اللَّهُمَّ اسْتَخِرْ بِكَ، وَاسْتَقْدِرْ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (هنا تسمي الأمر) 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 guidance from Your knowledge, and seek power from Your might, and I ask of Your immense bounty. For You have power, and I have no power; You have knowledge, and I have no knowledge; and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (here you name the matter) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter – (or he said: in my present and future affairs) – then ordain 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 Hereafter – (or he said: in my present and future affairs) – then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me that which is good wherever it may be, and make me content 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 (here you name the matter) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aaqibati amri - - - (or he said: 'aajili amri wa aajilihi) - faqdhurhu 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 - - - (or he said: 'aajili amri wa aajilihi) - fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdhur li al-khayra haythu kaana, thumma radhdhini bihi.
When to Read
This is the dua of *Istikhara*, the prayer for seeking guidance from Allah. It is best recited when you are facing a significant decision, especially when you are away from your usual support system and home environment. Whether it's about a job offer, a potential marriage proposal, a financial investment, or even a change of residence, reciting Istikhara before making a choice can bring clarity and peace of mind. It's recommended to recite it after performing Wudu (ablution) and offering two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, preferably at night, before sleeping.
How to Read
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this specific dua for seeking Allah’s guidance when making a decision. It is part of the prayer of Istikhara. After performing two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, you recite this dua. It's crucial to intend clearly for the specific decision you need to make when you say, 'this matter (here you name the matter).' The dua essentially places your reliance on Allah's knowledge and power, acknowledging your own limitations. After reciting it, you should proceed with your decision, trusting that Allah will guide you through signs, feelings, or circumstances.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a profound way to connect with Allah and seek His wisdom when we are uncertain. By turning to Allah, we acknowledge that He is Al-'Aleem (The All-Knowing) and Al-Qadir (The All-Powerful). The Prophet ﷺ assured us that whoever seeks guidance through Istikhara will not regret it, and whoever seeks self-sufficiency through Allah will be self-sufficient. When traveling, we are often removed from our usual routines and support networks, making seeking Allah's guidance even more vital for navigating difficult decisions.
Source & Authentication
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us the Istikhara in all things, just as he used to teach us a Surah from the Qur'an. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter ( Jawwâ) he should perform two rak'ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones, and then say: O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and seek power from Your might, and I ask of Your immense bounty. For You have power, and I have no power; You have knowledge, and I have no knowledge; 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 Hereafter (or he said: in my present and future affairs), then ordain 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 Hereafter (or he said: in my present and future affairs), then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me that which is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)