اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ (ثم تسمي حاجتك) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أو قال: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and strength from Your power, and I ask for Your immense 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 (then name your need) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affairs – or he said: in my present and future – 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 he said: in my present and future – then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree good for me wherever it may be, and make me content with it.
Allahumma inni astakheeruka 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-ghuyoor. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (then name your need) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aa jili amri wa aajilih - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: fi 'aa jili amri wa aajilih - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li'l-khaira haithu kaana, thumma radhini bih.
When to Read
This dua is recited when you are facing a significant decision, such as marriage, a new job, a move, or any other major life change where you feel uncertain about the best path forward. It's meant to be said *after* you've done your research and sought counsel from others, but still feel indecisive.
How to Read
Ideally, this dua is recited in two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (nafl). After the prayer, you recite the Istikhara dua itself, clearly stating the matter you need guidance on where the Arabic text says '(then name your need)'. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us to make this dua when seeking Allah's guidance. It's not just about the words; it’s about the sincerity, the reliance on Allah, and the intention to follow His guidance.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara is a beautiful way for us to acknowledge that we, as humans, have limited knowledge and foresight. By turning to Allah, the All-Knowing and All-Powerful, we are essentially entrusting Him with our future. The Prophet ﷺ said about Istikhara: 'If one of you is concerned about a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge... This prayer is a means of seeking Allah’s blessing and wisdom in making choices, helping us find peace and clarity in our decisions.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Qur'an. He would say: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and strength from Your power, and I ask for Your immense 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 is good for me in my religion and my livelihood and the outcome of my affair – or he said: in this life and the next – then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in my religion and my livelihood and the outcome of my affair – or he said: in this life and the next – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree good for me wherever it may be, and make me content with it.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166)