Islamic prayer
Dua Istikhara
Dua Istikhara, the prayer for guidance, in Arabic, in English letters and with its meaning.
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- Dua Istikhara
اللهُمَّ إنِّي أسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وأسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وأسألُكَ من فَضْلِكَ العَظِيم؛ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلا أقْدِرُ، وتَعْلَمُ ولا أعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الغُيُوبِ؛ اللهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذا الأمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي في دِيْنِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أمْرِي، أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيه؛ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِيْنِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي؛ أو قال: عاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كان، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِه
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Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-'azim; fa'innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamu al‑ghuyubi; Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al‑amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, aw qala: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi, faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi; wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al‑amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri; aw qala: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi, fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur liya al‑khayra haythu kana, thumma raddini bih
O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask You of Your immense bounty. For You have power and I do not, and You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of all that is unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs—or he said: in my immediate and future affairs—then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs—or he said: in my immediate and future affairs—then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree what is good for me wherever it may be, then make me content with it.
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When it is recited
In the Sunni tradition, Dua Istikhara is recited when seeking Allah's guidance about a permissible choice, such as marriage, work or travel. It is traditionally said after voluntary prayer, asking Allah to facilitate what is good and turn away what is harmful. It is not tied to a particular season.
Where it comes from
Dua Istikhara is taught in a hadith narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah and recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari. Jabir describes the Prophet Muhammad teaching his companions to seek Allah's guidance in their affairs. It is a prophetic supplication, not a verse from the Qur'an.
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- IslamicDua for travelA Qur'anic supplication for travel, expressing gratitude to Allah and remembrance of our return to Him.
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- IslamicJanazah prayer and dua for the deceasedA supplication asking Allah to forgive and have mercy on someone who has died.
Questions about Dua Istikhara
What does Istikhara mean?
Istikhara means seeking what is good from Allah. The supplication asks Allah, through His knowledge and power, to guide a decision toward what is best.
When should I recite Dua Istikhara?
In the Sunni tradition, it is recited when considering a permissible course of action, traditionally after voluntary prayer. It can accompany careful thought and consultation with trusted people.
Do I need to see a dream afterward?
A dream is not a requirement of Istikhara. The supplication asks for guidance and for a good outcome to be made easier, rather than requesting a particular sign.
What language is Dua Istikhara in?
The transmitted supplication is in Arabic. The English letters help readers follow its pronunciation, while the meaning explains what is being asked.
Is Dua Istikhara a Qur'anic verse?
No. It is a supplication taught by the Prophet Muhammad and preserved in hadith.
