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 (اذكر حاجتك هنا) 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 الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and seek power through Your power, and I ask of Your magnificent bounty. For indeed 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 (mention your need here) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my final end - or he said: in my present and my future - then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my final end - or he said: in my present and my future - 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 aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (mention your need here) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - aw qala: 'aajili amri wa aajilih - faqdhurhu 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: 'aajili amri wa aajilih - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdhur li-l-khaira haithu kaan, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
This is the prayer of Salat al-Istikhara, meaning 'the prayer of seeking guidance'. It is recommended when facing a decision, especially one with significant implications for one's business, career, or financial future. Whether it's starting a new venture, accepting a job offer, entering a partnership, or making a large purchase, if you are unsure of the best path, this prayer is for you. It's performed before a decision is made, after exhausting one's own research and consultation, but before finalizing the choice.
How to Read
Salat al-Istikhara involves performing two rak'ahs of prayer, other than the obligatory ones. After completing the prayer, you recite the specific dua taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It is crucial to be sincere and focused during the prayer and the dua. After making Istikhara, you should then resolve to do what you feel is best, without any desire influencing you. Allah may then guide you through dreams, a feeling of clarity, or by making the right path easy and opening doors for you. It's important not to expect a magical sign, but rather a sense of peace and direction.
Virtues & Benefits
Salat al-Istikhara is a beautiful way to entrust your affairs to Allah, acknowledging His perfect knowledge and power. It helps you avoid regret by seeking the best outcome that Allah has ordained. By performing it, you are actively seeking Allah's wisdom in decisions that can impact your 'rizq' (provision) and overall well-being, ensuring that your pursuits are aligned with what is ultimately beneficial for you in this life and the next.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us the Istikhara prayer in all matters as he taught us a Surah from the Quran. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter he should pray two rak'ahs of a prayer other than the obligatory ones, and then say: O Allah, I seek of You guidance in that You know the best, and of Your power I seek the ability to do (that which is best) and I seek of Your magnificent grace. For indeed You have the power and I have not, You have knowledge and I have not, You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and in the wording of the narration of Abu Kamil: this undertaking) is good for me in this world and in the Hereafter (or he said: in my religion, my subsistence and my affairs), then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. 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 subsistence and 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 pleased with it. And the narrator said: And he should mention his need (in the dual prayer). (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)