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 الْأَمْرَ - ثُمَّ تُسَمِّي حَاجَتَكَ - 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 الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and strength from Your power, and I ask of Your immense 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 then you specify your need – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end of affairs (or he said: in my present and my 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 of affairs (or he said: in my present and my future), 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 content with it.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, 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-amr - thumma tusammī ḥājataka - khayrun li fi dīnī wa ma'īshatī wa 'āqibati amrī - aw qāla: fī 'ājili amrī wa ājihi - faqdirhu lī, wa yassirhu lī, thumma bārik lī fīh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi dīnī wa ma'īshatī wa 'āqibati amrī - aw qāla: fī 'ājili amrī wa ājihi - faprifhu 'annī, wasrifnī 'anhu, waqdurlī al-khayra ḥaythu kāna, thumma raḍḍinī bih.
When to Read
This dua is specifically for seeking Allah's guidance (Istikhara) when you are contemplating a significant decision, such as whether to embark on a spiritual retreat. It should be recited after performing the two rak'ahs of Salah al-Istikhara and before sleeping or while reflecting deeply on the matter at hand. The key is to have a sincere intention and to clearly identify the specific 'matter' you are seeking guidance on.
How to Read
Perform two rak'ahs of prayer (Salah al-Istikhara) with the intention of seeking guidance. After completing the prayer, recite the Istikhara dua. It is crucial to clearly state the specific matter for which you are seeking guidance within the prayer (where it says 'this matter – then you specify your need'). After reciting the dua, try to sleep in a state of purity, and the signs will often appear in dreams or in a sense of inclination towards one option or the other. Continue to trust in Allah's plan, regardless of the outcome.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful way to connect with Allah, seeking His wisdom when our own knowledge is limited. It brings peace of mind, as you entrust your affairs to the One who knows best. It helps avoid regret by ensuring decisions are made with Divine consultation, fostering contentment and acceptance of Allah's decree, whether the outcome is what you initially desired or not. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this practice to his companions as he taught them the entire Quran, highlighting its importance.
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Quran. He would say: 'When one 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 strength from Your power, and I ask of Your immense 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 then you specify your need – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end of affairs (or he said: in my present and my 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 of affairs (or he said: in my present and my future), 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 content with it.' And the narrator added: 'And he said: 'And he should name his need.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166)