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 – (اذكر الأمر هنا: مثل 'فراق هذه العلاقة السامة') – خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – (أو قال: وَعَاجِلِ 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: وَعَاجِلِ 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 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 the matter here: e.g. 'leaving this toxic relationship') – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end in this life and the Hereafter (or: for my immediate and future needs), 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 end in this life and the Hereafter (or: for my immediate and future needs), then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree for me that which is good wherever it may be, 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 – (mention the matter here: e.g. 'leaving this toxic relationship') – khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri – (or said: 'wa 'ajili amri wa ajilihi') – faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri – (or said: 'wa 'ajili amri wa ajilihi') – fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khayra haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us the prayer of Istikhara (seeking Allah’s guidance) for any significant decision we face, including weighty matters like whether to end a relationship that is causing us harm or distress. You should perform this prayer after completing the two rak'ahs of Istikhara prayer, ideally at night when you are in a state of clarity and focus, after having considered the options yourself as best as you can. It's a way to entrust the outcome to Allah.
How to Read
After performing two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer (sunnah), you recite the Istikhara dua. It is crucial to clearly intend and mention the specific matter you are seeking guidance on within the dua, as indicated by the phrase '(mention the matter here)'. Ensure you are sincere and fully relying on Allah, asking Him to make what is best easy for you and to turn away what is harmful. The understanding is that Allah will then show you signs through dreams, feelings, or events that unfold, guiding you towards the right decision. You might feel a strong inclination towards one path, or see a clear outcome.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a profound mercy from Allah, enabling us to make decisions with His divine wisdom. By performing Istikhara, we acknowledge our own limitations in knowledge and foresight, seeking the best for ourselves in this life and the next. It helps us to release anxiety about the unknown future and to accept Allah’s decree with contentment, knowing that He has chosen what is most beneficial for us, whether it is to proceed or to step away from a situation.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: We were praying with the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said, 'O people, it is part of the perfection of Allah's guidance to you that you ask Him for guidance in all matters, and to ask Him for well-being in all affairs.' He also said, 'When any one of you considers to do a thing, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and strength from 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 is good for me in my religion and my livelihood and in the consequences of my deeds (or: in my present and 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 and my livelihood and in the consequences of my deeds (or: in my present and future), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me that which is good wherever it may be and make me content with it.' (And the Prophet (ﷺ) added: 'And one should mention his need [here].')