اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (هنا تسمي الأمر بوضوح: مثل 'صلح بين فلان وفلان' أو 'طريقة حل النزاع') خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - (أو قال: في عاجل أمري وآجله) - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - (أو قال: في عاجل أمري وآجله) - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي 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 the matter here clearly: e.g., 'reconciliation between so-and-so' or 'the way to resolve this dispute') is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my Hereafter (or '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 worldly life, and my Hereafter (or 'in my present and my 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 pleased 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 (mention the matter here clearly: e.g., 'reconciliation between so-and-so' or 'the way to resolve this dispute') khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - (or he said: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilihi) - faqdhurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - (or he said: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilihi) - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdhur li al-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited as part of the Istikhara prayer. Istikhara is a prayer recommended for seeking Allah's guidance when faced with a decision, especially when resolving a conflict. It's done after performing two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, preferably outside of the obligatory prayer times. After the prayer, you recite this dua, clearly mentioning the conflict or decision you need guidance on.
How to Read
Perform two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer. After finishing the prayer and the tasleem, recite the Istikhara dua. Ensure you are in a state of purity (wudu). It's crucial to clearly state the matter you need guidance on within the dua itself. Then, you rely on Allah and look for signs or clarity in your heart or through dreams, and act upon what you feel is best after making Istikhara.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful way to entrust our affairs to Allah, acknowledging His perfect knowledge and power. By making Istikhara for resolving a conflict, we seek Allah's intervention to guide us towards the most beneficial outcome, whether that's reconciliation, a peaceful resolution, or the best path forward. It brings peace to the heart by knowing that you have sought guidance from the Creator of all.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us the Surah from the Qur'an. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about some matter, he should observe two Rak'ahs of a prayer other than the compulsory ones, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and seek power from You, and ask of Your great bounty; for indeed You have power, but I have not. And You have knowledge, but I know not. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and here he mentions his need) is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter, then decree it for me, and make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me, 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 pleased with it.' And the Prophet (peace be upon him) added: 'And he should name his need.' - Sahih al-Bukhari 1166