Istikhara Dua in Arabic Text: Full Transliteration and Meaning

When you stand at a crossroads — a job offer, a marriage proposal, a move to a new city — and no amount of advice makes the path clear, the istikhara dua is the Prophetic answer. Not a feeling, not a sign from a dream you must decode, but a direct appeal to Allah: "You know what I cannot know. Decree what is good for me." The Prophet ﷺ taught this supplication to his companions the same way he taught them a surah from the Quran (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166) — that urgently, that consistently. This article gives you the full Arabic text, a word-by-word breakdown, and the practical steps to make salat al-istikhara part of how you actually make decisions.

What Is the Istikhara Dua in Arabic?

The istikhara dua is a single Prophetic supplication recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 1166 by Jabir ibn Abd Allah (RA), containing 68 words in Arabic. Recited after two voluntary rakahs of salah, it asks Allah to decree a matter for you if it is good for your religion, livelihood, and future — and to remove it from you if it is harmful. The dua has no specified repetition count; it is said once, sincerely.

The Full 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

Transliteration: Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi-'ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratik, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-'azim. Fa-innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamu al-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amr khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, faqdrhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amr sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li al-khayr haythu kan, thumma ardini bih.

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. You have power and I have none; You know and 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 the end of my affair — then decree it for me, facilitate it for me, and bless me in it. And if in Your knowledge this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair — then remove it from me and remove me from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it."

— Sahih al-Bukhari 1166, narrated by Jabir ibn Abd Allah (RA)

When reciting the dua, pause at hadha al-amr ("this matter") and mention the specific decision you are seeking guidance about.

Key Phrases Word by Word

How the Prophet ﷺ Taught This Dua

Jabir ibn Abd Allah (RA) narrated: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us al-istikhara for all matters, just as he would teach us a surah from the Quran." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166) This comparison is instructive. The Prophet ﷺ did not teach istikhara as a ritual reserved for life-changing emergencies — he taught it for every matter in which a person needs guidance. Any genuine decision, large or small, qualifies.

The practice combines two parts: two voluntary rakahs of salah followed by the dua. Scholars differ on the precise moment to recite the dua — some say in the final sitting before salam, others say immediately after completing the prayer. The most widely cited view, mentioned by Ibn al-Qayyim, is that the dua follows the completion of the two rakahs. What matters most is that it is recited attentively, not in a rush.

The phrase 'aqibati amri — "the end of my affair" — deserves attention. Istikhara is not only asking Allah about what feels good now; it asks about what leads to the best outcome across your religion, livelihood, and long-term future. This three-part framing prevents you from reducing the decision to one dimension.

Making Istikhara Part of How You Decide

The habit of istikhara can be built around the decisions you already face rather than treated as a separate emergency practice. Here is a simple framework:

• Identify the decision early. As soon as a significant option appears — a job offer, a potential spouse, a major commitment — recognize it as an istikhara moment before you start feeling pressure to decide.
• Make intention before the two rakahs. Pray two voluntary rakahs (not a fard prayer) specifically for this purpose, with no other intention mixed in.
• Pause at "this matter" in the Arabic. Many scholars recommend saying the specific matter aloud or in your heart at that point, making the dua personal rather than generic.
• Then proceed. After sincere istikhara, move forward with what seems right or what circumstances make available. The Prophet ﷺ did not teach that you must wait for a dream. Ease, openness of heart, and doors opening naturally are among the signs scholars mention.

Pairing istikhara with the daily adhkar that begin and close your day reinforces the habit of turning to Allah in every need, not only in major decisions. You can also use the best dua for everything as a companion practice when the specific matter feels too uncertain to articulate.

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

Related Duas for Guidance and Clarity

The istikhara dua sits within a wider tradition of asking Allah for guidance. Three related supplications are worth memorizing alongside it.

For the full range of duas relevant to major life decisions, see the dua for istikhara guide and can I pray istikhara anytime for timing questions scholars address.

The practice of turning to Allah before deciding also connects to the broader Islamic teaching on tawakkul (reliance on Allah). As one DeenBack resource on building daily Islamic habits explores, consistency in small acts of worship — including istikhara — shapes how a Muslim's entire decision-making changes over time. The Quran-based framework of trusting Allah through hardship offers further context for how that reliance is lived out after you have made your decision.

For scholarly grounding, the full text and commentary on the istikhara hadith is available at Sunnah.com (Bukhari 1166), and the Quranic verse about Allah knowing what is hidden (Surah Al-An'am, 6:59) is available at Quran.com.

Common Questions About the Istikhara Dua

Can you perform istikhara for someone else?

You can make dua asking Allah to guide another person toward what is good, but salat al-istikhara in its proper form is performed for your own decision. If a parent is trying to decide something that affects their child, they may perform istikhara on their child's behalf according to some scholars, though the primary practice is personal.

Is it permissible to repeat istikhara multiple times?

Yes. If you performed istikhara sincerely and still feel genuinely uncertain after some time has passed, scholars permit repeating it. There is no fixed limit. What should not happen is repeating it impatiently the same night looking for a different answer.

Does istikhara require a specific surah in the two rakahs?

No specific surah is required beyond Al-Fatihah in each rakah. Some narrations mention reciting Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rakah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second, but the authenticated text of the hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166) does not specify beyond the two rakahs.

Closing

The istikhara dua is one of the most complete acts of submission in the Islamic tradition — it acknowledges that your knowledge is limited, that Allah's knowledge is total, and that the outcome you want may not be the outcome that is good for you. Memorizing the full Arabic text is worth the effort: it brings you into direct contact with the words the Prophet ﷺ chose, each one carrying a specific meaning and a specific request.

Begin with the transliteration. Read the word-by-word table until the Arabic and meaning connect. Then perform the prayer and the dua the next time you face a genuine decision — and notice what it does to your relationship with that decision.

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