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 خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – أَوْ قَالَ: 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 لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge, and I seek Your ability by Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. For indeed, 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 mention your specific concern) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs – or he said: in the immediate and future consequence of my affairs – then decree it for me and make it easy for me and then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs – or he said: in the immediate and future consequence of my affairs – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree 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 fadlikal-'azhim. 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 – aw qala: 'ajili amri 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 – aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi – fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma ardhini bihi.
When to Read
When do you turn to Allah with this particular plea? This Istikhara is for those moments when you find yourself at a crossroads, particularly when a situation, a relationship, a responsibility, or even a deep-seated habit has become a heavy weight on your heart and soul. You're considering letting go, making a drastic change, or severing ties, but you’re unsure if it’s the right path. Is this burden truly something Allah wants you to release for your own good, or is it a test you need to endure with patience? When you feel that knot of indecision, when your own wisdom feels insufficient to discern the best way forward for your *deen* and *dunya*, that's when you turn to Istikhara, specifically asking for guidance on *releasing* whatever feels like a burden.
How to Read
Performing Istikhara is an act of humble submission. You start by praying two *rak'ahs* (units of prayer) that are not part of your obligatory daily prayers. It doesn't matter what surahs you recite after Fatiha; the focus is on the intention and the dua. After completing your two *rak'ahs* and making *salaam*, you raise your hands and recite the beautiful Istikhara dua. When you reach the part where it says 'this matter,' you specifically mention the burden you're considering releasing. Articulate it clearly in your heart and verbally, for instance: '...if You know that releasing (mention specific burden, e.g., 'this overwhelming job,' 'this toxic friendship,' 'this financial commitment') is good for me...' Remember, Istikhara isn't about getting a dream or a clear sign in the immediate aftermath. It's about opening your heart to Allah's will. After the prayer, you proceed with sincerity and a tranquil heart. Whichever path Allah makes easy for you, or whichever direction your heart leans towards after seeking His counsel, that is your guidance. Trust that Allah will either facilitate the 'release' if it's good for you, or He will turn your heart away from it and make a better alternative clear.
Virtues & Benefits
The true benefit of Istikhara, especially when seeking relief from a burden, is the profound peace it brings. It frees you from the suffocating grip of indecision and the fear of making the wrong choice. When you surrender your dilemma to Allah, you tap into His infinite knowledge and wisdom. You're no longer relying solely on your limited intellect or emotional turmoil. If releasing the burden is genuinely good for your spiritual well-being (*deen*), your worldly life (*ma'ash*), and your ultimate end (*aqibati amri*), Allah will make it easy and blessed. If it's not, He will gently steer you away, replacing your desire to release it with contentment for enduring it, or showing you a different, better path. This practice cultivates deep *tawakkul* (reliance on Allah), knowing that whatever unfolds, it is ultimately what is best for you, chosen by the One who knows all.
Source & Authentication
Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us to perform Istikhara (seeking guidance from Allah) in all matters, just as he used to teach us the Surahs from the Quran. He (ﷺ) would say: 'When one of you is concerned about a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs other than the obligatory prayers, and then say: 'O Allah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge, and I seek Your ability by Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. For indeed, 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 mention your specific concern) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs – or he said: in the immediate and future consequence of my affairs – then decree it for me and 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 the outcome of my affairs – or he said: in the immediate and future consequence of my affairs – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and then make me content with it.' And let him mention his need." — Sahih al-Bukhari 6382