اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ – ثُمَّ تُسَمِّي حَاجَتَكَ – خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ – فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ – فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and seek power through Your might, and ask of Your great bounty. For You decree and I cannot decree, You know and I cannot know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter – and then you name your need – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair (or: for my immediate and future affairs), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and grant me blessing in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair (or: for my immediate and future affairs), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me whatever is good, and make me satisfied 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-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra – thumma tusammī ḥājataka – khayrun lī fī dīnī wa ma'īshatī wa 'āqibati amrī – aw qāla: 'ājili amrī wa ājilih – faqdurhu lī, wa yassirhu lī, thumma bārik lī fīh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharru lī fī dīnī wa ma'īshatī wa 'āqibati amrī – aw qāla: 'ājili amrī wa ājilih – faṣrifhu 'annī, waṣrifnī 'anhu, waqdur līl-khayra ḥaythu kāna, thumma raḍḍinī bih.
When to Read
This blessed dua is performed when you are facing a decision, big or small, and feel uncertain about the right path. In our current age, this often includes decisions about what information to believe, how to respond to controversial topics online, or which sources to trust. After making *wudu* (ablution) and performing two *rak'ahs* of optional prayer (like *sunnah* prayer), you recite this dua, specifically mentioning your dilemma regarding misinformation in the designated spot.
How to Read
It's vital to approach this dua with sincerity and a genuine desire for Allah's guidance. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us to name the specific matter you are seeking guidance on. So, when you reach the part '– thumma tusammī ḥājataka –' (– and then you name your need –), clearly articulate your concern. For example, you might say: 'O Allah, if You know that discerning the truth in this online debate is good for me...' or '...if sharing this particular piece of information is beneficial for my faith and community...' After reciting the dua, you would sleep in a state of *wudu*, hoping to receive a sign through a dream, or you might find clarity in your heart, or the path forward will become evident through external circumstances. It's also recommended to repeat this process for seven days if clarity doesn't come immediately.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a beautiful embodiment of *tawakkul* (reliance on Allah). By performing it, we acknowledge our limitations in knowledge and power, placing our trust in the One who encompasses all knowledge and has absolute power. This practice helps in making decisions that are aligned with Allah's will, leading to peace of mind, contentment, and the best outcome for our worldly and eternal affairs. It protects us from making choices based on fleeting emotions or faulty reasoning, especially when navigating the complex landscape of information today.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara for all matters, just as he used to teach us a Surah from the Quran. He would say: 'If any one of you is concerned about a matter, he should perform two rak'ahs of 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 aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi dīni wa ma'īshatī wa 'āqibati amrī – or he said: 'ajili amrī wa ā’jilihi – faqdurhu lī, wa yassirhu lī, thumma bārik lī fīh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharru lī fī dīnī wa ma'īshatī wa 'āqibati amrī – or he said: 'ajili amrī wa ā’jilihi – faṣrifhu 'annī, waṣrifnī 'anhu, waqdur līl-khayra ḥaythu kāna, thumma raḍḍinī bih. (The meaning is as given above). And the narrator added that he should mention his need.'