Istikhara Dua: Arabic Text, Translation & Method

Istikhara Dua and Wazifa Spiritual Guidance Poster

The Dua of Istikhara represents one of the most eloquent and spiritually elevating supplications taught by the Prophet Muhammad (‎ﷺ). Recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari on the authority of Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA), it encapsulates total reliance on Allah's boundless wisdom, power, and mercy when facing life choices.

The Arabic Text of Dua al-Istikhara

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي (أَوْ قَالَ: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ) فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ 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.

Transliteration for Correct Pronunciation

"Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaadiruka 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 [mention your matter here] khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) faqdurhu li 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 (or: fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih."

English Translation & Theological Meaning

"O Allah, I seek Your counsel through Your knowledge and I seek strength through Your power, and I ask of Your immense bounty. For You possess power and I possess none, and You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen realms. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs (in the immediate present and future), then decree it for me, facilitate it for me, and bestow blessing upon me in it. And if You know that this matter is harmful for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree what is good for me wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it."

Theological Breakdown of Key Phrases

Astakhiruka bi'ilmika ("I seek counsel through Your knowledge"): Acknowledging that our human perception is narrow and clouded by emotions, while Allah's knowledge spans the infinite future.
Astaadiruka bi-qudratika ("I seek strength through Your power"): Even if a course of action is righteous, we cannot accomplish it without divine assistance and capability.
Wasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu ("Turn it away from me and turn me away from it"): This critical dual request asks Allah not only to remove an unfavorable matter, but to remove our emotional longing for it so our hearts do not remain burdened with regret.
Thumma ardini bih ("And make me content with it"): The highest level of spiritual peace—contentment (Rida) with whatever Allah decrees.

Practical Etiquette When Reciting the Dua

To attain maximum spiritual attentiveness, observe the following Sunnah etiquettes:

Begin with Hamd (praising Allah) and sending blessings (Durood Sharif) upon the Prophet (‎ﷺ).
Recite the dua attentively, whether by heart or reading clearly from a book or card.
Conclude the supplication with Durood Sharif once more, as supplications framed between blessings are readily received.
If your heart remains undecided, you may repeat the Istikhara prayer on subsequent nights (up to 7 days).

Professor Emmaad Bukhari

Spiritual Consultant & Islamic Counselor

Providing personalized guidance on Istikhara prayers, authentic Quranic wazaif, and marital reconciliation for clients worldwide.