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 (تسمي حاجتك: خدمة الوالدين في شيخوختهما) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ 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 (name your need: serving parents in their old age) is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my hereafter - or he said: in my present and future affairs - then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my hereafter - or he said: in my present and future affairs - 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 aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (name your need: serving parents in their old age) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: 'aaajili amri wa aajilihi - faqd'urhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra shar'un li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: 'aaajili amri wa aajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqd'ur li'l-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are contemplating a significant decision regarding the best way to serve your parents, especially as they age. This could involve choices about living arrangements, healthcare, financial support, or allocating your time and energy to ensure their comfort and well-being. It's meant to be said after you have thought about the issue and perhaps discussed it, but you still feel uncertain about the best path forward.
How to Read
The practice of Istikhara involves reciting this specific dua after performing two units (rak'ah) of optional prayer (nafl salat). After completing the prayer, you would then recite this dua, mentioning your specific need clearly in the designated spot. It is recommended to repeat the dua and to sleep on your right side facing the Qiblah, hoping for a sign from Allah in your dreams. If no clear indication arises, one can repeat the process for several days. The intention is to earnestly seek Allah's guidance, not to expect a direct voice from the heavens, but rather to feel a sense of clarity, peace, or an inclination towards a particular option.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a profound spiritual practice that allows a believer to delegate the ultimate decision-making to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). By invoking His perfect knowledge and infinite wisdom, we acknowledge our own limitations and seek His divine intervention. This act fosters trust in Allah's plan, alleviates anxiety associated with difficult choices, and brings peace to the heart. It ensures that whatever outcome occurs, it is aligned with Allah's decree, which is always for the ultimate good of the believer. For parents, especially in their old age, seeking Istikhara ensures that our efforts to serve them are divinely guided and pleasing to Allah.
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 the Surah from the Quran. He said: 'If any one of you is concerned about a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: 'O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and ability from Your power, and I ask of Your great bounty. For You have power, but 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 task is good for me in my religion and worldly life, then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, and then bless me in it. And if You know that this task is evil for me in my religion and worldly life, 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 satisfied with it.' And the Prophet (peace be upon him) added: 'At that time one should mention his need.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)