Dua for Istikhara: Full Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

The dua for Istikhara is a supplication taught by the Prophet ﷺ to be recited after two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer when seeking Allah's guidance on a decision.

Dua for Istikhara

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ

Transliteration:

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'azim, fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih.

Translation:

"O Allah, I seek Your guidance 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; I have none. And You know; I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs; immediate and future, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and affairs, immediate and future, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it. And ordain for me the good wherever it be and cause me to be content with it."

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari, 6382

Looking for more duas? Browse our complete Dua Collection — organized by occasion with Arabic text, transliteration, and translation.

When and How to Perform Salat al-Istikhara

Istikhara means "seeking the best." The Prophet ﷺ used to teach this dua to his companions the same way he taught them Quranic surahs — emphasizing its importance as a practical tool for every Muslim facing a decision.

Step-by-Step: How to Pray Istikhara

1. Make the intention (niyyah). Intend in your heart to pray two rak'ahs of voluntary (nafl) prayer for Istikhara. These are not to be prayed during the prohibited times (sunrise, zenith, sunset).

2. Pray two rak'ahs. Pray two rak'ahs as you would any voluntary prayer. There is no specific surah required, though some scholars mention reciting Surah al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second after al-Fatiha. This is a recommendation, not an obligation.

3. Recite the dua after the prayer. After completing the two rak'ahs and the final tasleem (salaam), recite the dua above.

4. Mention your specific matter. When you reach the phrase "hadhal-amr" (this matter) — both times it appears — mention your specific matter. You can do this mentally or say it aloud. For example: "...if in Your knowledge, [this marriage / this job / this trip] is good for me..."

5. Proceed with your decision. After making the dua, go about your life. Act on whichever option your heart is more settled on. You do not need to wait for a dream, a feeling, or a sign. If things proceed easily, that may be a good indication; if doors close, that may be guidance too.

For Which Matters Is Istikhara Appropriate?

• Use it for: permissible matters where you have genuine choice — marriage, travel, business, a job offer, a major purchase
• Do not use it for: obligatory acts (which must be done) or sinful matters (which must be avoided, full stop)
• Not needed for: clearly good acts like giving sadaqah or visiting the sick

Consult with trusted people before or after making Istikhara — seeking advice (shura) is itself a Sunnah and does not contradict Istikhara.

Virtues and Rewards

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"If any one of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say [this dua]." (Bukhari, 6382)

The fact that the Prophet ﷺ taught this dua alongside the Quran demonstrates how central seeking Allah's guidance is in a Muslim's daily life. Istikhara is an act of worship in itself — it is an acknowledgment that our knowledge is limited, our power is limited, and only Allah knows what truly lies ahead.

The dua contains a profound theological statement: "You have power; I have none. And You know; I know not." Before asking for anything specific, the worshipper declares his complete dependence on Allah. This is why scholars say the dua itself is a form of tawakkul (reliance on Allah), regardless of the outcome.

Ibn al-Qayyim wrote that the one who prays Istikhara sincerely will never regret their decision — because they have placed the outcome in Allah's hands, and whatever Allah ordains is the best outcome for that person, even if it does not appear that way at first.

Common Misconceptions

"I need to see a specific dream." — No hadith requires a dream. This belief has no basis in the Sunnah.

"I need to feel a strong pull in one direction." — This can happen, but it is not required. Act on your best judgment after the prayer.

"I should keep repeating it until I feel certain." — Repeating it is allowed, but indefinitely delaying a decision is not the purpose of Istikhara.

Related Duas

• Dua for Forgiveness — seek Allah's forgiveness before major decisions
• Dua for Success — supplications for Allah's aid in your endeavors
• Dua for Exam — for students facing important choices and tests

You can also use our Prayer Times tool to find the best time to pray your Istikhara — avoiding the prohibited prayer times. And if you are seeking guidance on whether a particular matter is permissible, try our Halal/Haram Checker.