Istikhara dua with english translation:
The Istikhara dua in Arabic
ุงููููููู ูู ุฅููููู ุฃูุณูุชูุฎููุฑููู ุจูุนูููู ููู ููุฃูุณูุชูููุฏูุฑููู ุจูููุฏูุฑูุชููู ููุฃูุณูุฃููููู ู ููู ููุถููููู ุงููุนูุธููู ู ููุฅูููููู ุชูููุฏูุฑู ููููุง ุฃูููุฏูุฑู ููุชูุนูููู ู ููููุง ุฃูุนูููู ู ููุฃูููุชู ุนููููุงู ู ุงููุบููููุจู ุงููููููู ูู ุฅููู ููููุชู ุชูุนูููู ู ุฃูููู ููุฐูุง ุงููุฃูู ูุฑู ุฎูููุฑู ููู ููู ุฏููููู ููู ูุนูุงุดูู ููุนูุงููุจูุฉู ุฃูู ูุฑูู ููุงููุฏูุฑููู ููู ููููุณููุฑููู ููู ุซูู ูู ุจูุงุฑููู ููู ููููู ููุฅููู ููููุชู ุชูุนูููู ู ุฃูููู ููุฐูุง ุงููุฃูู ูุฑู ุดูุฑูู ููู ููู ุฏููููู ููู ูุนูุงุดูู ููุนูุงููุจูุฉู ุฃูู ูุฑูู ููุงุตูุฑููููู ุนููููู ููุงุตูุฑูููููู ุนููููู ููุงููุฏูุฑู ููู ุงููุฎูููุฑู ุญูููุซู ููุงูู ุซูู ูู ุฃูุฑูุถูููู
Istikhara dua english Transliteration
Allรขhumma inni astakhiruka bi ilmika wa astaqdiruka biqudratika wa asโaluka min fadlikal-azimi, fa innaka taqdiru walรข aqdiru wa taโlamu walรข aโlamu wa anta allamul ghuyubi. Allรขhumma in kunta taโlamu anna hรขdhal amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma-ashi wa aqibati amri faqdir-hu li wa yassir-hu li thumma barik li fihi wa in kunta taโlamu anna hรขdhal amra sharrun li fi dini wa maรขshi wa aqibati amri fasrifhu anni wasrifni anhu waqdir liyal-khayra haythu kรขna thumma ardini.
Istikhara dua Translation
โO Allah, verily I seek the better [of either choice] from You, by Your knowledge, and I seek ability from You, by Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. For indeed You have power, and I am powerless; You have knowledge, and I know not; You are the Knower of the unseen realms.
O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair, then decree it for me, facilitate it for me, and grant me blessing in it. And if You know that this matter is not good for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair, then turn it away from me and me from it; and decree for me better than it, wherever it may be, and make me content with it.โ
Importance of Istikhara
Istikhara dua is used for seeking guidance from Allah before making important decisions.
In this article we will read what is the Istikhara dua ? What is the significance of Istikhara ุงูุงุณุชุฎุงุฑุฉ in Islam? How to properly perform the Istikhara prayer?
Istikhara Dua is a powerful prayer that is performed to seek guidance and clarity from Allah (SWT) when making important decisions. The word Istikhara means โto seek goodnessโ or โto seek guidanceโ, and the purpose of this dua is to ask Allah (SWT) for His divine guidance and help in making the right decision.
The importance of this dua lies in its ability to connect us with Allah (SWT) and seek His guidance in all aspects of our lives. It helps us to make informed decisions that are aligned with the will of Allah (SWT) and avoid any potential harm or negative consequences.
Moreover it is not just limited to major life decisions but can be performed for any matter, big or small. It is a way to seek Allahโs guidance in all aspects of our lives, including our personal relationships, career choices, and even daily routines.
Among the many difficulties that man undergoes is โconfusionโ and โperplexityโ. Almost everyday in his life, man is faced with the task of making a decision between two or more choices. Generally the decisions are not major but occasionally they do become quite serious. Even in these circumstances, our beloved mentor, Rasรปlullรขh Sallalahu alaihe wa sallam taught us what to do, and clearly outlined the solution. This solution is called โIstikharaโ.
