Dua for Decision Making | Authentic Istikhara Dua

When facing an important permissible decision—such as marriage, career choices, moving, or major purchases—Muslims are encouraged to perform Istikhara. The Prophet ﷺ taught his Companions to seek Allah's guidance through this supplication just as he taught them verses of the Qur'an.

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 - أَوْ قَالَ: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ

Transliteration

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika wa astaqdiruka biqudratika 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 [mention decision here] khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (aw qala: 'ajili amri wa ajilih) 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 (aw qala: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilih) fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih.

Translation

O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. For You are able and I am not, You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [mention your decision here] is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs (or he said: in the present and the future), then decree it for me, facilitate it for me, and grant me blessing in it. But 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 the present and the future), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.

Source

Hadith — Sahih al-Bukhari — Sahih al-Bukhari 6382

Authenticity: Sahih

Meaning and Explanation

Istikhara means asking Allah for what is best based on His perfect knowledge and omnipotence, entrusting the final outcome to His wisdom while asking for ease and contentment.

When to Recite

When considering any important, halal (permissible) decision after consulting knowledgeable and trustworthy people (Shura).

How to Recite

Pray two non-obligatory raka'at (voluntary prayer). After finishing the prayer with Tasleem (or right before it in Sujood/Tashahhud according to some scholars), recite this supplication, explicitly thinking of or stating your decision at the point of '[mention decision]'.

Important Notes

Istikhara is not fortune-telling or a prediction of the future. You do not need to see a dream afterwards; rather, Allah guides you by making the right path easy and closing doors to harmful choices.

Benefits

It removes anxiety over choices, prevents regret, places full trust (Tawakkul) in Allah, and brings barakah (blessing) into whatever path opens up.

Additional Duas

Rabbana atina min ladunka rahmatan wa hayyi' lana min amrina rashada

Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.

Allahumma alhimni rushdi wa a'idhni min sharri nafsi

O Allah, inspire me with right guidance and protect me from the evil of my own self.

Content type: Hadith

Tags: dua for decision making istikhara dua decision prayer salat istikhara Islamic decision dua