اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ - [اذكر الأمر هنا] - خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، اللَّهُمَّ 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 counsel through Your knowledge, and seek Your power through Your might, and I ask of Your abundant grace. For 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 – [mention the matter here] – is good for me in my religion, my life, and my Hereafter – or he said: in my present and my future – then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my life, and my Hereafter – or he said: in my present and my future – 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 content 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 fa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr - [mention the matter here] - khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - or he said: 'aajili amri wa aajilihi - faqduruhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feehi. Allahumma wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - or he said: 'aajili amri wa aajilihi - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdurlil-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bihi.
When to Read
This dua is specifically for seeking Allah's guidance (Istikhara) when faced with a significant decision, particularly one that involves integrating ancient Islamic knowledge into contemporary practice. This could include determining how best to study, teach, or apply classical Islamic texts, principles, or methodologies in today's world. It is recommended to perform Istikhara when you have a clear intention for the matter but are uncertain about the right path forward. It's typically done after performing Wudu (ablution) and offering two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, preferably outside of disliked prayer times, just before or after the obligatory prayers.
How to Read
After performing two rak'ahs of prayer with the intention of Istikhara, you recite the following dua. It's crucial to be sincere and have a clear, focused intention regarding the specific matter for which you are seeking guidance. Recite the dua while contemplating Allah's knowledge and power. Pause at the point indicated '[mention the matter here]' and clearly bring to mind the specific decision or action you are considering. After reciting the dua, you can sleep in a state of purity, hoping for a sign in your dream, or simply trust that Allah will guide you through your feelings, inclinations, or circumstances that unfold afterward.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful way to connect directly with Allah, acknowledging our own limitations and His infinite wisdom and power. By performing Istikhara, we actively involve Allah in our decision-making, ensuring that our choices are aligned with His pleasure and that which is best for us in this life and the next. It brings peace of mind and contentment, removing anxiety and doubt, and fosters reliance on Allah (Tawakkul). The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua to ensure that the Ummah would always have a means to seek divine direction on all matters, great and small.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara prayer for all matters as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Qur'an. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones, and then say: O Allah, I seek Your guidance...' (The dua follows). Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them): They used to do Istikhara in all matters, as advised by the Prophet (ﷺ) to seek guidance from Allah regarding any decision. Jabir narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "When any one of you intends to do something, he should pray two rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones, and then he should say: 'O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and power from Your power, and I ask of Your munificent favor. For You have power and 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, my worldly life, and (in the words of Ibn 'Uthman) 'my here and after', then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, if You know that this task is bad for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my here and after, 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 pleased with it."