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 (اذكر الأمر) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - وفي رواية: في دُنْيَايَ وَآخِرَتِي - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - وفي رواية: في دُنْيَايَ وَآخِرَتِي - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and seek power from Your power, and I ask of Your abundant grace. For You have power and I have not, You have knowledge and I have not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (mention the matter) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affairs (or: in my worldly life and my afterlife), 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 livelihood, and the end of my affairs (or: in my worldly life and my afterlife), then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree for me whatever is good, 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 aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyood. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (mention the matter) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aaqibati amri - وفي رواية: fi dunyaaya wa aakhirati - faqdirhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aaqibati amri - وفي رواية: fi dunyaaya wa aakhirati - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdir li-l-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when one is contemplating a significant decision, especially one that involves a new path in spiritual discipline or practice. It's performed after exhausting one's own research and deliberation, and before making the final choice. Ideally, it's recited after offering two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (Salatul Istikhara), though the dua itself can be made at other times of genuine need for guidance.
How to Read
The core practice is to offer two rak'ahs of Salatul Istikhara (prayer of seeking guidance). After the Tasleem (completion of the prayer), you recite this specific dua. It's crucial to have the specific matter you are seeking guidance on clearly in your mind as you recite the part that says 'this matter' (hadhal-amra). Utter sincerity and humility are key. After making the dua, you are encouraged to proceed with the decision that feels right in your heart, or to let go of what feels difficult or causes unease. Some people experience a clear dream or a sense of clarity and conviction in their heart.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful gift from Allah for His believing servants, offering a direct channel for seeking His wisdom when faced with uncertainty. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us this practice so that we would not embark on important decisions without first consulting the One who has complete knowledge of all outcomes. It brings peace of mind, strengthens reliance on Allah (Tawakkul), and ensures that our choices align with His divine plan, bringing blessings and protection from unforeseen negative consequences.
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught us the Istikhara prayer in all matters as he taught us the Surah of the Qur'an. He said: 'If any one of you is concerned about some matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and seek ability to retain power from Yours, and beg for Your great bounty. For You have power and I have not, You have knowledge and I have not. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion and my worldly life and my final fate or in my present life and my future, then decree it for me and make it easy for me and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in my religion and my worldly life and my final fate or in my present life and my future, 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.' And he (the Prophet ﷺ) added: 'And he should name his (specific) need.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306 and Sahih Muslim 708 mention the full dua, with slight variations in wording, and the instruction to name the specific need.)