Dua for Istikhara

What is Istikhara and when to perform it.

Istikhara is a special prayer that Muslims perform when seeking guidance from Allah for important decision making such as choosing a job, moving forward with a marriage proposal, or any other matter, big or small. Istikhara should be approached in a sincere manner, trusting in Allah to guide you.

"Istikhara was a common practice for Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) as it has been narrated that he used to teach his companions the Istikhara prayer for each and every matter, similar to how he taught the Surahs of the Quran" [Hadith, Sahih al-Bukhari, 6382]

When to pray Istikhara

Istikhara can be prayed during any time of the day or night except during the times after Fajr and Asr prayer. The Rak’ahs can be prayed within the normal sunnah prayers such as the 2 Rak’ah before Fajr or after Maghrib, or they can be performed as an additional 2 Rak’ahs separately. Some also tend to perform Istkihara before a task, i.e. heading out for a job interview - finding comfort that whichever step they take they have faith it will be by seeking guidance from Allah.

How to pray Istikhara

Istikhara begins with praying two non-obligatory Rak’ahs which are followed by the dua for Istikhara. This needs to be performed with concentration, asking Allah to guide you to what is best and trusting in his response.

Dua of Istikhara in 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 فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ 

Transliteration

Allahumma innee astakheeruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qadratika wa as’aluka min fadlika al-’adheem fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru wa ta’lamu wa la a’lamu wa anta ‘allaam ul-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna haadha al-amra khayrun lee fee deenee wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati amree faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee thumma baarik lee feehi wa in kunta ta’lamu anna haadha al-amara sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati amree fasrifhu ‘annee wasrifnee ‘anhu waqdur lee al-khayra haythu kaana thumma ardinee bih

Dua of Istikhara in English

"O Allah, I seek Your guidance (in making a choice) by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, and I do not. You know, and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter then decree 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, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter 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"

[Hadith, Sahih al-Bukhari, 6382]

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