اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ - وَسَمِّ الْأَمْرَ بِعَيْنِهِ - خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: 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: 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 grace. 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 name the matter specifically – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or: in my present life and my future) – 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 my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or: in my present life and my future) – 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-'adhim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'Allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma fa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra - wa sammil-amra bi'aynihi - khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ishati wa 'aqibati amri - aw qala: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - faqduruhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharun li fi dini wa ma'ishati wa 'aqibati amri - aw qala: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdurlil-khayra haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is specifically for seeking Allah's guidance when contemplating a significant decision, such as leaving a place where one is experiencing oppression, injustice, or severe hardship. It is recited after performing two units (rak'ahs) of prayer outside of the obligatory ones, before sleeping, or at any time when one feels the need for clear direction from Allah regarding the matter.
How to Read
Perform ghusl (ablution) or wudu. Pray two rak'ahs of nafl (voluntary) prayer. After the prayer, raise your hands (optional but recommended) and recite this dua, clearly mentioning the specific decision you are seeking guidance on (e.g., 'Allahumma in kunta ta'lam anna safara min hadhihi al-balad...'). Then, go to sleep with the intention of waking up and acting upon the inclination that Allah places in your heart, whether it's a feeling of ease towards proceeding or a feeling of unease towards it. If no clear inclination appears, one may repeat the process for several days.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer is a beautiful means of entrusting one's affairs to Allah, acknowledging His perfect knowledge and wisdom. It ensures that the decision made is aligned with what is best for the individual in this life and the next, seeking Allah's blessing and protection from undesirable outcomes. When leaving a place of oppression, Istikhara helps to ensure that the move is not only a physical escape but also a divinely guided step towards a better, safer, and more righteous future.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us a Surah from the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and I seek ability to fulfill Your commands by Your power, and I beg of You of Your Grace, for indeed You have power and I have no power, and You have knowledge and I have no knowledge. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You consider this matter (and then the Prophet (peace be upon him) specified the matter) as good for me in this world and in the Hereafter (or: for my religion, my livelihood and my work), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You consider this matter as bad for me, then turn it away from me and me from it, and decree for me whatever is good wherever it may be, and make me satisfied with it.'" Sahih al-Bukhari 6306.