اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أسْتَخِيرُكَ بعِلْمِكَ، وأسْتَقْدِرُكَ بقُدْرَتِكَ، وأسْألُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فإنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ ولا أقْدِرُ، وتَعْلَمُ ولا أعْلَمُ، وأنتَ عَلاَّمُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أنَّ هذا الأمْرَ (اذكر الأمر) خَيْرٌ لِي في دِينِي ومَعِيشَتِي وعَاقِبَةِ أمْرِي - أو قال: في عَاجِلِ أمْرِي وآجِلِهِ - فاقْدُرْهُ لِي، ويَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. اللَّهُمَّ وإنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أنَّ هذا الأمْرَ (اذكر الأمر) شَرٌّ لِي في دِينِي ومَعِيشَتِي وعَاقِبَةِ أمْرِي - أو قال: في عَاجِلِ أمْرِي وآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي واصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، واقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كانَ، ثمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance (with Your knowledge) and the ability to fulfill my responsibilities (with Your power), and I seek from You Your great bounty. 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 your matter) is good for me in my religion, my life, and my final outcome (or: in my present and future), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, and if You know that this matter (mention your matter) is evil for me in my religion, my life, and my final outcome (or: in my present and future), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me whatever is good, and make me pleased 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 ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (mention your matter) khairun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aa'jili amri wa aajilih - faqdhurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Allahumma wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (mention your matter) sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aa'jili amri wa aajilih - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anh, waqdhur li khaira haithu kaana, thumma raddini bih.
When to Read
The Istikhara prayer is performed when you are faced with a decision and are uncertain about which path to take. It's a way of seeking Allah's wisdom and direction before committing to an action. If, after performing Istikhara, you still feel uncertain or confused about the outcome or the signs, it is permissible and often recommended to repeat the prayer. This signifies your continued reliance on Allah and your earnest desire for His guidance. You might repeat it for a few days, or whenever the feeling of uncertainty returns.
How to Read
The Istikhara prayer is a two-rak'ah prayer, similar to any other voluntary (nafl) prayer. It's recommended to recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah after Surah Al-Fatihah, and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second rak'ah after Surah Al-Fatihah. After completing the prayer, you raise your hands and recite the specific dua of Istikhara. It is important to have a clear intention for what you are seeking guidance on and to mention it within the dua itself. After making the dua, rely on Allah and observe what happens in your heart, your circumstances, or through dreams. Repeating the prayer is simply doing the same prayer and dua again, with sincere intention.
Virtues & Benefits
The primary benefit of Istikhara is aligning your desires and decisions with the will of Allah. By turning to Him, you acknowledge His omniscience and power, seeking the best for yourself in this life and the hereafter. Repeating it when unsure shows humility and a deep trust in Allah's plan. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us this practice so that we wouldn't regret our decisions, as Allah knows what we do not. It brings peace of mind and contentment, knowing that you have sought the best guidance available.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he taught us the Surahs of the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer other than the obligatory ones, and then say: 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 ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr khairun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aa'jili amri wa aajilih - faqdhurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Allahumma wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aa'jili amri wa aajilih - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anh, waqdhur li khaira haithu kaana, thumma raddini bih. (O Allah, I seek Your guidance with Your knowledge and the ability to do things with Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. 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 [then mention the matter] is good for me in this world and the Hereafter, 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, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.)' And the Prophet (peace be upon him) added: 'And he should name his need (i.e., the specific matter).