اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (هنا تسمي الأمر الذي تريده) 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 الأَمْرَ 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 Your counsel through Your knowledge, and seek ability through Your power, and ask of Your immense bounty. For indeed, You have power and I have no power, and You have knowledge and I have no knowledge, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (here you name the matter) is good for me in my religion, my life, and my hereafter (or: in 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 is bad for me in my religion, my life, and my hereafter (or: in my present and my future) - then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree for me whatever is good, and make me satisfied 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-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lam anna hadhal-amra (here you name the matter) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilih - faqdur-hu li, wa yassir-hu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lam anna hadhal-amra shar-run li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aajili amri wa aajilih - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur lil-khayra haythu kaan, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are contemplating a significant decision, especially one with ethical implications, and you feel uncertain about the right course of action. It's ideally performed after offering two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, known as Salat al-Istikhara, before seeking guidance from Allah. This can be done at any time, though times of acceptance like the last third of the night are particularly virtuous.
How to Read
Perform two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer. After the prayer, recite this dua with sincere intention and focus. Clearly state the matter you are seeking clarity on when prompted in the dua. It is recommended to repeat the dua until your heart feels settled on a course of action or you receive a sign through a dream, feeling, or circumstance. Ensure you have already researched and considered the options to the best of your ability before seeking Allah's guidance.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful way to entrust your affairs to Allah, acknowledging His perfect knowledge and wisdom. It frees you from the burden of decision-making, seeking Allah's best for you, whether that means pursuing a path or being diverted from it. By performing Istikhara, you gain peace of mind, knowing that you have done your utmost to seek divine guidance, and you are then expected to act upon the inclination your heart settles upon, trusting in Allah's plan.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara for all matters, just as he used to teach us the Surahs from the Qur'an. He would say: 'If anyone 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 bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aaqibati amri (or: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilih) faqdur-hu li, wa yassir-hu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra shar-run li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aaqibati amri (or: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilih) fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li al-khayra haythu kaan, thumma raddhini bih. (And the wording may differ slightly in other narrations).