اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (اذكر الأمر هنا: مثلاً: هذا الارتباط/هذه الصداقة/هذا القرار بخصوص أهلي) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - - - (أو قال: 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 - - - (أو قال: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ) - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and strength from Your power, and I ask for Your tremendous 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 (mention your matter here: e.g., this engagement/this friendship/this decision regarding my family) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or he said: for 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 bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (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 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 aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (mention your matter here, e.g., this engagement/this friendship/this decision regarding my family) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - - - (or he said: in 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) - faqdurlahu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feehi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - - - (or he said: in 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdurlil-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bihi.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are contemplating a decision, particularly one with significant implications for your life, such as starting or continuing a relationship (friendship, romantic, or family ties), choosing a spouse, or making important life choices. It's meant to be recited after performing two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, ideally at night when you can focus without distractions.
How to Read
Perform two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer (sunnah). After the prayer, raise your hands and recite this specific dua. It's crucial to clearly mention the specific matter you are seeking guidance on in the place indicated in the Arabic text. The intention (niyyah) should be sincere and focused on seeking Allah's best choice for you. Afterwards, you should go about your decision with a heart at ease, and look out for signs (whether a clear inclination in your heart, or external circumstances) that indicate Allah's will.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful Sunnah taught by our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to help us navigate life's complexities with reliance on Allah. It's not about getting a dream or a direct voice; rather, it's about seeking Allah's wisdom and asking Him to guide your heart towards what is best, and to remove what is harmful. The Prophet ﷺ promised that whoever performs Istikhara, Allah will guide them, and if He knows the matter is good, He will make it happen. It brings peace of mind and assurance that you are submitting your will to the One who knows all.
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 the Surah from the Qur'an. He said, 'If anyone of you is concerned about some matter, he should observe two Rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then say: O Allah, I seek the best from Your knowledge and seek power from Your power and I ask of Your tremendous bounty. For You have power, I have no power. You have knowledge I have no knowledge. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this task (and here he mentions the task) is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this task is bad for me, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and choose what is good for me. And make me content with it.' He added that by the end of his words, one should mention the particular task.