اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge, and I seek Your ability by Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. For indeed, You have power and I do not; You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (here one mentions the matter) is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my ultimate end (or in the near term and the distant future), 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 worldly life, and my ultimate end (or in the near term and the distant future), 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 bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'azim. 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 khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or '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 (or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur liyal-khaira haithu kana, thumma ardhini bihi.
When to Read
Recite the Dua of Istikhara whenever you face a significant decision and are uncertain about the best course of action. This includes considering major life choices like marriage, a new job, or, in this specific case, whether to implement a new community welfare program. It is particularly recommended when you have explored available options, consulted with others, but still feel a need for divine guidance and certainty. The Istikhara prayer should be performed *before* you finalize your decision, allowing Allah to guide your heart and make the path clear.
How to Read
To perform Istikhara: First, perform ablution (wudu') as you would for any prayer. Then, offer two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (nafl salah), which can be done at any time outside the forbidden prayer times. After concluding the two rak'ahs with salam, raise your hands and recite the Istikhara dua. When you reach the part of the dua that says 'hadhal-amra' (هَذَا الأَمْرَ), specifically mention your matter. For example, you would say: 'O Allah, if You know that **implementing this new community welfare program** is good for me in my religion...' You do not need to experience a dream or a sudden feeling; Allah may guide you by making one option easier to pursue, or by inclining your heart towards a particular choice, or even by removing obstacles from the 'good' path and placing them in the 'bad' one. Trust in Allah's wisdom and choose what feels right after making this sincere supplication.
Virtues & Benefits
Performing Istikhara fosters a deep sense of reliance on Allah (Tawakkul) and peace of mind, knowing that you have sought guidance from the All-Knowing and All-Powerful. The Prophet ﷺ taught us this prayer to ensure we always turn to Allah in times of uncertainty. It helps safeguard us from making choices based solely on emotions or incomplete knowledge, leading to outcomes that are truly best for us in both this life and the Hereafter. As the hadith states, you are asking Allah to decree what is good for you and make you content with it, showing profound trust in His divine plan. This practice is a beautiful demonstration of conscious submission to Allah's will.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right decision concerning any job or deed) in all matters as he used to teach us the Suras of the Qur'an. He said, "If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two-Rak`at prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer): 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-'Azim, fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allam al-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-l-amra (and now he should mention his need) Khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi, wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-l-amra shar-run li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur li al-khaira haithu kana thumma ardini bihi.' " (O Allah, I ask for Your guidance (to choose the right path) by Your knowledge and for Your power (to do the right thing) by Your Might, and I ask for Your great blessings, for You are capable 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 (name your matter) is good for my religion and my livelihood and for my ultimate end (or for my immediate and future needs), then ordain 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 my religion and my livelihood and for my ultimate end (or for my immediate and future needs), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be and make me content with it.) The narrator added that one should mention his need (name the matter) when he says "hadha-l-amra".