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 عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge and Your strength by Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. For indeed, You are able and I am not, You know and I do not, and 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 my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affair, both in the near term and the distant future, then decree it for me, 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 the outcome of my affair, both in the near term and the distant 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 bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-'Adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa Anta 'allamul ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra (mention your need here) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, 'ajilihi wa ajilihi, faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, 'ajilihi wa ajilihi, fasrifhu 'anni was-rifni 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana, thumma ardhini bihi.
When to Read
We've all faced those moments where a choice weighs heavily on us. It might not be a 'big' life event like a job or marriage, but a subtle moral crossroad in our daily lives: a difficult conversation at work, a challenging family situation, an internal struggle with temptation, or discerning the truly Islamic path amidst conflicting advice. When your heart feels unsettled, and you're unsure which decision aligns best with Allah's pleasure and your true well-being—that's precisely when this dua becomes your anchor. It’s for those times when you need divine clarity to navigate a personal ethical dilemma, seeking strength not from your own limited understanding, but from Allah’s infinite wisdom.
How to Read
To seek Allah's guidance in such a dilemma, you would first pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, just as the Prophet ﷺ taught us. After completing these two rak'ahs, you then recite this powerful dua. While reciting, when you reach 'hadha al-amra' (هَذَا الأَمْرَ), you mentally or verbally articulate your specific dilemma or the decision you're struggling with. For example, 'O Allah, if You know that *this choice concerning my friend's difficult situation*...' or '*this path regarding my career move that tests my integrity*...' The key is to approach it with sincerity and an open heart, truly surrendering your will to Allah's ultimate decree. Don't seek a 'sign' in dreams or external events; rather, observe how Allah makes the path easy or difficult for you, and how your heart is inclined *after* the prayer.
Virtues & Benefits
When you turn to Allah with this dua during a moral dilemma, you gain an immense sense of **peace and clarity**. The Prophet ﷺ taught us this dua so we could offload the burden of decision-making onto the One who knows all outcomes. It strengthens your **tawakkul (trust in Allah)**, affirming that His knowledge surpasses yours, and His plan is always best. You find **steadfastness in your faith** because you actively seek the path pleasing to Him, even when it's difficult. Ultimately, whether Allah makes a path easy for you or diverts you from it, you are guaranteed **Divine protection from error** and His **blessing in the outcome**, leading to true contentment regardless of the immediate challenge. It is a profound act of humility and submission that purifies your intention and directs your focus solely to Allah.
Source & Authentication
Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us to seek Allah’s guidance in all matters, just as he used to teach us a Surah from the Qur’an. He ﷺ would say: 'When one of you is concerned about a decision, let him pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then say...'