اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (هنا تسمي الأمر الذي تريده) 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 الخَيْرَ 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 abundant grace. For 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 (here you name the matter you want) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter – 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 Hereafter – 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-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (here you name the matter you want) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilihi - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra shar-run li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilihi - fasrifhu 'annee, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is specifically for Istikhara, the prayer for seeking guidance from Allah when you are contemplating a decision, especially one that may involve spiritual temptations or a path that could lead you astray. It's recited when you've considered all practical options and need divine insight to choose the right course of action. You would typically read this after performing Wudu and offering two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, preferably outside of disliked prayer times.
How to Read
After completing the two rak'ahs of the Istikhara prayer, you recite this dua with sincere intention and a hopeful heart. It's crucial to be in a state of purity (Wudu) and to face the Qiblah if possible. While reciting, bring to mind the specific matter you need guidance on and verbally or mentally insert its description into the phrase 'hadhal-amra'. Ensure you're in a quiet place where you can focus solely on your supplication. The Sunnah is to repeat the dua three times, and the supplication should ideally be in Arabic, as taught by the Prophet ﷺ.
Virtues & Benefits
The primary benefit of reciting the Istikhara dua is receiving Allah's guidance on matters that are unclear or potentially lead to spiritual harm. It instills peace of mind and contentment, regardless of the outcome, as you trust that Allah has chosen what is best for you. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this prayer so that we would not make decisions based solely on our limited knowledge and desires, but instead seek the wisdom of the All-Knowing. It's a practical means to avoid regret and to align our choices with Allah's pleasure, especially when spiritual temptations are a concern.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Quran. He said: ‘If anyone of you thinks about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory prayers, and then say: O Allah! I seek guidance for by Your knowledge, and by Your power I seek ability (to do or avoid anything). I ask of You Your Great Bounty, for indeed You have the power and I have not. You have knowledge and I have no knowledge. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah! If You consider this matter (mention the matter) good for me in my religion and in my life and for my Hereafter, then make it ordained for me and make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You consider this matter bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my Hereafter, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it. Then the person should mention his need.’