اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ أَهْلِهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا جَبَلْتَنِي عَلَيْهِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا وَشَرِّ مَا جَبَلْتَنِي عَلَيْهِ
O Allah, I ask You for its goodness and the goodness of what it contains, and the goodness of what You have decreed for me concerning it. And I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of what it contains, and the evil of what You have decreed for me concerning it.
Allahumma inni as'aluka khayraha wa khayra ahliha wa khayra ma jabaltani 'alayhi, wa a'udhu bika min sharriha wa sharri ahliha wa sharri ma jabaltani 'alayhi.
When to Read
This dua is particularly relevant when facing significant choices, whether it's about career paths, marriage, a major purchase, or any decision that carries weight and uncertainty. It's recited *after* seeking counsel and doing your due diligence, but before the final commitment. Imagine you're trying to decide whether to move for a job opportunity. You've weighed the pros and cons, spoken to family, and prayed Istikhara, but you still feel a pull in different directions. This is the moment to turn to Allah with this dua, entrusting Him with the outcome.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a humble heart. Understand that you are acknowledging your own limitations in knowing what is truly best. Speak directly to Allah, expressing your reliance on His wisdom. It’s a powerful act of *tawakkul* (reliance on Allah) after having put in your own effort and sought His guidance through prayer (Istikhara). Ensure you're in a state of purity if possible, and face the Qiblah.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is a profound expression of *tawakkul* and seeking Allah's ultimate wisdom. By reciting it, you are: 1. **Entrusting your affairs to Allah:** You acknowledge that His knowledge surpasses yours and that He knows what is truly beneficial for you. This eases the burden of decision-making. 2. **Seeking the best outcome:** You're not just asking for a good outcome, but for *khayr* (goodness) in its most comprehensive sense, including what is good for your dunya and akhirah. 3. **Protecting yourself from harm:** You seek refuge in Allah from any potential negative consequences or unseen evils associated with your decision. Reciting this acknowledges that ultimately, Allah is the One who guides and decrees outcomes. It’s a way to find peace and contentment regardless of the path taken, knowing you've sought the best from the Best.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us the prayer of Istikhara, which involves reciting this dua. The fuller context of Istikhara is taught as: Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: 'The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the Istikhara in all matters as he used to teach us the Surah of the Qur'an. He said: "If anyone 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 by Your power I seek ability (to do things), and I ask of You Your magnificent grace, for indeed You have the power, and I have not. You have knowledge, and I have no knowledge. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and then he should mention the specific matter) is good for me in this world and in the hereafter, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. O Allah, if You know that this matter is bad for me, 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 content with it.'" The narrator of the hadith then added the specific dua: 'O Allah, I ask You for its goodness and the goodness of what it contains, and the goodness of what You have decreed for me concerning it. And I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of what it contains, and the evil of what You have decreed for me concerning it.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306, Sahih Muslim 730)