Dua for Istikhara in English: Full Arabic & Translation

Standing at a crossroads — a job offer, a marriage proposal, a move to a new city — is one of the most vulnerable moments a believer faces. You have weighed your options, consulted people you trust, and still feel the weight of uncertainty. That uncertainty is not a sign of weak faith. It is precisely the opening for istikhara.

Salatul istikhara (صلاة الاستخارة) is the sunnah of handing your uncertainty over to the One who knows what you do not. The Prophet ﷺ taught this prayer as a complete spiritual tool — not a last resort, but an early step. This article gives you the full dua for istikhara in English, with Arabic text, transliteration, and a clear breakdown of what each phrase means.

What Is the Dua for Istikhara in English?

The istikhara dua is a supplication taught by the Prophet ﷺ to be recited after two voluntary rakahs, asking Allah to ordain a matter if it is good for your religion, livelihood, and outcome — or to avert it and replace it with something better if it is harmful. The full text is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 1166, narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA), and consists of approximately 70 Arabic words covering every dimension of a believer's concern.

The Complete Istikhara Dua: Arabic, Transliteration, and Translation

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 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadhlika al-'azeem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamu al-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur li al-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih.

English translation:

"O Allah, I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. For indeed You are able while I am not, and You know while I do not, and 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 affair — then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. But if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affair — then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be, then make me pleased with it."

— (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166)

Breaking Down the Key Phrases

The dua has two distinct movements. The first half is an act of submission: you declare that Allah knows and you do not, that He is capable and you are limited, and that He alone is 'allamu al-ghuyub — the complete Knower of all that is hidden. This is not performative humility. It is an acknowledgment of the real relationship between creator and created.

The second half is a conditional request: if this matter is good — ordain it and bless it. If it is harmful — remove it from your path and replace it with what is better. The closing phrase, thumma ardini bih ("then make me pleased with it"), is often overlooked but is perhaps the most profound. You are asking Allah not only to guide the outcome but to soften your heart toward whatever He decrees.

Why Did the Prophet ﷺ Prioritise Istikhara?

Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) narrated: "The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us istikhara in all matters just as he used to teach us a chapter of the Quran." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166)

The comparison to teaching Quran is striking. The Prophet ﷺ did not treat istikhara as a ritual for crises only. It was a habit for all decisions — from the significant to the ordinary. This framing shifts istikhara from an emergency tool into a daily disposition of reliance on Allah (tawakkul).

The Quran affirms this disposition in Surah Al-Imran: "And whoever relies upon Allah — He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a decreed extent." (Surah Al-Talaq, 65:3). Istikhara is the practical expression of this ayah.

How to Perform Salatul Istikhara Step by Step

The prayer can be performed at any valid prayer time — morning, midday, or night. The forbidden times (sunrise, midday at zenith, sunset) should be avoided. Many scholars prefer the last third of the night for its spiritual weight, but any time is valid.

Making Istikhara Part of How You Decide

One of the most common misconceptions is that istikhara should produce a clear sign before you act. This expectation often causes people to delay decisions indefinitely, waiting for a dream that may not come or a feeling that remains unclear.

The authentic sunnah is different: you pray, you recite the dua, and then you move forward with what seems most reasonable. If Allah has decreed that this matter is good for you, the path will ease. If it is not, circumstances will redirect you — sometimes gently, sometimes not. Your job is to remain attentive and content with whatever unfolds.

For important decisions like marriage or career changes, you can repeat istikhara over several days. There is no fixed limit, but the goal is not to accumulate repetitions — it is to reach a state of genuine tawakkul where your heart is open to any answer.

For more on building this reliance, see our guide to dua for guidance and the deeper concept of tawakkul in Islam.

Related Duas to Use Alongside Istikhara

The dua from Al-Fatiha ("Guide us to the straight path") is recited at least 17 times a day in obligatory prayers alone — a reminder that seeking guidance is not a crisis prayer but a daily orientation. Pairing it with istikhara before major decisions creates a consistent habit of turning to Allah throughout your life.

For further reading on related supplications, our full guides on istikhara dua and how to make istikhara prayer go deeper into the scholarly discussion. The team at DeenBack also explores dua for ease from the angle of daily practice, and Demimanifest covers tawakkul in daily life as a companion piece to the decision-making mindset.

Signs That Istikhara Has Been Answered

Many Muslims ask how they will know if their istikhara was accepted. The scholars — including Ibn al-Qayyim — note that signs come in different forms:

• Ease in proceeding: The path toward your decision becomes unexpectedly smooth
• Obstacles arising: Circumstances block the path in ways that feel meaningful
• A dream: Possible but not required — and dreams require careful interpretation
• A shift in the heart: A settled sense of contentment or unease, after genuine supplication

None of these signs is guaranteed, and none of them removes personal responsibility. You still need to research, consult, and think carefully. Istikhara is not a substitute for due diligence — it is its spiritual completion.

For more on the full prayer procedure and the scholarly basis, see our guides on how to perform salatul istikhara and the dua of salatul istikhara. For the Quranic foundation of tawakkul, you can read the verse directly on quran.com — Surah At-Talaq 65:3. Sunnah.com also has the full istikhara hadith in context.