اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (وَاذْكُرْ حَاجَتَكَ: الزَّوَاجُ مِنْ ... / طَلَبُ يَدِ ... ) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي (أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ)، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي (أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ)، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your counsel through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask for Your immense favor. For You decree and I cannot decree, and You know and I cannot know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and mention your need: marriage to... / proposing to...) 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 for me the good wherever it may be, 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 (wa-dhkur hajjatak: az-zawaju min... / talab yadi...) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri (aw qala: fi 'aa jili amri wa ajilihi), faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feehi. 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 ajilihi), fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li al-khaira haithu kana, thumma radhhini bih.
When to Read
This powerful dua is known as Salat al-Istikhara, the prayer of seeking guidance. It's recommended to recite this when you are facing a decision where you need Allah's direction, and this is especially relevant when considering marriage. Whether you're thinking about a specific person or simply feel the need for Allah's wisdom in finding a spouse, this dua is for you. Recite it after offering the two rak'ahs of Salat al-Istikhara, preferably during a time when you feel calm and focused, such as after Isha prayer or before sleeping.
How to Read
The proper etiquette for reciting Salat al-Istikhara, including this dua, is as follows: 1. Perform Wudu (ablution). 2. Pray two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, ideally not during the disliked times for prayer. 3. After finishing the prayer and saying the tasleem, recite the dua for Istikhara. The hadith teaches us to mention the specific matter for which we seek guidance. In this case, you would specify 'marriage to [person's name]' or 'finding a spouse'. 4. Focus your intention and heart on Allah as you recite. Trust that He will guide you through signs, whether in your dreams, in your heart's inclination, or through external circumstances. 5. After reciting, rely on Allah and proceed with the decision, or wait for clarity. The signs might not be immediate or dramatic; sometimes, it's a feeling of peace with one option or unease with another.
Virtues & Benefits
Reciting Salat al-Istikhara with this dua offers immense benefits: - **Seeking Allah's Wisdom:** It acknowledges that Allah's knowledge is perfect and His power is absolute, while ours is limited. This helps us submit our affairs to Him, acknowledging that He knows what's best for us. - **Peace of Mind:** Even if the outcome isn't immediately clear, the act of turning to Allah provides immense peace and contentment, knowing you've done your best to seek His guidance. - **Avoiding Regret:** By seeking istikhara, you are trying to avoid making decisions based on mere personal desires or limited understanding, which can lead to regret later. - **Divine Blessing (Barakah):** When we involve Allah in our important decisions, He blesses our choices and the outcomes, making things easier and more fulfilling. - **Strengthening Tawakkul:** It fosters reliance on Allah (Tawakkul) and strengthens our connection with Him, reminding us that He is the ultimate disposer of affairs.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara for all matters 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 pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and seek power from Your power, and I ask of Your great favor. For indeed You do know and I do not know, and You have power and I do not have power, and You know the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this task is good for me in my religion and livelihood and for my Hereafter (or he said: 'for my worldly life and Hereafter'), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. But if You know that this task is evil for me in my religion and livelihood and for my Hereafter (or he said: 'for my worldly life and Hereafter'), 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 pleased with it.' Jabir added: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'At that time, one should mention his need.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)