Dua Istikhara
“Salat al-Istikhara” is an authentic dua from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 1166, 6382. Read it below in Arabic with transliteration and an English translation, and learn when to say it.
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 'ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratik, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'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 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 'anh, waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kan, thumma ardini bih.
Translation: 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 have none; You know and I do not know; You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then decree it for me, make it easy for me and then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and then make me content with it.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1166, 6382
When to recite
When you need to make a decision about a permissible matter (marriage, a job, travel, a purchase). Pray two rak‘ahs of voluntary prayer other than the obligatory prayer, then say this dua.
About this dua
Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah, who said the Prophet ﷺ used to teach them istikhara for all matters just as he taught them a surah of the Quran. Where the dua says “this matter” (hadhal-amr), you mention your need — the hadith says “and he should name his need”. In some narrations the phrase “in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs” is given as “in my immediate and later affairs” (‘ajili amri wa ajilih).
Notes
Istikhara is not limited to dreams or a particular feeling. After praying it, proceed with what seems best and trust that Allah will ease what is good and turn away what is not. It is also recommended to consult knowledgeable, trustworthy people.
Source and authenticity
- Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1166, 6382
- Grading: Recorded in the Sahih collections of al-Bukhari and/or Muslim, the most authentic books of hadith.
- Read the source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1166 · Sahih al-Bukhari 6382
The English translation is our own, kept close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow the standard numbering used on sunnah.com.
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