When you’re unsure about a decision, remember to pray two rakats and say the dua for Istikhaarah which starts with ‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka.’
The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us this dua, which means asking Allah to help us choose what’s best for our religious and worldly matters.
Istikhara means asking for Allah’s guidance when you have to choose between two options. So, when you’re not sure what to do, you can ask Allah to help you choose the best path.
Allahumma Inni Astakhiruka in Arabic Arabic Text
Here is the full dua written in Arabic Text:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمَكَ، 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- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ- فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِه
Transliteration
The dua is transliterated as Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ‘ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratik, wa asaluka min fadlik al-azim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta’lamu wa la a’lam, wa anta ‘allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta’lam anna [hadhal-amr] khayrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri, faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta’lam anna [hadhal-amr] sharrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri, fasrifhu ‘anni wasrifni ‘anhu waqdur li al-khayr haythu kan. Thumma ardini bih
Allahumma Inni Astakhiruka Bi Ilmika Dua Meaning in English
Allahumma inni astakhiruk means 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, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next), then turn me away from it, [and turn it away from me], and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.
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Hadith Text
Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) 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 rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer):
‘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’aqibatiAmri (or ‘ajili Amri wa’ajilihi) 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’aqibatiAmri (or fi’ajili `Amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.’
(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–(or said: If it is better for my present and later needs) 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–(or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)–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).
The Prophet (ﷺ) added that then the person should name (mention) his need.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1166
Commentary
Ibn Hajr (may Allah have mercy on him) explained this hadith like this:
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us to make istikharah in everything, Ibn Abi Jamrah said it’s a general statement but means something specific.
Basically, when it comes to things you have to do or things that are good to do, you don’t need to do istikharah. And for things that are forbidden or not good, you don’t need to do istikharah either.
Istikharah is mainly for things that are allowed, or when you’re not sure which good thing to choose. Scholars say it can be for big or small things, and even something small could lead to a big decision.
The phrase “O Allah, I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge” means asking because Allah knows best. Similarly, “by virtue of Your power” most likely means seeking Allah’s help.
When you say “I seek ability (astaqdiruka),” it means asking Allah to give you the power or ability to do what’s needed, or it might mean asking Allah to make it easy for you.
Saying “I ask You of Your great bounty” means acknowledging that Allah gives generously, but His blessings aren’t owed to anyone. This is what the Ahl al-Sunnah believe.
When you say “You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not,” it means recognizing that power and knowledge belong only to Allah, and His servants have no share in them except what Allah decrees.
If you say “O Allah, if in Your knowledge this matter,” some reports say you should mention the matter by name. However, it’s likely enough to simply think about the matter while making this supplication.
When you say “Then ordain it for me,” it means asking Allah to make it happen for you, or it could mean asking Allah to make it easy for you.
Saying “Then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it” means asking Allah to remove your attachment to it so your heart won’t feel drawn to it anymore.
When you ask Allah to “Make me pleased with it,” you’re asking to be content with it so you won’t regret asking for it or feel sorry about it happening.
This is important because you don’t know how things will turn out, even if you feel happy about it when you ask.
The key is not to be too attached to the matter because that can make you restless. Being pleased with something means your heart is content with Allah’s decision.
(Summarized from the commentary of al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) on the hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Da’wat and Kitab al-Tawheed.)