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 (اذكر اسم الأمر هنا، مثل: ترْك بَلَدِي) 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 الْأَمْرَ 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 [in making a decision] with Your knowledge, and I seek ability [to do what is best] 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 (mention the matter, e.g., leaving my country) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end (or he said: in my present 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 end (or he said: in my present 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 '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 (mention the matter, e.g., leaving my country) khairun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aaajili amri wa aajilihi - faqdirhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aaajili amri wa aajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdir li khayra haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited during the Salah al-Istikhara (Prayer of Seeking Counsel from Allah). It is particularly relevant when facing a significant decision, such as whether to leave a place where one is experiencing oppression, injustice, or hardship. The aim is to seek Allah's guidance to choose the path that is best for one's worldly and religious affairs.
How to Read
Perform two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (Salah al-Istikhara), separate from the obligatory prayers. After completing the prayer, you recite the Istikhara dua. It is important to make a sincere intention beforehand to seek Allah's guidance. After reciting the dua, one should then contemplate the decision, looking for signs or inclinations in one's heart or through subsequent events. It's also recommended to be content with whatever Allah decrees for you, whether it leads to proceeding with the matter or abandoning it.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a profound way for a believer to connect with Allah, acknowledging His infinite knowledge and power. By seeking His guidance, a Muslim demonstrates reliance on the Creator for important decisions, especially when facing difficult circumstances like oppression. This practice helps to alleviate anxiety and uncertainty, fostering contentment and trust in Allah's plan. As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught, in seeking Allah's guidance, one is asking for that which is good, and Allah's decree is always for the best of His servants.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: 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 Qur'an. He said: 'If anyone of you thinks about a matter during pregnancy of seven months then he should not continue with it and should not remain with her in this case for seven months, but if you think about a matter of marriage, then he should not do it, rather he should pray two rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory prayers and then say (this invocation): "O Allah, I seek Your guidance as You are All-Knowing. And I seek ability by Your Power, and \[I\] ask of Your Great Bounty. For indeed You are Able and I am not. You know \[all things\] and I know not. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this task is good in relation to my religion and livelihood and end of my affair or said: in my present and my future, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this task is evil in relation to my religion and livelihood and end of my affair or said: in my present and my future, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good where-ever it may be and make me contented with it.". The narrator added: And the person should say his need (the specific thing he wants to do) in his Du'a.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166)