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 - ثُمَّ تُسَمِّي حَاجَتَكَ - خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: فِي 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 from Your immense 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 – and then you specify your need – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end (or: in my present and future affairs), then ordain 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 (or: in my present and future affairs), 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.
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 - thumma tusammī ḥājataka - khayrun li fī dīnī wa ma'āshī wa 'āqibati amrī (aw qāla: fī 'ājili amrī wa ājilihi) - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma bārik li fīhi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fī dīnī wa ma'āshī wa 'āqibati amrī (aw qāla: fī 'ājili amrī wa ājilihi) - faṣrifhu 'annī, waṣrifnī 'anhu, waqdur li al-khayra ḥaythu kāna, thumma raḍḍinī bih.
When to Read
When you are facing a decision, particularly one that feels overwhelming or where you're experiencing internal spiritual conflict, and you're unsure of the right path forward. This applies to significant life choices, relationship matters, career paths, or even choices that seem to be pulling you away from your deen. It's about seeking Allah's wisdom when your own judgment feels clouded by internal struggles or desires.
How to Read
Istikhara is a specific prayer, ideally performed after performing Wudu (ablution) and offering two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer. After the prayer, you recite the specific Istikhara dua, clearly stating the matter you need guidance on. It's crucial to have a sincere intention and to truly delegate the decision to Allah. After making the dua, you should try to sleep in a state of purity, hoping for a sign through dreams or a feeling of clarity in your heart when you wake up. Remember, the goal isn't necessarily a dramatic vision, but a sense of peace or inclination towards one option over another.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer is a profound way to connect with Allah's infinite knowledge when we are limited by our own. It brings peace of mind, knowing that you have sought the best from the One who knows what is best for you, even when you cannot discern it yourself. It protects you from making decisions based on fleeting emotions or worldly desires, and instead aligns your choices with what is ultimately beneficial for your deen and dunya. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this prayer so that we would not embark on important matters without seeking divine counsel.
Source & Authentication
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he taught us the Surahs of the Qur'an. He said: 'If any one of you is concerned about an undertaking, he should perform two rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and strength from Your power, and I ask from Your immense 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 undertaking – and then you specify your need – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair (or he said: in this world and the next), then ordain it for me, and make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You know that this undertaking is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair (or he said: in this world and the next), 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.' And he (ﷺ) said: 'And he should mention his need.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)