Also read : Ayatul kursi and inna lillahi wa inna ilaehe rajiun

We learn from this รขyah that man has limited knowledge and deficient intellect. At times he may desire something, which may prove harmful to him, and on the other hand, he may dislike something, while it is good for him. The sole possessor of perfect knowledge, and the only knower of the unseen is Allรขh , the Creator of man and the Controller of the system of the universe. Thus, whenever a person desires any good, he may only obtain it from Allรขh . A Hadรฎth states:
โู
ููู ุณูุนูุงุฏูุฉู ุงุจููู ุขุฏูู
ู ุงุณูุชูุฎูุงุฑูุชููู ุงูููู ููู
ููู ุดูููููุชููู ุชูุฑููููู ุงุณูุชูุฎูุงุฑูุฉู ุงูููู โ
โIt is from the good fortune of man that he makes Istikhรขrah (seeks good) from Allรขh, and it is from his misfortune that he discards Istikhรขrah (seeking good) from Allรขh.โ
How to perform Istikhara prayer? The Method of Istikhara
Hadrat Jรขbir ra reports: Rasรปlullรขh taught us to make Istikharah concerning all matters in the same way as he would teach us a sรปrah of the Qurโรขn. He would say: โWhen any of you wishes to take up any task, he should perform two rakaรขt of Salรขh other than that of fard (meaning two rakaรขt of nafl with the intention of Istikhรขra). He should then say (in supplication):

ุงููููููู ูู ุฅููููู ุฃูุณูุชูุฎููุฑููู ุจูุนูููู ููู ููุฃูุณูุชูููุฏูุฑููู ุจูููุฏูุฑูุชููู ููุฃูุณูุฃููููู ู ููู ููุถููููู ุงููุนูุธููู ู ููุฅูููููู ุชูููุฏูุฑู ููููุง ุฃูููุฏูุฑู ููุชูุนูููู ู ููููุง ุฃูุนูููู ู ููุฃูููุชู ุนููููุงู ู ุงููุบููููุจู ุงููููููู ูู ุฅููู ููููุชู ุชูุนูููู ู ุฃูููู ููุฐูุง ุงููุฃูู ูุฑู ุฎูููุฑู ููู ููู ุฏููููู ููู ูุนูุงุดูู ููุนูุงููุจูุฉู ุฃูู ูุฑูู ููุงููุฏูุฑููู ููู ููููุณููุฑููู ููู ุซูู ูู ุจูุงุฑููู ููู ููููู ููุฅููู ููููุชู ุชูุนูููู ู ุฃูููู ููุฐูุง ุงููุฃูู ูุฑู ุดูุฑูู ููู ููู ุฏููููู ููู ูุนูุงุดูู ููุนูุงููุจูุฉู ุฃูู ูุฑูู ููุงุตูุฑููููู ุนููููู ููุงุตูุฑูููููู ุนููููู ููุงููุฏูุฑู ููู ุงููุฎูููุฑู ุญูููุซู ููุงูู ุซูู ูู ุฃูุฑูุถูููู
Istikharah for Marriage
Abรป Ayyรปb Ansรขrรฎ $ reported that Rasรปlullรขh SAW said :Conceal the proposal, then perform wudรปproperly, thereafter perform as many rakaรขt as Allรขh destined for you. After having performed Salรขh, praise and extol your Sustainer, then say:

โO Allรขh, You have power and I have none, and You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. If in Your knowledge (so and so name ) be good for me with regards to my Dรฎn(religion), my worldly affairs as well as those that relate to my hereafter, then destine her for me; and if someone else be better for me than her with regards to my Dรฎn (religion), my worldly affairs as well as those that relate to my hereafter, then destine her for me.โ.
Looking for Signs in Istikhara
One should suspend oneโs own judgment or inclination about a particular matter and wait for Allah to show one a sign or to make things happen in a way that indicates what to do. When one is unclear about the result of the istikhara, the fuqaha mention that it is recommended to repeat it up to 7 times if necessary (usually done on separate occasions). [cf: Ibn โAbidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
When Unable to Offer Salah
In general, when it is not possible to perform the istikhara prayer itself (such as when one is out on the road or in oneโs menstrual period), it is recommended to simply read the dua itself. [Radd al-Muhtar]
Benefits of istikhara
Hadrat Shรขh Waliyyullรขh ุงุงููู ุฑุญู ููู writes: โFrom among the greatest benefits of Istikhรขrah is that man becomes detached from his carnal desires, his animalistic characteristics become subject to his angelic nature, and he hands himself over to Allah.
When he does this, he reaches the stages of the angels whose quality is that they await the command of Allรขh When Allahโs command is received, they exert themselves through divine inspiration and not carnal motivation. I believe that frequent Istikharah is a proven tonic for the inculcation of angelic qualities.โ
- Istikhara in one of the great sunan of our Beloved Prophet sallallaahuโalaihi wasallam. He taught it to his companions in the same way that he taught them a surah of the Qurโan.
- It is not necessary to perform Istikhara before sleeping, although it was the preference of some saints.
- It is not necessary to see a dream in Istikhara. If someone is used to seeing true dreams, then it is likely that his dream be true. As for others, the dream seen after performing. Istikhara falls into the same three categories as other dreams.
How Many Times should istikhara be done ?
