اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْتَخِيْرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيْمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوْبِ. اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ (هنا تسمي الأمر: زواجي من فلانه / سفري إلى كذا / إلخ) خَيْرٌ لِّيْ فِيْ دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِيْ، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِيْ، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْهِ. اَللّٰهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِّيْ فِيْ دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّيْ، وَاصْرِفْنِيْ عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِيْ بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through 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 your matter here: reconciling with my family member) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end in this life and the Hereafter, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end in this life and the Hereafter, 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 astakheeruka 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-ghuyoub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (mention your matter here: reconciling with my family member) khairun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feehi. Allahumma wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur liyal-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bihi.
When to Read
This dua is recited after performing the prayer of Istikhara. The prayer of Istikhara is recommended when you are facing a decision and are unsure of which path to take, such as whether to attempt reconciliation with an estranged family member. You would perform this prayer and recite this dua, then sleep, hoping to receive a sign through dreams, or you may feel a inclination towards a certain decision upon waking.
How to Read
The prayer of Istikhara involves performing two rak'ahs of prayer outside of the obligatory prayers. In the first rak'ah, recite Surah Al-Fatiha and then Surah Al-Kafirun. In the second rak'ah, recite Surah Al-Fatiha and then Surah Al-Ikhlas. After the tasleem (ending the prayer), you recite the Istikhara dua mentioned above. It is crucial to have a sincere intention and to genuinely leave the outcome to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). If you have a specific person or situation in mind, it's customary to mention it briefly in the dua where indicated.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer is a profound way to seek Allah's wisdom and guidance in all matters. By turning to Him, we acknowledge His ultimate knowledge and power, trusting that He will guide us to what is best. It brings peace of mind and certainty, knowing that we have sought counsel from the All-Knowing. For family matters, especially those involving estrangement, Istikhara can provide clarity on whether to pursue reconciliation, how to approach it, or if patience and a different course of action are better, all for the sake of maintaining ties and seeking Allah's pleasure.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them) said: "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 one of you is concerned about a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: Allahumma inni astakheeruka 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-ghuyoub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khairun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feehi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur liyal-khaira haithu kaana, thumma raddhini bihi. Wa yusammmi haata'ah.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166)