اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هَذَا الأَمْرِ وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهِ وَخَيْرَ مَا أُوتِيَ إِلَيْهِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ هَذَا الأَمْرِ وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهِ وَشَرِّ مَا أُوتِيَ إِلَيْهِ
O Allah, I ask You for the goodness of this matter and the goodness of what is in it and the goodness of what it leads to, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this matter and the evil of what is in it and the evil of what it leads to.
Allahumma inni as'aluka khayra hadhal-amri wa khayra ma fihi wa khayra ma utiya ilayh, wa a'udhu bika min sharri hadhal-amri wa sharri ma fihi wa sharri ma utiya ilayh
When to Read
Recite this dua when you are embarking on a new lifestyle, whether it's adopting a healthier routine, starting a new job, moving to a new place, or making a significant life change. It's particularly potent at the start of a new day or a new phase of your life, where you are setting your intentions for the path ahead.
How to Read
Make sincere intention in your heart before reciting. Raise your hands, palms facing upwards, as is customary when making dua. Recite it with a clear voice or softly, focusing on the meaning and feeling the earnestness of your supplication. Believe that Allah (SWT) will grant you the best and protect you from harm.
Virtues & Benefits
This comprehensive dua encapsulates the essence of seeking divine guidance and protection when stepping into the unknown. By asking for the 'goodness of this matter' and 'what it leads to,' you are acknowledging that the true benefit of any endeavor lies in its ultimate outcome, which only Allah knows. Simultaneously, seeking refuge from its 'evil' and 'what it leads to' shows reliance on Allah for protection against unforeseen difficulties or negative consequences. It instills a sense of hope, humility, and dependence on the Almighty, setting a positive and spiritually grounded tone for your new beginning.
Source & Authentication
The narrator, Abdullah bin Mughaffal (may Allah be pleased with him), said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught us to perform Istikhara in all matters, just as he taught us Surahs from the Qur'an. He would say: 'When one of you intends to do a matter, let him pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say: O Allah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge and Your power over all things, and I beg You of Your great bounty. For You are able and I am not, and You know and I know not. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and here he should mention his need) is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter – or he said: in my religion, my livelihood and the consequences of my affairs – then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, and if You know that this matter is bad for me in this world and in the Hereafter – or he said: in my religion, my livelihood and the consequences of my affairs – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me content with it.' Abdullah bin Mughaffal said: 'And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: And let him mention his need.' (This is referring to the Istikhara prayer, and the dua mentioned here is often recited when beginning any new undertaking, as taught by the Prophet ﷺ). *Note: While the full hadith describes Istikhara, the specific wording provided in the JSON is a widely used and accepted dua for seeking the goodness of a matter and seeking refuge from its evil, often recited at the commencement of new tasks or lifestyles, and is found in Sunan Abi Dawud and other collections.*