اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (يُسَمَّى حَاجَتَهُ) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي (أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ)، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي (أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ)، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and I seek ability from 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, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (mention your need here - e.g., buying this house) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and the end of my affair (or: in my present 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 bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and the end of my affair (or: in my present 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 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-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (yusamma hajatuhu) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi), faqdirhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi), fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us this dua for Istikhara, a prayer for seeking guidance from Allah when facing a decision. It's particularly recommended when you're considering a significant choice, like buying a house. You would typically perform two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, followed by reciting this dua, after you've already done your research and considered the practical aspects of the decision.
How to Read
First, perform two rak'ahs of optional prayer (nafl salah) outside of the disliked times. After completing the prayer and saying the salam, raise your hands (if you are praying alone) and recite the Istikhara dua. It is important to clearly mention the specific matter you are seeking guidance for in place of "hathal-amr" (this matter). For instance, you might say, 'Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna shira'a hadhihi al-bayt' (O Allah, if You know that buying this house...). Try to be sincere and focus your heart on Allah as you make the dua.
Virtues & Benefits
Istikhara is a beautiful way to connect with Allah, entrusting your decisions to Him. It assures you that you've done your best to seek His wisdom, and He will guide you to what is best, whether it's to proceed with the purchase or to turn away from it. The feeling of contentment or clarity that follows, whether you get the house or not, is often seen as a sign of Allah's acceptance and guidance. The Prophet ﷺ himself said that Istikhara is one of the best things that can help a person, and whoever is deprived of it is deprived of all good.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he taught us the Surahs of the Quran. He used to say: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: 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-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr (mention your need here) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (or: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi), faqdirhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (or: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi), fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhdhini bih.'" – Sahih al-Bukhari 6306. This indicates the comprehensiveness of seeking Allah's guidance in every affair, big or small.