اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ - (ثم تذكر حاجتك: خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمَرِي وَآجِلِهِ) – فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ – (ثم تذكر حاجتك) – شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – (أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمَرِي وَآجِلِهِ) – فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance with Your knowledge, and I seek ability with Your power, and I ask for 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 you mention your need) – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter – (or he said: for 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 – (then you mention your need) – is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter – (or he said: for 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 biqudratika, 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) - khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - (or said: 'aajili amri wa aajilih) - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra - (then mention your need) - sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - (or said: 'aajili amri wa aajilih) - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are deliberating on a significant decision, especially one that involves using your talents and skills for the benefit of the community or for public service. It's meant to be performed after you have considered the options to the best of your ability and are seeking divine direction. The ideal time is after performing the obligatory prayer (or voluntary prayer if performed at night), followed by reciting this dua, either immediately after the salam or after reciting Tasbeeh and Tahmeed. It is recommended to do this for seven days, or until clarity emerges.
How to Read
First, perform Wudu (ablution). Then, pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer. After the prayer, raise your hands, face the Qiblah, and recite the Istikhara dua. Speak your specific need clearly within the bracketed part of the dua. Focus your heart and mind on Allah, trusting in His wisdom. After reciting the dua, you might feel a inclination towards one option or the other. Sometimes, clarity comes through dreams, a sense of peace, or a feeling of certainty. If no clarity comes, continue the process for a few days. Importantly, after seeking Istikhara, take action based on what Allah makes easy for you.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a profound act of worship that shows trust in Allah's plan and wisdom. It helps in making decisions that align with what is best for us, both in this life and the next. By seeking guidance through Istikhara, we invite Allah's blessing into our undertakings, ensuring that our efforts, especially those aimed at serving the community and utilizing our talents, are directed towards what is pleasing to Him and beneficial for mankind. This practice guards us against regret and opens doors to unforeseen goodness.
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 in all matters as he taught us the Surah of the Quran. He said: 'If any of you intends to do an affair, let him 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 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) - khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - (or he said: 'aajili amri wa aajilih) - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra - (then mention your need) - sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - (or he said: 'aajili amri wa aajilih) - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)