283. Istikhara Dua
Istikhara Dua in Arabic
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيْرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوْبِ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ (وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. [اَللَّهُمَّ] وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِيْ بِهِ
Istikhara Dua English Transliteration
Allaahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as'aluka min fadlika Al-'azim Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta'lamu Wala a'lamu, Wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allaahumma, in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra Khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati `Amri, Faqdurhu li wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fih, (Allaahumma) Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra shar-run li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati `Amri Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdur li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bih
Istikhara Dua English 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 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.
On the authority of Jaabir Ibn 'Adbullaah (RA), he said: The Prophet (ﷺ) would instruct us to pray for guidance in all of our concerns, just as he would teach us a Soorah from the Quran. He would say: 'If any of you intends to undertake a matter then let him pray two supererogatory units [two rak'ah naafilah] of prayer and after which he should supplicate: (the above mentioned dua)
Hadith about the Dua
Arabic Text
حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنُ بْنُ عِيسَى، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي الْمَوَالِي، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، يُحَدِّثُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْحَسَنِ يَقُولُ أَخْبَرَنِي جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ السَّلَمِيُّ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَلِّمُ أَصْحَابَهُ الاِسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا، كَمَا يُعَلِّمُ السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ " إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ لِيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ هَذَا الأَمْرَ ـ ثُمَّ تُسَمِّيهِ بِعَيْنِهِ ـ خَيْرًا لِي فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ ـ قَالَ أَوْ فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي ـ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي ـ أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ ـ فَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ ".
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: As-Salami: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to teach his companions to perform the prayer of Istikhara for each and every matter just as he used to teach them the Suras from the Qur'an He used to say, "If anyone of you intends to do some thing, he should offer a two rak`at prayer other than the compulsory prayers, and after finishing it, he should say: O Allah! I consult You, for You have all knowledge, and appeal to You to support me with Your Power and ask for Your Bounty, for You are able to do things while I am not, and You know while I do not; and You are the Knower of the Unseen. O Allah If You know It this matter (name your matter) is good for me both at present and in the future, (or in my religion), in my this life and in the Hereafter, then fulfill it for me and make it easy for me, and then bestow Your Blessings on me in that matter. O Allah! If You know that this matter is not good for me in my religion, in my this life and in my coming Hereafter (or at present or in the future), then divert me from it and choose for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me be pleased with it." (See Hadith No. 391, Vol. 8) Sahih al-Bukhari 7390 [Al-Bukhari 7/162, No. 1162, 7390]
Benefits of Istikhara Dua
This istikhara dua helps a muslim trust Allah’s plan, asking for the best in every matter, and brings peace to the heart when making big or small choices in life.
- Istikhara dua gives clear guidance from Allah when a muslim feels unsure.
- Salatul istikhara brings Barakah and makes hard choices easy for the heart.
- Dua for guidance in istikhara keeps a muslim safe from harm and bad Amal.
- Istikhara prayer lets Allah pick what is best for deen, dunya, and akhirah.
- Dua e istikhara fills the heart with peace and makes a muslim happy with Qadr.
When to Recite Istikhara Dua
The istikhara dua is a strong prayer for guidance, asking Allah to help you choose what is best for your Deen, Dunya, and Akhirah, and to fill your Amal with Barakah and peace in every step.
- After praying two rakah of istikhara namaz, recite the istikhara dua for guidance.
- When you feel unsure about a big choice, use istikhara dua before making your decision.
- At night before going to bed, make dua istikhara for Allah’s help in your heart.
- If you want to start something new, read salatul istikhara dua for Barakah and ease.
- When your heart feels confused, turn to istikhara prayer and ask with this dua for clarity.
How to perform Istikhara Dua
When you feel unsure about a big choice, the istikhara dua is a trusted way to ask Allah for help and Barakah. This dua for guidance is a simple step in Islam that brings peace to your heart and helps you find the best path.
- Start by making wudu and pray two rakats of salatul istikhara with pure niyyah for guidance.
- After finishing your istikhara prayer, recite the istikhara dua with full hope in Allah’s mercy.
- Mention your need or matter clearly in your heart when you reach the part of the dua for guidance.
- Trust Allah’s plan and wait for signs or ease in your heart after making this dua e istikhara.
- Repeat the istekhara dua for a few nights if you still feel unsure, asking for clear direction from Allah.
Summary
Istikhara dua is a special prayer for guidance, asking Allah to choose what is best in Deen, Dunya, and Akhirah. This istikhara dua is recited in salatul istikhara, showing full trust in Allah’s knowledge and power. It asks for Barakah in Amal and to be happy with whatever Allah decides.
By making istikhara dua, Muslims seek help from Allah before making big choices. This masnoon dua teaches to rely on Allah for every step and to accept His will with Iman. The main lesson is to always ask Allah for guidance and be pleased with His plan.