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 خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge and Your power by Your might, and I ask You from Your immense favor, for You are able and I am not, and You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and here you mention the matter) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my ultimate outcome (or he said: in my immediate and future affairs), 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 livelihood, and my ultimate outcome (or he said: in my immediate and future affairs), 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 biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadhlika al-'Azim. Fa innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wala a'lamu, wa Anta 'Allamu al-Ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra (then mention the matter) khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or he said: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or he said: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur li al-khayra haythu kana thumma ardhini bihi.
When to Read
The Istikhara dua is meant for when you are facing a significant decision or a crossroads and are unsure which path to take. This applies powerfully to periods of intense spiritual doubt. If you find your faith wavering, or you're confused about certain Islamic principles, or you are contemplating a change in your spiritual practice and need clarity, this is the time to turn to Allah through Istikhara. It's an acknowledgement that only Allah holds perfect knowledge of what is truly good for your *deen* (religion), your *ma'ash* (livelihood), and your *aqibah* (ultimate outcome).
How to Read
1. **Perform Wudu:** Ensure you are in a state of ritual purity. 2. **Pray Two Rak'ahs:** Perform two rak'ahs of voluntary (nafl) prayer. It is generally recommended to avoid prayer during the forbidden times (after Fajr until sunrise, at zenith, and after Asr until sunset). 3. **Recite the Dua:** After completing the two rak'ahs and making tasleem, raise your hands and recite the Istikhara dua. 4. **Mention Your Matter:** When you reach the part '(then mention the matter)' in the dua (اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ), you should clearly articulate the specific spiritual doubt or confusion you are seeking guidance on. For example, you might say, 'this matter of clarity in my belief in Allah's oneness,' or 'this confusion about the true path of Islam,' or 'this decision about which path to take to strengthen my iman.' 5. **Trust in Allah:** After reciting the dua, put your complete trust in Allah. Do not expect a dream, a specific sign, or an immediate feeling. Allah will guide you by making the best path easy for you, and turning you away from what is harmful, and then making you content with His decree.
Virtues & Benefits
Performing Istikhara, especially during spiritual doubt, reinforces **Tawakkul** (reliance on Allah) and submission to His will. It shifts the burden of a difficult decision from your shoulders to Allah, who knows all. For spiritual doubts, the benefits are profound: * **Inner Peace and Clarity:** It brings tranquility by acknowledging that Allah is the ultimate guide, helping to dissipate confusion and anxiety. * **Strengthened Iman:** Regularly turning to Allah for guidance, especially in your deen, deepens your connection with Him and solidifies your faith. * **Protection from Regret:** By seeking divine guidance, you rest assured that whatever outcome unfolds is ultimately what Allah, in His infinite wisdom, has deemed best for your spiritual well-being, freeing you from future regret. * **Divine Alignment:** It ensures that your journey to overcome spiritual doubt is guided by the most perfect knowledge, aligning your heart and mind with what is truly beneficial for your spiritual growth and ultimate success in the Hereafter.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us to perform Istikhara (guidance-seeking prayer) for all matters, just as he used to teach us a Surah from the Qur'an. He ﷺ would say, "If anyone of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, let him pray two rak'ahs of optional prayer and then say: 'O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge and Your power by Your might, and I ask You from Your immense favor, for You are able and I am not, and You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and here you mention the matter) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my ultimate outcome (or he said: in my immediate and future affairs), 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 livelihood, and my ultimate outcome (or he said: in my immediate and future affairs), 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.' ...and then mention his matter." — Sahih al-Bukhari 6382