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 - ثُمَّ تُسَمِّي حَاجَتَكَ - خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي 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 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 (then mention your need) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end (or 'in my present and my future'), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end (or 'in my present and my future'), then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree for me that which is good wherever it may be, 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 (then mention your need), khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi), faqdhurhu 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 (or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi), fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdir liyl-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is specifically for seeking Allah's guidance when you are contemplating a significant decision, such as a career change. After exhausting your own research and consultation, and you still feel uncertain, you perform the prayer of Istikhara. It's best performed after the Isha prayer, but can be done at other times as well, preferably after praying two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer.
How to Read
First, perform Wudu' (ablution). Then, pray two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (sunnah or nafl). After finishing the prayer, recite the Istikhara dua. It is crucial to mention your specific need (e.g., 'changing my current job for X new opportunity') within the dua where indicated. After reciting the dua, trust in Allah's plan. You may experience a sense of clarity, peace, or a strong inclination towards one option, or conversely, a feeling of unease about another. If no clear sign appears, continue to seek Allah's counsel through dua and make the decision you feel is best, trusting that Allah will guide you.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer is a beautiful way for a believer to connect with Allah regarding their affairs. It teaches reliance on the Creator, acknowledging that He knows what is best for us, even when we cannot see it. By performing Istikhara, we are actively seeking Allah's wisdom to guide us towards the path that will bring us good in this life and the hereafter, and to steer us away from what might lead to harm.
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he taught us the Surahs of 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 guidance from Your knowledge, and power from You, and I ask of Your great bounty. For You have it and I have not, You know and I do not know and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (then he mentions his need) is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter – or he said: in my religion and my livelihood and the end of my affairs – then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in this world and in the Hereafter – or he said: in my religion and my livelihood and the end of my affairs – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it and ordain for me the good whereever it may be and make me content with it.' He added: 'And he should name his need.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)