Istikhara Dua: Full English Transliteration Guide

When the Words Feel Unfamiliar

You know Istikhara exists. You know you are supposed to pray two rakats and then recite a specific supplication. But when the moment arrives, the Arabic feels uncertain — you pause mid-phrase, lose your place, or wonder whether you are saying it correctly.

This guide is for that moment. It gives you the complete Istikhara dua with full English transliteration, broken down phrase by phrase, so you can recite it with confidence. The focus here is not on what Istikhara is — our guide to the dua for istikhara covers that fully — but on how to actually say the words when you sit down to make it.

What Is the Istikhara Dua in English Transliteration?

The Istikhara dua is a supplication taught by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 1166, in which a believer asks Allah to guide a specific decision by ordaining the matter if it is good and turning it away if it is not. In English transliteration the dua begins: Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi-'ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'azim — and continues for two balanced clauses, one requesting goodness if the matter is sound, one requesting removal if it is not.

The Complete Istikhara Dua: Arabic, Transliteration, and Translation

Here is the full dua as transmitted in Sahih al-Bukhari, with the Arabic text, English transliteration, and English translation.

Arabic text:

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

Full transliteration:

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi-'ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika 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 faqdurhuli 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 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih.

English translation:

"O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek Your ability through Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. You have power; I have none. You know; I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs — ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs — turn it away from me, 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)

Phrase-by-Phrase Breakdown for Learning

Learning the dua segment by segment is the most reliable approach. The table below breaks the transliteration into manageable units alongside the Arabic and meaning.

The Key Phrase: Hadhal-Amr

Twice in the dua you reach hadhal-amra — "this matter." This is where you name your specific situation, in your heart or briefly in your own words, before continuing. You do not insert Arabic words or interrupt the text.

This detail matters. Istikhara is not a general supplication for blessing — it is a request about one specific decision. The phrase hadhal-amra keeps your supplication anchored to the actual choice in front of you, not a vague hope for things to go well.

Why Transliteration Is a Valid Starting Point

Arabic is the language of the Quran, and learning it is encouraged without exception. But for Muslims whose first language is not Arabic, transliteration serves as a genuine bridge — allowing sincere recitation of authentic duas while the reader builds toward script literacy.

The Quran teaches a principle of ease in worship:

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

La yukallifullahu nafsan illa wus'aha

"Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear." — (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:286)

Beginning with transliteration so you can make the dua at all is far better than avoiding Istikhara because the Arabic feels inaccessible. As you grow more familiar with the phrases, begin following along with the Arabic text alongside the transliteration.

For those who want the full procedural context — the wudu, the two rakats, what to recite in them — our guide on how to perform Istikhara prayer covers every step.

Do you feel your duas are unanswered?

Have you read the dua properly? Learn authentic duas, understand their meanings, and call upon Allah with greater confidence through DeenUp.

Take the Dua Quiz

For building the broader daily supplication habit that makes Istikhara feel natural rather than occasional, the DeenBack guide to morning dua routine is a practical companion — exploring how structured daily dua creates the inner readiness for turning to Allah in moments of decision.

Building the Practice of Istikhara

Istikhara is most meaningful when it emerges from a living relationship with supplication. The Quran establishes this relational foundation:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ

Wa idha sa'alaka 'ibadi 'anni fa inni qarib. Ujibud-da'wata-d-da'i idha da'an

"When My servants ask you about Me — I am near. I respond to the call of the one who calls Me when they call upon Me." — (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:186)

The closeness described here is not reserved for major decisions. It is the everyday reality of your relationship with Allah. Istikhara calls on that closeness at a specific moment of need.

To build the practice:

• Use the table above to learn one row per day — the full transliteration takes about ten days to internalize this way
• Write the transliteration on a card and keep it on your prayer mat until the phrases feel natural
• After daily prayers, review one segment to reinforce your memory
• Make Istikhara proactively — before urgency peaks — so your recitation is calm and present

Our article on how to make dua properly covers the etiquette of supplication, including the posture of heart that makes a dua as significant as Istikhara genuinely land rather than feel formulaic.

For the trust that must follow after you have made the dua, DemiManifest's reflection on tawakkul in daily life addresses what it means to genuinely surrender the outcome — especially when the answer is not the one you expected.

Related Duas for Guidance

The Istikhara dua is the most specific supplication for decision-making, but these duas belong alongside it:

Common Questions

Can I recite the Istikhara dua imperfectly while still learning?

Yes. Reciting with sincere intention and approximate pronunciation is better than not making the dua at all. Scholars consistently emphasize intention and presence over technical perfection, especially for non-native Arabic speakers who are genuinely working toward accuracy.

Should hadhal-amr be said out loud or silently?

Either is acceptable. Most scholars indicate that naming the matter clearly in your heart is sufficient. If it helps your focus, you may briefly say the matter in your own language as you reach that phrase. What matters is that the dua is directed at one specific, identified decision.

Is there a shorter version of the Istikhara dua I can use?

No shorter form exists in the Sunnah. The dua as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 1166 is complete and should be recited in full. If the full text feels long, the phrase-by-phrase approach in this guide will help you learn it within a week or two of daily practice.

Can I perform Istikhara for someone else?

The majority scholarly position is that Istikhara is a personal act — you ask Allah to guide your own decision based on your deen and livelihood. You may make a general dua asking Allah to guide someone you care about, but the Istikhara structure described in the hadith is for one's own choices.

What if I forget part of the dua mid-recitation?

Pause, recollect, and continue. There is no need to restart from the beginning. The sincerity of the supplication matters more than flawless delivery. As you work toward memorization using this guide, brief lapses will become rare.

Recite It, Then Trust

Learning the Istikhara dua from transliteration is a beginning, not an endpoint. Once the phrases become familiar, your focus shifts from mechanics to meaning — and that shift changes the experience entirely.

Read the final phrase again: thumma ardini bih — "then make me pleased with it." You are not merely asking for the better outcome. You are asking Allah to shape your heart so that whatever comes, you receive it with contentment.

Use the transliteration to reach that phrase. Let it take root in you as the words become your own. And when the decision is made, trust that you have done the most important thing: you asked the One who knows.

For a deeper look at the theology and practice of this extraordinary prayer, our guide on Istikhara prayer covers the full scholarly context.

Do you feel your duas are unanswered?

Have you read the dua properly? Learn authentic duas, understand their meanings, and call upon Allah with greater confidence through DeenUp.

Take the Dua Quiz