The Dua for Istikhara Prayer
Arabic
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 خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي ـ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي ـ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ ـ
Transliteration
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as’alaka min fadlika Al-`azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu Wala a’lamu, Wa anta ‘allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta’lam anna hadha-lamra Khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati `Amri Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati `Amri Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.
Translation
O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter- Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me (mention your decision here) to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter- Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it.
Reference: Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Qur’an. He said, “If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two rak`at prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer): –(above mentioned Dua)..
(Then)The Prophet (ﷺ) added that then the person should name (mention) his need. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1166)
a brief overview about Dua Istikhara....
The Dua Istikhara holds a special place in the hearts of those seeking Allah’s guidance including me. When faced with difficult decisions or uncertain paths, this prayer serves as a means to connect deeply with Allah, asking for clarity and direction. The Istikhara prayer isn’t just a ritual; it’s a powerful way to seek divine intervention when human wisdom falls short. Whether you’re contemplating a major life decision like marriage, a career change, or any other significant choice, performing Istikhara can bring peace to your heart by entrusting your decision to Allah’s infinite wisdom.
Dua Istikhara (dua e istikhara) is not only a spiritual tool but also a practical one, and I firmly believe this. It allows me to pause, reflect, and seek guidance before making a choice. The dua e Istikhara, recited after two units of prayer, is a heartfelt supplication that acknowledges our limitations and asks Allah to guide us towards what is best for us in this world and the hereafter. This prayer is an affirmation of faith, reminding us that no matter how complex our situation may be, Allah’s guidance can lead us to the right path.
Understanding how to perform Istikhara and recite the Dua Istikhara correctly is essential for anyone who wants to incorporate this powerful practice into their lives. By doing so, you open yourself up to divine wisdom, allowing it to illuminate the choices before you. Remember, Istikhara isn’t about getting an immediate answer; it’s about finding peace in the knowledge that you’ve sought Allah’s help in making the best decision possible.
I have already writen a detailed post about Istikhara Prayer. I recommend you to read this post to know more about Istikhara. Here is the post,
