اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge, and I seek Your strength by Your power, and I ask You from Your immense favor. For verily You are able and I am not, You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and here you would specify: 'my intention to embark on a path of service to the elderly' or 'this job opportunity to care for the elderly' or 'this plan to volunteer with seniors in my community') is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my ultimate end (both in this life and the Hereafter), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my ultimate end (both in this life and the Hereafter), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and then make me content with it.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-'Azim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'Allamul-Ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri ('ajilihi wa ajilihi) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri ('ajilihi wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bihi.
When to Read
You should turn to this Istikhara dua when you find yourself at a crossroads regarding a significant decision related to serving the elderly. This could be considering a new career in elder care, starting a volunteer initiative for seniors, choosing between different service opportunities, or even deciding to take on a greater role in caring for an elderly family member. It’s for those moments when you feel genuinely uncertain about the best path forward and want to align your intentions with Allah's infinite wisdom.
How to Read
The prayer of Istikhara is a two-rak'ah prayer followed by this specific supplication. First, perform wudu' (ablution) thoroughly. Then, pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer. You can recite any surahs you wish after Al-Fatihah. After completing the two rak'ahs and making tasleem (ending the prayer), raise your hands and recite the Istikhara dua. Crucially, when you reach the part 'اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي...' ('O Allah, if You know that *this matter* is good for me...'), you should specifically mention your decision. For example, you might say, '...this matter of pursuing a career in elder care,' or '...this plan to establish a support group for the elderly in my neighborhood,' or '...this opportunity to dedicate my time to caring for my aging parents.' State your intention clearly and sincerely, then complete the dua. The Prophet ﷺ taught us not to pressure ourselves to see a dream or a specific sign; rather, the 'answer' manifests through Allah making the path easy or difficult, or opening/closing doors.
Virtues & Benefits
Performing Istikhara for a decision as noble as serving the elderly brings immense spiritual and practical benefits. It reinforces your reliance on Allah (Tawakkul), reminding you that true success and guidance come only from Him. By seeking His counsel, you safeguard yourself from regret, knowing you put your trust in the All-Knowing. The Prophet ﷺ emphasized its importance, stating that 'Among the good fortunes of the son of Adam is his performing Istikhara to Allah, and among the misfortunes of the son of Adam is his abandoning Istikhara to Allah.' (Ahmad 14457, Hasan). This prayer helps you approach the decision with tranquility, confident that whatever outcome unfolds, it is ultimately what Allah has decreed as best for you, both in this life and the Hereafter, especially when undertaking a path of compassion and service.
Source & Authentication
Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: 'The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us to pray Istikhara for all matters, just as he used to teach us a Surah from the Qur'an. He would say: 'When one of you is concerned about a decision, let him pray two rak'ahs other than the obligatory prayers, and then say: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ. ... and he should mention his need (the matter he is seeking guidance for) in place of 'this matter'.' — Sahih al-Bukhari 6306