اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (هنا تذكر الأمر الذي تريد الاستخارة فيه) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: 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 - أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance with Your knowledge, and I seek ability with Your power, and I ask of Your immense favour. For You decree and I cannot decree, and You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (mention the matter here) is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and the Hereafter (or he said: in my present and future affairs), then decree 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 worldly life, and the Hereafter (or he said: in my present and future affairs), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me whatever is good, 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-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (mention the matter here) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilihi - faqdur-hu li, wa yassir-hu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra shar-run li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilihi - fasrif-hu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li al-khaira haithu kaan, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are facing a significant decision where you need Allah's direction. For emotional healing from past hurts, you would perform Istikhara when contemplating specific actions or paths that you believe might lead to healing. This could involve seeking new relationships, pursuing certain therapies or activities, making a move, or even deciding on a level of engagement with certain people or situations. It's about seeking clarity on the best way forward to mend your heart.
How to Read
Perform Wudu (ablution). Offer two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer outside of the disliked times. After completing the prayer, recite the Istikhara dua. In the part of the dua where it says 'this matter', you should verbally (or with intention if praying alone) mention the specific decision or course of action you are seeking guidance on regarding your emotional healing. For instance, you might say, 'O Allah, if this decision to start therapy sessions is good for me...' or 'O Allah, if seeking reconciliation with this person is good for me...'. After the dua, sleep with the intention of seeking guidance. The signs are usually seen in dreams or through a feeling of inclination towards one option or the other upon waking. If clarity doesn't come, repeat the process.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer is a beautiful way to entrust your affairs to Allah, the All-Knowing, and to seek His perfect wisdom. It brings peace of mind by knowing you've taken a step to involve Allah in your decisions. For emotional healing, it ensures that the path you choose is one that Allah blesses, guiding you towards what will truly mend your heart and bring you closer to Him. It alleviates the burden of indecision and the fear of making the wrong choice. It's a direct connection to divine guidance, helping you navigate life's complexities with greater certainty and reliance on the Creator.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them): The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all things, as he taught us the Surah from the Quran. He said: 'If anyone wants to do a certain thing, he should pray two rak'ahs of a voluntary prayer, and then say: "O Allah, I seek Your guidance as You have knowledge, and seek ability by Your power, and I ask of Your great bounty. For You are Able and I am unable, You are Knowledgeable and I am ignorant, and You are the Knower of unseen things. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion and in my livelihood and in the end of my affairs - or he said: in this world and in the 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 evil for me in my religion and in my livelihood and in the end of my affairs - or he said: in this world and in the Hereafter - then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it." ' Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Then he should name his need."