Istikhara Dua

September 29, 2026

İstihare Duası: Arapçası, Okunuşu ve Anlamı

Explanation

This is the dua of istikhara (asking Allah to guide one to what is best). Istikhara is a legitimate practice; it is found in Bukhari, Muslim and many reliable books. At night, before going to sleep, one prays two rak’ahs for the sake of Allah, then recites this dua, makes one’s intention and goes to bed. While lying down, one says: “O Lord, if this matter I intend is good for me, show me white; if it is not good, show me black”; one then decides according to what one sees during the night.

Dua Text

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدِرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ

Transliteration

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as’aluka min fadlikal-‘azim, fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru wa ta’lamu wa la a’lamu wa anta ‘allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri faqdirhu 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 fasrifhu ‘anni wasrifni ‘anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kan.

Meaning

O Allah, I wish to seek what is best through Your knowledge (istikhara); by Your power I undertake this matter, and I ask of Your immense bounty. For You are able and I am not; You know and I do not know. You know everything hidden and everything that is not apparent. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for my religion and my worldly life, give me the ability to do it and make it easy for me; then bless me in it. And if this matter is bad for my religion, my worldly life and all my affairs, turn me away from it and keep me far from it; and decree for me what is good, wherever it may be, O Allah.

What Is Asked in This Dua

The dua asks that, through Allah’s knowledge, the better choice be made regarding a matter one intends to undertake: if it is good, that it be made easy and blessed; if it is bad, that it be kept away.

When and How to Recite

It is recited before making a decision, at night before going to sleep, after praying the two-rak’ah istikhara prayer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is istikhara performed?

At night, before sleeping, you pray two rak’ahs for the sake of Allah, then recite the istikhara dua, make your intention and go to bed.

What is asked for in the istikhara dua?

That the matter be made easy or kept away, depending on whether it is good for one’s religion and worldly life.

Is istikhara part of the Sunnah?

Yes; it is mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim, and our Prophet ﷺ gave instructions about istikhara.

Source

Majmu'at al-Ahzab, vol. 1, p. 612.

The text on this page was prepared by Dua Kitaplığı based on the work cited above. The Arabic text has been transcribed from the original with its vowel marks, and the transliteration in Latin letters and the English meaning are given separately. No virtue or number that does not appear in the source is added to this page. How do we prepare our content?

Published: 29 September 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026