As far as the performance of โIstikhรขrahโ more than once is concerned, ulema deem it mustahabb to perform it 3 times. There is however no problem in performing Istikhรขrah asmany times as one wishes to, just as there is no problem in making the same duโรข many times
The Short dua of Istikhรขrah
In a โweakโ narration Hadrat Abรป Bakr radi allahu anhu is reported to have stated that whenever Rasรปlullรขh SAW intended to do anything, he used to say:

โO Allรขh, destine good for me, and choose for me.โ
Method of Istikhara in Hadeeth
One should resort to the methods mentioned in the following narrations:
ุนููู ุฌูุงุจูุฑู ุจููู ุนูุจูุฏู ุงูููููู ู ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนููู ุง ู ููุงูู ููุงูู ุฑูุณูููู ุงูููููู ุตูู ุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู ููุนููููู ูููุง ุงูุงูุณูุชูุฎูุงุฑูุฉู ููู ุงูุฃูู ููุฑู ููู ูุง ููุนููููู ูููุง ุงูุณูููุฑูุฉู ู ููู ุงููููุฑูุขูู ููููููู โย โโ ุฅูุฐูุง ููู ูู ุฃูุญูุฏูููู ู ุจูุงูุฃูู ูุฑู ููููููุฑูููุนู ุฑูููุนูุชููููู ู ููู ุบูููุฑู ุงููููุฑููุถูุฉู ุซูู ูู ูููููููู ุงููููููู ูู ุฅููููู ุฃูุณูุชูุฎููุฑููู ุจูุนูููู ููู ููุฃูุณูุชูููุฏูุฑููู ุจูููุฏูุฑูุชูููุ ููุฃูุณูุฃููููู ู ููู ููุถููููู ุงููุนูุธููู ูุ ููุฅูููููู ุชูููุฏูุฑู ูููุงู ุฃูููุฏูุฑู ููุชูุนูููู ู ูููุงู ุฃูุนูููู ู ููุฃูููุชู ุนููุงููู ู ุงููุบููููุจูุ ุงููููููู ูู ุฅููู ููููุชู ุชูุนูููู ู ุฃูููู ููุฐูุง ุงูุฃูู ูุฑู ุฎูููุฑู ููู ููู ุฏููููู ููู ูุนูุงุดูู ููุนูุงููุจูุฉู ุฃูู ูุฑูู ู
ุฃููู ููุงูู ุนูุงุฌููู ุฃูู ูุฑูู ููุขุฌููููู ู ููุงููุฏูุฑููู ููู ููููุณููุฑููู ููู ุซูู ูู ุจูุงุฑููู ููู ูููููุ ููุฅููู ููููุชู ุชูุนูููู ู ุฃูููู ููุฐูุง ุงูุฃูู ูุฑู ุดูุฑูู ููู ููู ุฏููููู ููู ูุนูุงุดูู ููุนูุงููุจูุฉู ุฃูู ูุฑูู ู ุฃููู ููุงูู ููู ุนูุงุฌููู ุฃูู ูุฑูู ููุขุฌููููู ู ููุงุตูุฑููููู ุนููููู ููุงุตูุฑูููููู ุนูููููุ ููุงููุฏูุฑู ููู ุงููุฎูููุฑู ุญูููุซู ููุงูู ุซูู ูู ุฃูุฑูุถูููู ุจููู ู ููุงูู ู ููููุณูู ููู ุญูุงุฌูุชููู โโโโ.
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:ย The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Qurโan.
He said, โIf anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two rakโat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer): (O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen.
O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafterโ(or said: If it is better for my present and later needs) โThen You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter-
-(or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)-Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it). The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) added that then the person should name (mention) his need. (Bukhariโ 1166)ย
ุนููู ุนูุงุฆูุดูุฉูุ ุนููู ุฃูุจูู ุจูููุฑู ุงูุตููุฏูููููุ ุฃูููู ุงููููุจูููู ุตูู ุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู ููุงูู ุฅูุฐูุง ุฃูุฑูุงุฏู ุฃูู ูุฑูุง ููุงูู โย โโ ุงููููููู ูู ุฎูุฑู ููู ููุงุฎูุชูุฑู ููู โโโ โ.ย
Aishah (Radhiyallahu Anha) narrated from Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (Radhiyallahu Anhu):ย that whenever the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) wanted to do a matter, he would say: โO Allah, make it good for me and choose for me.ย (Tirmidhi- 3516)
Istikharah point to remember
- The inclination or feeling that one finds after Istikhรขrah is not necessarily part of the Istikhรขrah. Persons who are used to receiving divine inspirations (ilham) may regard their inclination to be such. Others should not pay attention to such feelings.
- It is best to perform as many rakaโat as possible before reciting the dua. The performance of at least two rakaโat is a sunnah of Istikharah.
- Istikhara can be performed by merely reciting the dua, without performing any salah. It may also be recited after any fard salah.
- Istikhara is a form of dua. It may thus be performed until the task is accomplished. To perform it at least three times is the best. Once may also suffice.
- Istikhara may even be performed by someone who has an overwhelming desire towards one of the two options. If his desire is not in conformance to what is best for him, by virtue of his Istikharah, he will saved from it, and will be directed towards that which is best for him.
- The essence of Istikharah is that one is thereby handing his matter over to Allah, and placing all trust in him.
- ย Istikhara is a great means of inculcating the attribute of tawakkul.
- When one makes Istikharah, he becomes satisfied with Allahโs decision for him. This imbibes into him the attribute of always being pleased with Allahโs will.
- During the cause of, or after having performed Istikharah, there is no problem in consulting with anyone about the issue under concern. Such consultation is called mashurah, which in itself is a sunnah.
Ref Fatwa and notes made from Istikhara in the light of sunnah