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 (ويُسَمَّى حَاجَتَهُ) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance with Your knowledge, and seek ability with Your power, and I ask of Your great 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 the person should name their need here) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or: in my worldly life and my Hereafter), then decree it for me and make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or: in my worldly life and my Hereafter), then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree for me whatever is good, 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'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri, faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri, fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khayra haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are contemplating a decision, whether it's a major life choice like marriage or a career path, or a smaller dilemma where you feel uncertain about the best course of action. It's typically performed after offering two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer (Salat al-Istikhara). It's meant to be recited when the heart feels heavy with indecision and you sincerely wish for Allah's wisdom to guide your path.
How to Read
It is recommended to first perform two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (Salat al-Istikhara). After completing the prayer and reciting the Tashahhud, you would then recite this dua. It's crucial to have a sincere intention (niyyah) and to have a clear idea of the matter for which you are seeking guidance. You should mention the specific matter or need within the dua where it indicates 'hajatuhu' (his need). After reciting the dua, you rely on Allah, and are often advised to proceed with what feels easiest or most natural in your heart, trusting that Allah will manifest the outcome in the best way for you.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful Sunnah practice that allows us to delegate our affairs to Allah, the All-Knower. It helps us to surrender our own limited understanding to His perfect wisdom. By turning to Allah in this way, we cultivate trust (tawakkul) and seek His blessings. It brings peace to the heart by removing the anxiety of making the wrong choice, knowing that if Allah decrees something, it is ultimately for our benefit, even if it's not immediately apparent. It's a means to align our desires with Allah's will, ensuring that our path leads to His pleasure and our ultimate success.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Quran. He said: 'If any 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 by Your power, and I ask of Your great bounty. For indeed You have the power, and I have not. And You have knowledge, and I know not. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and he mentions his need) 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 matter is bad for me in this world and in the Hereafter, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me whatever is good, wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)