اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْتَخِيْرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيْمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوْبِ. اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ (وَيُسَمَّى حَاجَتَهُ) خَيْرٌ لِّيْ فِيْ دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ (أَوْ قَالَ: فِيْ عَاجِلِ أَمْرِيْ وَآجِلِهِ)، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِيْ وَيَسِّرْهُ لِيْ ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْهِ. اَللّٰهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِّيْ فِيْ دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ (أَوْ قَالَ: فِيْ عَاجِلِ أَمْرِيْ وَآجِلِهِ)، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّيْ وَاصْرِفْنِيْ عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ رَضِّنِيْ بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance with Your knowledge, and I seek ability with Your power, and I ask of Your magnificent 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 (and one mentions his need) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair (or he said: in my present and my future), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, and if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair (or he said: 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 pleased 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-amra (wa yusamma hajatahu) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi), faqdarnahu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Allahumma wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi), fasrifhu 'anni wa sarifni 'anhu, waqdhar li al-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are facing a significant decision, especially one that impacts your children and their upbringing, and you are unsure of the best path forward. It's recommended to perform Istikhara (seeking Allah's guidance through prayer and this dua) when you have a clear intention and have already done your research and considered the options.
How to Read
Istikhara is typically performed by first offering two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, followed by reciting this dua. After reciting the dua, you should mention the specific matter you are seeking guidance on in the place indicated. It's important to have a sincere heart, trust in Allah's plan, and be open to the signs or feelings He may place in your heart. Many scholars advise making dua and sleeping, hoping for a dream, or simply observing what your heart feels inclined towards after the prayer.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a beautiful way to acknowledge our limitations and dependence on Allah. By turning to Him, we seek His infinite wisdom and power to guide us towards what is truly best. It brings immense peace of mind, knowing that you have sought the most authoritative guidance, and helps to alleviate the burden of difficult decisions, fostering contentment with Allah's decree.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us a Surah from the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter he should pray two rak'ahs of a non-obligatory prayer and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and by Your power I seek ability, and from Your magnificent bounty I seek ability, for indeed 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 is good for me in my religion and for my living and for the end of my affairs (or he said: for my present and my future), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And O Allah, if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and for my living and in the end of my affairs (or he said: for my present and my future), 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 content with it.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)