Dua Istikhara

Updated on January 16, 2026
by Yayasan Al-Islah
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Introduction

In life, we are often faced with choices that leave us uncertain—decisions about marriage, career, business, education, or other important matters. As human beings, our knowledge is limited, and our vision of the future is incomplete. Dua Istikhara is a beautiful gift from Islam that teaches us to turn to Allah when we are unsure, asking Him to guide us toward what is best. Istikhara reflects true faith, humility, and trust in Allah’s perfect knowledge and wisdom.

What Is Istikhara?

The word Istikhara comes from the Arabic root meaning to seek goodness. When a Muslim performs Istikhara, they are asking Allah to choose what is best for them in both this world and the Hereafter. Istikhara is not about seeing dreams or signs alone; rather, it is about placing one’s affairs in Allah’s hands and moving forward with peace of heart.

Istikhara is performed for matters that are permissible (halal) and involve personal choice. It is not performed for obligatory acts (such as prayer or fasting) or sinful matters.

How to Perform Istikhara

Perform two rak‘ah of voluntary prayer (solat sunnah Istikhara), other than the obligatory prayers.
After completing the prayer, recite Dua Istikhara with sincerity and full reliance on Allah.
Place your trust in Allah and proceed with the decision while observing ease, clarity, and peace in your heart.

The Text of Dua Istikhara

Dua Istikhara (Arabic)

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: فِي 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.

Dua Istikhara (Rumi / Transliteration)

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ‘ilmik,
wa astaqdiruka bi qudratik,
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-amr
khayrun li fi dini wa ma‘ashi wa ‘aqibati amri
(aw qala: fi ‘ajili amri wa ajilih)
faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li,
thumma barik li fihi.
Wa in kunta ta‘lamu anna hadhal-amr
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 bihi.

Dua Istikhara (English Meaning)

O Allah, I seek the good through Your knowledge,
and I seek ability through Your power,
and I ask You from Your immense bounty.
For You have power and I have none,
You know and I do not know,
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 affairs
(or in the immediate and distant future),
then decree it for me, make it easy for me,
and bless it for me.
And if You know that this matter is bad for me
in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs
(or in the immediate and distant future),
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 content with it.

The Wisdom Behind Istikhara

Dua Istikhara trains the heart to rely on Allah rather than solely on logic or emotion. After Istikhara, a person may find clarity, ease, or a sense of peace toward a decision—or obstacles and discomfort that gently turn them away. Whatever the outcome, a believer trusts that Allah has chosen what is best.

Conclusion

Dua Istikhara is a powerful reminder that Allah knows what we do not, and He sees what lies beyond our vision. By sincerely performing Istikhara, we place our decisions in the safest hands—Allah’s. May Allah guide us to choices that bring goodness, protect us from harm, and grant us contentment with His decree. Let every decision we make be accompanied by trust, patience, and reliance on Allah’s perfect wisdom.