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 الأَمْرَ (تسمي الحاجة هنا: مثل التوبة من ذنب معين) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - - - (أو قال: عَاجِلِ 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: 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 Your great bounty. You have power, and I have not; You have knowledge, and I do not; and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (name your need here: e.g., repenting from a specific sin) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end – (or it said: in my present and my future) – then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end – (or it said: in my present and my future) – 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 biqudratika, wa'as'aluka min fadlikal-'adheem. Fa'innaka taqdiru wala'aqdiru, wata'lamu wal'a'lamu, wa'anta 'Allamul-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (name your need here: e.g., repenting from a specific sin) khayrun li fi deeni wama'eeshati wa'aqibati amri - - (or said: 'ajili amri wa'ajilihi) - faqdirhu li wayassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa'in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wama'eeshati wa'aqibati amri - - (or said: 'ajili amri wa'ajilihi) - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdir li-l-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
The Istikhara prayer is performed when one is contemplating a decision and needs divine guidance. In the context of seeking repentance from a specific sin, this dua is made when you are uncertain whether to pursue a path that might involve seeking forgiveness for a particular transgression, or if you are unsure about the best way to approach your repentance. It's a way to entrust the outcome to Allah after making your own efforts.
How to Read
Perform two units (rak'ahs) of voluntary prayer (nafl) outside of the disliked times. After the prayer, recite the Istikhara dua. You should mention the specific matter for which you are seeking guidance in the place indicated in the dua (e.g., 'repenting from the sin of backbiting' or 'seeking the right path after falling into gambling'). Make sincere intention and ask Allah to guide you to the best outcome. It is recommended to repeat this prayer for seven days. After this, rely on Allah and look for signs, which might come through dreams, a sense of peace or unease towards a certain option, or clarity in your mind.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer is a profound act of reliance on Allah (tawakkul). By performing it, you acknowledge Allah's infinite knowledge and power, seeking His wisdom when your own is limited. This practice brings immense peace of mind, as you entrust your affairs to the One who knows the seen and unseen, assuring you that the outcome, whatever it may be, is what's best for you. It's a way to preemptively accept Allah's decree and find contentment in His plan, especially when grappling with a sin and the sincere desire to turn away from it.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "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 any one of you is concerned about a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adheem. Fa'innaka taqdiru wala'aqdiru, wata'lamu wala'a'lamu, wa anta 'Allamul-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi deeni wama'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (or said: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) faqdirhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wama'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (or said: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana thumma radhdhini bih. '" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)