23/07/2026
DU'A OF ISTIKHARAH
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
Below is the complete Du'a of Istikharah exactly as taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the authentic Hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari.
Arabic Text
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوب.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ (ثُمَّ تُسَمِّي حَاجَتَكَ) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي، وَمَعَاشِي، وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي ـ أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ ـ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ.
وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ (ثُمَّ تُسَمِّي حَاجَتَكَ) شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي، وَمَعَاشِي، وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي ـ أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ ـ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ.
English Transliteration
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadhlikal-'azim. Fa'innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub.
Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (mention your matter here) khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi.
Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (mention your matter here) sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana, thumma ardini bihi.
English Translation
O Allah, I seek the better choice through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. For indeed, You have power while I have none; You know while I do not know, and You are the Knower of all unseen things.
O Allah, if You know that this matter (mention your need here) is good for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs (or: in my present and future affairs), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me.
But if You know that this matter (mention your need here) is bad for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs (or: in my present and future affairs), then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it. Decree for me whatever is good wherever it may be, and then make me pleased with it.
Where do you mention your request?
When you reach:
"...anna hadhal-amra..." (Indeed, if You know that this matter...)
Pause briefly and mention your need, for example:
"...accepting the job at XYZ Company."
"...marrying (name of the person)."
"...buying this house."
"...starting a business."
"...relocating to another city."
Then continue the supplication.
A beautiful lesson from this Du'ā'
This supplication teaches complete reliance upon Allah by acknowledging:
Allah knows; I do not know.
Allah is able; I am limited.
Allah chooses what is best.
Whatever Allah decrees is ultimately the best for me, even if I do not immediately understand it.
May Allah ﷻ always guide you to what is best, bless your decisions, and make every choice a source of goodness in this world and the Hereafter. Aamin
