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 (ثم تسمي حاجتك) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - (أو قال: في عاجل أمري وآجله) - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - (أو قال: في عاجل أمري وآجله) - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power. I ask for Your magnificent bounty, for indeed You have power and I do not, and You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (then mention your need) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or he said: in my present and future affairs), then ordain 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 he said: in my present and future affairs), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me whatever is good, and make me content with it.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, 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 (then mention your need) khairun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - (or he said: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - (or he said: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdurlil-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
The Istikhara prayer is recommended when you are contemplating a significant decision or facing a crossroads in life, such as deciding whether to retire, the impact of children leaving home (empty nest), changing careers, or making a major purchase. It is performed after intending to do the action and after seeking advice from knowledgeable people, but when the heart is still undecided. It's usually prayed as two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, followed by reciting this specific dua.
How to Read
Ideally, perform Istikhara prayer (two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer) first. After completing the prayer, recite the Istikhara dua with sincerity and humility. When you reach the part mentioning 'this matter' (هَذَا الأَمْرَ - hadhal-amra), clearly state the specific situation you are seeking guidance on. For instance, you might say 'Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna istiqalati min 'amali...' (O Allah, if You know that my retirement...). It is also recommended to make dua in your own words afterward. Try to sleep shortly after, hoping to see a clear sign in a dream, or notice an inclination in your heart or external circumstances guiding you. Repeat the prayer and dua for a few days if the matter is not clear.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a profound act of seeking Allah's perfect wisdom and power when our own knowledge and capabilities are limited. It helps to entrust the outcome to the All-Knowing and All-Powerful, bringing peace to the heart, and ensuring that the decision made is ultimately for the best in this life and the next, according to Allah's plan. It's a way of acknowledging our dependence on Him and seeking His blessing in our affairs.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both): The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he taught us the Surah from the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a thing, he should pray two Rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and by Your power I seek ability, and from Your magnificent grace I seek ability, for You have ability and I have not, and You know, and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. 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 the next), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my livelihood and in the end of my affairs (or he said: in this world and the next), 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.' " Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) added: 'And the matter (all the afflictions) should be mentioned in order.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)