Dua of Salat al-Istikhara: Arabic Text and Meaning

There is a profound relief in handing a difficult decision over to Allah. Not in the sense of avoiding responsibility — but in the sense of recognising that there is Someone who knows the unseen, who sees the consequences you cannot, and who genuinely wants what is best for you. Salat al-Istikhara (صلاة الاستخارة — the prayer of seeking guidance) is the Islamic practice that makes this handover real. At its heart is a dua that asks Allah to determine your path based on His knowledge rather than your limited vision.

What Is the Dua of Salat al-Istikhara?

The dua of Salat al-Istikhara is a supplication narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah and recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6382. It is recited after two voluntary rakahs of prayer. The dua asks Allah to make the matter easy if it is good for your religion, your life, and your outcome, and to turn it away from you and turn you away from it if it is harmful — surrendering the final choice entirely to Divine knowledge. It is the most direct expression in the Sunnah of trusting Allah with a decision.

The Complete Dua: Arabic, Transliteration, and Translation

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this supplication to his companions the way he taught them verses of the Quran — emphasising its importance and its precise wording (Sahih al-Bukhari 6382):

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 الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ 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 fadlikal-adheem. 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 deeni wa ma'ashi wa aqibati amri faqdurhuli wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'ashi wa aqibati amri fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu waqdurlil-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih.

Translation:

"O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge, and I seek the help of Your power by Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And 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 relation to my religion, my life, and my outcome — then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it. And if in Your knowledge this matter is bad for me in relation to my religion, my life, and my outcome — then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be. Then make me pleased with it." — (Sahih al-Bukhari 6382)

A note on "this matter": When reciting, you mentally refer to the specific decision you are seeking guidance about at the phrase hadhal-amra (هَذَا الأَمْرَ — this matter). Some scholars permit naming it aloud, and others prefer the silent intention.

The Context Behind This Dua

Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach his companions the prayer of istikhara for all their affairs as he taught them a surah of the Quran. He would say: "When one of you is concerned about a matter, let him pray two rakahs of voluntary prayer, then recite this supplication." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6382)

This transmission detail is significant. The Prophet ﷺ did not reserve istikhara for life-altering decisions alone. He taught it as a general tool for any situation where the outcome is uncertain. Scholars have noted that this reflects a complete theology of decision-making: use your reason, consult people of experience, and then lay the matter before Allah and ask Him to direct what your intellect cannot fully see.

The phrase allam al-ghuyub (عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ — Knower of hidden things) at the centre of the dua is the theological foundation for all of this. Allah sees the consequences of a marriage, a job, a move, or a commitment stretching years into the future. The believer sees days; Allah sees decades.

Making Istikhara Part of Your Life

The method of Salat al-Istikhara is straightforward. What makes it meaningful is the sincerity behind it.

One of the most common misconceptions is that istikhara produces a dream or a feeling. While some people do report experiences after praying istikhara, scholars such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani clarify that the sign is primarily found in the unfolding of events — in ease or in difficulty. Trust that Allah hears, even when the response is subtle.

For a complete step-by-step walkthrough, the detailed guide on how to perform Salat al-Istikhara covers the full method including common questions about timing and intention. And if you want to understand the broader spiritual framework of seeking guidance, the article on dua for istikhara provides additional context on the underlying theology.

For the authentic hadith text, the complete narration is available at Sahih al-Bukhari 6382 on Sunnah.com. The concept of seeking guidance through prayer connects deeply to the Quranic principle in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:45: "And seek help through patience and prayer."

For the habit-formation dimension of daily supplication, DeenBack has a helpful piece on building inner peace through dhikr — the same disposition of trust and openness that makes istikhara most effective. And the Demi Manifest article on tawakkul in daily life gives a practical framework for the state of heart that follows sincere istikhara: trust in Allah once you have done your part.

Related Duas for Guidance and Certainty

These supplications pair naturally with Salat al-Istikhara — before the prayer, during the decision, and after it:

For more supplications in this family, see the guide to how to make istikhara prayer and the full article on istikhara prayer which covers the method across the four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence.

Common Questions

"What if I pray istikhara and both options still feel equally unclear?" This is a normal experience. It does not mean the istikhara was ineffective. Scholars advise continuing to make istikhara over several more days, while also consulting people of sound judgement and gathering more information. The guidance may come as clarity in your reasoning, not as emotion.

"Can I pray istikhara about a decision that has already been made?" Technically istikhara is intended for decisions that are still open. However, if circumstances change after a decision and you are now reconsidering, there is nothing wrong with praying istikhara at that point. The principle is sincerity — pray it when the outcome is genuinely undetermined in your heart.

"Is it true that after istikhara you should proceed with what your heart inclines toward?" Some scholars, including Ibn Qudama, mention following the inclination that comes after sincere istikhara. However, the dominant scholarly position is that this inclination is not itself the sign — the sign is in how events unfold. Act with confidence after your istikhara, knowing you have placed the matter in Allah's hands.

Closing

The dua of Salat al-Istikhara is not a formula for removing uncertainty — it is a practice of acknowledging that Allah knows what you cannot know, and trusting Him with that gap. Jabir ibn Abdullah said the Prophet ﷺ taught it like he taught the Quran. That level of emphasis tells you everything about how central this act of turning to Allah is meant to be.

Whenever a decision weighs on you — a marriage, a career move, a new path — pray two rakahs, recite these words with a present heart, and then move forward with confidence. You have asked the One who knows.