اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ – (ثم تذكر حاجتك: مثلاً: هذا المشروع الجديد) – خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – (أو قال: عاجله وآجله) – فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – (أو قال: عاجله 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 – (then mention your need: for example, this new project) – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end in this world and the Hereafter – (or he said: 'in its haste and its delay') – 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 world and the Hereafter – (or he said: 'in its haste and its delay') – 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-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra – (then mention your need, e.g., this new project) – khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri – (or he said: 'ajilihi wa aajilihi) – faqdirhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri – (or he said: 'ajilihi wa aajilihi) – fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdir li al-khaira haithu kaan, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This is the specific dua to recite when seeking guidance from Allah regarding a significant decision, such as starting a new creative endeavor. It's recommended to perform two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (Salatul Istikhara) followed by reciting this dua. Ideally, it should be done when you are clear-headed and have made an initial intention about the matter, but are unsure of the right path forward.
How to Read
The prayer of Istikhara involves performing two rak'ahs of optional prayer (nafl). After completing the prayer, you recite this specific dua. It is recommended to make dua with sincerity and with the specific matter you are seeking guidance on clearly in your mind, as indicated by the bracketed phrase in the dua. After making the dua, rely on Allah (tawakkul) and then act based on what feels right or becomes clear to you. Some scholars mention that a person might see a dream, or feel a leaning towards one option, or an opening towards a particular path.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a beautiful way to connect directly with Allah for guidance. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this practice to his companions for all matters, indicating its importance. By seeking Allah's counsel, we acknowledge our own limitations and His infinite wisdom and power. This process can bring peace of mind, clarity, and blessings in our decisions, preventing regret and ensuring we move in a direction that is ultimately best for us in this life and the next.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara (prayer for seeking guidance) in all matters as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Quran. He would say: 'If anyone of you is concerned about an undertaking, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and by Your power I seek ability, and from Your great bounty I ask, for You have power and I have no power, You have knowledge and I have no knowledge, You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this undertaking is good for my religion and my livelihood and bad for me in my world and my Hereafter – (or he 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 undertaking is bad for my religion and my livelihood and evil for me in my world 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 ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me content with it.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)