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 (تسمي حاجتك: الزواج من فلان/ة أو البدء بتكوين أسرة) 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 الْأَمْرَ 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 with Your knowledge and seek power with Your power and 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: marrying so-and-so or starting a family) 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 not good 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 that which is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adhim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'Allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (name your need: marrying so-and-so or starting a family) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'ishiati wa 'aqibati amri – or he said: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi – faqdhurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'ishiati wa 'aqibati amri – or he said: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi – fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdhur li al-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you have a specific decision to make regarding starting a family, such as proposing marriage, accepting a proposal, or deciding on the right time to begin trying for children, and you feel uncertain about the best course of action. It is typically recited after performing the Istikhara prayer, which involves praying two rak'ahs followed by this dua.
How to Read
The Istikhara prayer itself consists of two rak'ahs, ideally offered after the obligatory prayers or at a time when it is permissible to pray voluntarily. In the first rak'ah, after Surah Al-Fatihah, recite Surah Al-Kafirun (109). In the second rak'ah, after Surah Al-Fatihah, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (112). After completing the prayer, raise your hands and recite the Istikhara dua as provided above. It is important to first try to make a decision through consultation (istisharah) with knowledgeable and pious people, and through rational thought, before turning to Istikhara. After reciting the dua, try to remain calm and look for signs or inclinations in your heart. Many scholars advise that you should not specify who or what you are praying Istikhara for in the dua itself, but rather the general intention of the matter should be in your heart. However, the hadith text does mention naming the need.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful way to connect with Allah when facing a decision. By performing Istikhara, you are acknowledging Allah's knowledge and power, and entrusting your affairs to Him. This practice can bring immense peace of mind, clarity, and contentment, regardless of the outcome. It protects you from regret by ensuring you sought the best from the One who knows all.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara for all matters, just as he used to teach us a Surah from the Quran. He would say: '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 Your guidance for You know, and I seek ability by Your power, and I ask of Your great bounty. For indeed You have power and I have no power, and You have knowledge and I have no knowledge. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end, or in this life and the next, then decree it for me and make it easy for me, and then grant me barakah in it. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my end, or in this life and the next, 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.' 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: 'It is a right of those who are afraid of Allah to seek His counsel (Istikhara) in every affair.' - Sahih al-Bukhari 6306