اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْتَخِيْرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيْمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوْبِ اللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِّيْ فِي دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ فَاقْدِرْهُ لِيْ وَيَسِّرْهُ لِيْ ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِّيْ فِيْ دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّيْ وَاصْرِفْنِيْ عَنْهُ وَاقْدِرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِيْ بِهٖ
Recitation by Tariq Malik
English Translation
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka biqudratika wa as‘aluka min fadlikal ‘azim. Fa innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta‘lamu wala a‘lamu wa anta ‘allamul ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta‘lamu anna hadhal amra khairun li fi dini wa ma‘ashi wa ‘aqibati amri faqdirhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta‘lamu anna hadhal amra sharrulli fi dini wa ma‘ashi wa ‘aqibati amri fasrifhu ‘anni wasrifni ‘anhu, waqdir liyalkhaira haithu kana thumma ardini bih
O Allah, I seek good from Thee out of Thy knowledge and seek power from Thee out of Thy power and I beg of Thee out of Thy boundless Grace, for Thou hast power and I have no power, and Thou hast knowledge and I have no knowledge, and Thy knowledge encompasses the unseen. O Allah! If it be within Thy knowledge that this task is for my good, both materially and spiritually, and
in respect of my ultimate end, then make it possible for me and bless me therein, but if it be within Thy knowledge that it is harmful for me in my spiritual and material life and in respect of my ultimate end, then turn me away therefrom, and enable me to attain good wherever it may be and cause me to be blessed therewith.
(Bukhari, Kitabud-Da‘wat Babud-Du’a indal Istikharah; Also Tirmidhi; Sharah As-Sunnah Vol. 4, page 153)
Steps to Seek Divine Direction
How to Perform Istikhara
Perform Wudu
Ensure you are in a state of cleanliness.
Offer Two Rakat of Prayer
In the first Rakat, recite Surah Al-Kafiroon (Chapter 109 of the Holy Quran). In the second Rakat, recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112 of the Holy Quran).
Recite the Istikhara Dua
After completing the two Rakat, sit in the position of At-Tahiyyat (sitting position), recite the supplication of Istikhara in Arabic if possible, or in your language if necessary. The prayer asks for guidance, seeking what is best according to Allah’s knowledge and power.
Sleep with Trust in Allah
After the prayer, go to sleep with the intention of seeking a sign or feeling from Allah regarding your decision.