اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (هنا تذكر الأمر الذي تريد الاستخارة فيه: mentoring someone) 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 by Your knowledge, and seek ability by Your power, and I ask of Your great bounty. For You decree and I cannot decree, You know and I cannot know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (mentoring someone) is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my Hereafter – or he said: for 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 worldly life, and my Hereafter – or he said: for 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-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (mentoring someone) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri – aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi – faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri – aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi – fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
The Istikhara prayer is performed when you are facing a decision and are unsure of the best course of action. In this case, it is when you are contemplating whether to mentor a particular person or not, and you seek Allah's guidance to make the right choice. It's best to perform it after offering obligatory prayers, perhaps even combining it with the intention of praying for guidance regarding the mentoring role.
How to Read
It is recommended to perform Wudu' (ablution) first. Then, offer two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer. After the prayer, recite the Istikhara dua as provided above, specifically mentioning the matter of mentoring someone in the designated spot. It is also recommended to make dua afterwards and to reflect on any feelings or dreams that may arise. You may repeat this process over several days if needed.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer is a beautiful way to entrust your affairs to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). It ensures that you are seeking the best outcome, knowing that Allah has complete knowledge of all things and has the power to guide you. By performing Istikhara, you are affirming your reliance on Allah and seeking His wisdom to make a decision that is ultimately beneficial for you and those you intend to guide.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all our undertakings as he taught us the Surah from the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: 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 khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri – aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi – faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri – aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi – fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih. (And he said: the name of your need should be substituted in the place of 'hadhal-amr').