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 (هنا تسمي حاجتك: اعتناق مجتمع جديد) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: 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 - أَوْ قَالَ: 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 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 (mention your need here: embracing a new community) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affairs (or he said: for 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 evil for me in my religion, my livelihood, and 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 ordain for me whatever is good, and make me satisfied 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-amr (mention your need here: embracing a new community) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li al-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
The Istikhara prayer is recommended when you are contemplating a decision and are unsure about the best course of action. For embracing a new community, this could be when you are considering moving to a new city, joining a new religious group, or starting a new phase of life that involves significant social integration. It's ideal to perform Istikhara after praying the two rak'ahs of the Istikhara prayer, ideally at night, after you have considered the matter logically and sought advice from others where appropriate.
How to Read
Perform two rak'ahs of prayer, not out of obligation, but as a voluntary prayer (nafl). In the first rak'ah, after reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, recite Surah Al-Kafirun (109). In the second rak'ah, after reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (112). After the tasleem (salutation at the end of the prayer), raise your hands and recite the specific dua for Istikhara, as mentioned above, clearly stating the matter you need guidance on. It is also recommended to make dua for the best outcome in your own words after reciting the prescribed dua. Afterward, sleep in a state of purity, facing the Qiblah, and observe what Allah shows you in your dreams or through feelings and intuition. It's important to remember that Istikhara is a means of seeking Allah's guidance, and you should proceed with what feels right in your heart after this prayer.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful act of reliance on Allah (Tawakkul) when facing a decision. By performing it, you acknowledge Allah's infinite knowledge and power, entrusting your affairs to Him. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this prayer to his companions just as he taught them entire chapters of the Quran, highlighting its importance. It helps to clear one's heart of indecision and opens the way to what Allah knows is best, bringing contentment and peace regardless of the outcome. The Prophet ﷺ said, 'None of you truly believes until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.' (Sahih Muslim 45) While this hadith is about brotherhood, the spirit of seeking good for oneself through Allah's guidance in Istikhara extends to seeking the best for your own situation.
Source & Authentication
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: 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-amr khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li al-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih. (The narrator says: 'And he said the word "amr" (matter) in the dua).'