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 (ثم تسمي حاجتك) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: 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 for 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 (then mention your need) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end (or he said: in my present and my future), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end (or he said: in my present and my future), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be, and then 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 aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (wa tasmmi hadathaka) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li al-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited for the Istikhara prayer when you are facing a decision and are unsure of which path to take, particularly when worldly attachments might be clouding your judgment. It's performed after praying two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (not the obligatory ones) and then reciting this specific supplication. The intention is to seek Allah's guidance in a matter that involves potential attachment to worldly gains or desires, ensuring the decision aligns with what is best for your deen and dunya.
How to Read
Perform Wudu (ablution) as you would for any prayer. Pray two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, ideally after the obligatory prayers or at times when supererogatory prayers are recommended. After concluding the prayer with the Tasleem, face the Qiblah and recite the Istikhara dua as provided. You should clearly mention the specific matter you are seeking guidance on in the place indicated by '(ثم تسمي حاجتك)' - 'then mention your need'. After reciting the dua, reflect on the outcome; Allah may guide you through dreams, a feeling of clarity, or by making a particular path easier. Continue seeking Allah's help and making dua even after performing Istikhara.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a beautiful way to acknowledge our dependence on Allah and His perfect knowledge. By seeking His guidance, we trust that He will steer us away from what is harmful and towards what is beneficial for us, both in this life and the Hereafter. This practice helps to detach our hearts from overwhelming worldly desires, as it emphasizes submitting our will to Allah's, knowing that His plan is always best. It brings peace of mind and contentment, regardless of the outcome, because we have entrusted the decision to the All-Knowing.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us a Surah from the Qur'an. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and strength from Your power, and I ask for 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 he mentions his need) is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in this world and in the Hereafter, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be, and then make me pleased with it.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)