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: عزمي على الوقوف مع قضية عادلة) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – (أو قال: 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 – (أو قال: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ) – فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek power through Your power, and I ask of Your immense bounty. For You decree and I cannot decree, You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter – (then you mention your need, e.g., my resolve to stand for a just cause) – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end [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 evil for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end [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 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-amr (then name your need: 'azmi 'ala al-wuqoof ma'a qadiyatin 'aadilatin) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri (or he said: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilihi), faqdhurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri (or he said: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilihi), fasrifhu 'annee, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdhur li al-khayra haythu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are contemplating making a public stand for a just cause but are unsure if it's the right decision, or if you have a strong inclination towards it but need Allah's wisdom to confirm and guide you. It's the prayer of seeking Allah's counsel when facing a significant choice where the right path isn't clear. You would typically perform Istikhara by offering two rak'ahs of prayer followed by this dua, ideally after the 'Isha prayer and before sleeping, reflecting on the matter throughout the night.
How to Read
After performing two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (preferably not during disliked times), you recite this specific dua. It's crucial to have a sincere intention and to clearly mention the specific matter you are seeking guidance on – in this case, your resolve to stand for a just cause. Place your need explicitly after "annan-hathal-amr" (that this matter). After reciting the dua, trust that Allah will guide you through signs, dreams, or an inclination in your heart. You should then act upon what feels right after seeking Allah's counsel, whether that means proceeding or abstaining.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful way to connect with Allah's infinite knowledge and wisdom, acknowledging our limitations. For a matter as significant as taking a public stand for justice, Istikhara ensures that your intention is aligned with divine approval. It brings peace of mind, knowing that you've sought the best outcome from the One who knows what is best. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this prayer so that the Ummah would not feel lost when making decisions, seeking clarity and blessings from Allah. It is a means to attain the good of this life and the hereafter, as Allah guides the sincere seeker towards what is beneficial for them.
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught us the Istikhara prayer in all matters as he taught us the Surah from the Qur'an. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about an undertaking, 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 great bounty I ask, for You alone are capable and I am not, and You alone do I know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this undertaking [and here he should name the undertaking] is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter, then decree it for me and make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, if You know that this undertaking 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 the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.' He added: 'And he should name his need in his supplication.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)