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 is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and for my Hereafter (or 'in my worldly life and my Hereafter'), then ordain it for me, and make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and for my Hereafter (or 'in my worldly life and my Hereafter'), 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 pleased with it.' " Jabir added: 'And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'And he should name his need.'