اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ (هنا تسمي الأمر الذي تريد الاستخارة فيه) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge and strength from Your power, and I ask of You Your great bounty. For You decree and I cannot decree, and You know and I cannot know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (here you name the matter you want to seek guidance on) 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 to seek guidance on) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - aw qala: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - faqdurnya li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feehi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - aw qala: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdurlil-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhdini bih.
When to Read
This dua is specifically for Istikhara, the prayer of seeking guidance from Allah before making a decision. It's particularly relevant when you are struggling to decide on reforming a personal habit. You would recite this dua after performing two units (rak'ahs) of voluntary prayer, ideally at a time when you can focus and reflect, not during obligatory prayers. After reciting the dua, you should sleep in a state of purity, hoping for clarity through a dream or a feeling of conviction regarding the decision.
How to Read
The Istikhara prayer involves performing two rak'ahs of nafl (voluntary) prayer. After completing the prayer, you would recite the Istikhara dua as taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It's important to explicitly mention the habit you wish to reform within the dua where it says '(here you name the matter you want to seek guidance on)'. For example, you might say: 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika... anna hadhal-amra, 'tark ad-dukhan' (quitting smoking), khayrun li...' or 'anna hadhal-amra, 'iltimam al-niqab' (wearing the hijab), khayrun li...' (substitute 'tark ad-dukhan' or 'iltimam al-niqab' with the specific habit). After making the dua, resolve to accept whatever Allah chooses for you, and try not to be overly fixated on a particular outcome. Rely on Allah, and He will guide you.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer is a beautiful way to connect with Allah and seek His wisdom when faced with uncertainty. By performing Istikhara, one acknowledges Allah's infinite knowledge and power, surrendering the decision to Him. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this prayer so that the Ummah would not regret their decisions. It brings peace of mind, as you know you have sought the best from the One who knows the future. It helps foster reliance on Allah (tawakkul) and contentment (rida) with His decree, whether the outcome seems immediately favorable or not.
Source & Authentication
Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them both) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught us the Istikhara in all the matters (or in some matters) of our life as he taught us the Surah of the Qur'an. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of other than obligatory prayer, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge and strength from Your power, and I ask of You Your great bounty. For You decree and I cannot decree, and You know and I cannot know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter 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, and make it easy for me, and then 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.' He said: 'And he (the narrator) said: And he should name (the specific matter) in need of it.'