اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ - سَمِّ الأَمْرَ - خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - وفي رواية: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ - سَمِّ الأَمْرَ - شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - وفي رواية: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and seek ability through Your power, and I ask of Your great bounty. For You have 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 (mention the matter here) is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and for my Hereafter (or 'in my present and future affairs'), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter (mention the matter here) 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 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-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (mention the matter here) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa ajilih), faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Allahumma wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (mention the matter here) sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa ajilih), fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdir li-l-khayra haythu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited for significant decisions where clarity is needed, especially when considering different approaches to personal financial discipline. For instance, you might be weighing options like the envelope system, a budgeting app, or a specific savings plan. Recite it after performing Wudu, offering two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and before going to sleep or after making a firm intention to seek Allah's guidance.
How to Read
The Istikhara prayer involves performing two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, followed by reciting this specific dua. It's recommended to make your intention (niyyah) for seeking guidance. After reciting the dua, you should sleep in a state of purity, hoping for a clear sign or inclination in your heart. If no clarity comes, you can repeat the process. The key is to truly entrust the matter to Allah and be open to His guidance, whatever form it takes.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful way to acknowledge our limitations and seek the perfect knowledge and wisdom of Allah. By performing Istikhara, we are not simply asking for a 'yes' or 'no' but for Allah to choose the best path for us, even if we can't see it ourselves. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this prayer so that we can make decisions with confidence, knowing we have sought the best from our Creator. It brings peace of mind and wards off regret, as we have entrusted the outcome to Allah.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara for all matters as he taught us the Surah from the Qur'an. 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 of You guidance and ability, and I ask of Your great bounty. For You have power, and I have no power, and You have knowledge, and I have no knowledge. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and here he should mention his need) is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter, then decree it for me and make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is not good for me, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.' And the Prophet (ﷺ) added: 'At that time, one should mention his need.' - Sahih al-Bukhari 6306