اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge and I seek Your strength by Your power and I ask You from Your immense favor, for indeed 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 is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my ultimate end – both present and future – then decree it for me and make it easy for me, and then bless me in it. But if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my ultimate end – both present and future – 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 fadlikal-'azim. 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 khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi), faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-'amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi), fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana, thumma ardhini bihi.
When to Read
When you stand at the crossroads of a significant life decision, particularly one as monumental as choosing a life partner, this powerful dua is your guide. It's not just for marriage, but for any major choice where you feel uncertain – a career path, buying a home, or even moving to a new city. The essence is seeking Allah's perfect knowledge before embarking on something important, acknowledging our limited perspective and His infinite wisdom.
How to Read
The Prophet ﷺ taught us a specific way to seek this divine guidance. First, you perform two rak'ahs (units) of non-obligatory prayer. This can be any time outside the forbidden prayer times. After concluding your prayer, you then raise your hands and recite this beautiful dua. Where the dua says 'هَذَا الأَمْرَ' (hadhal-'amra) – 'this matter' – you articulate your specific request. For instance, you would say, 'O Allah, if marrying [mention the person's name, or generally 'this person'] is good for me...' You mention the specific person or decision you are deliberating, entrusting your choice entirely to Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
The ultimate benefit of performing Istikhara is a profound sense of peace and reliance on Allah. When you sincerely make this dua, you are essentially handing over your affairs to the One who knows what is truly best for you. Whether the outcome aligns with your initial desire or not, you gain the comfort of knowing that Allah has guided you to what is good – for your faith, your worldly life, and your ultimate hereafter. It shifts your focus from your limited perspective to His infinite wisdom, making you content with His decree, whatever it may be. It's a direct conversation with your Creator, acknowledging your weakness and His strength, your ignorance and His perfect knowledge.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us the way of Istikhara (seeking Allah's guidance) in all matters, just as he used to teach us a Surah from the Qur'an. He ﷺ said: 'If anyone of you intends to do something, he should offer two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: [the dua above]. And he ﷺ should mention his need (in place of 'this matter').'