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 (تسمي الحاجة: مثل الزواج، أو السفر، أو ترك وظيفة، أو أي أمر مهم) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمَرِي 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 أَمَرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and seek strength through Your power, and I ask of Your immense bounty. For indeed, You have power and I have no power; You know and I do not know; and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (name your need, e.g., 'becoming a parent', 'marriage', 'travel', 'leaving a job', or any important matter) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or 'for my present and my future'), then ordain it for me and 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 'for my present and my future'), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain 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-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (name your need, e.g., 'becoming a parent', 'marriage', 'travel', 'leaving a job', or any important matter) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aa jili amri wa aajilih - faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feehi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aa jili amri wa aajilih - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li al-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhhini bih.
When to Read
This is the prayer of Istikhara, performed when contemplating a significant decision where one is unsure of the best course of action. For aspiring parents facing challenges or uncertainties about starting a family, this dua is recited when seeking Allah's guidance on whether to proceed with treatments, adoption, or simply when feeling uncertain about the timing and path to parenthood.
How to Read
It is recommended to perform Ghusl (ritual bath), pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then recite this dua. It's best to do this with a clear mind and heart, focusing on the specific decision you are seeking guidance for. After reciting the dua, you should feel a sense of peace or clarity, or you may see a sign in your dreams. If not, you can repeat the process for a few days. The key is sincere reliance on Allah and seeking His wisdom.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a profound way to connect with Allah's infinite wisdom. By reciting this dua, you are entrusting your affairs to the One who knows what is best, seeking His favor and blessing. It helps alleviate anxiety and doubt, bringing peace of mind as you place your trust in the Creator. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua so that we might benefit from Allah's knowledge and power when we lack them, ensuring our decisions align with what is truly beneficial for us in this life and the next.
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught the Istikhara prayer in all matters as he taught the Surah from the Qur'an. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about some matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and by Your power I seek strength, and I ask from Your tremendous favour. For You have power and I have no power, You know and I do not know. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this task (and here he should mention his task) is good in this world and in the Hereafter, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. Then, if You know that this task is evil in this world and in the Hereafter, 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.' The narrator added: 'And he should mention his need.'