A lot of Muslims desire to pray istikhara but are apprehensive about reading the Arabic right. This is where Salat Istikhara Dua transliteration comes in. The text is in Latin letters so that you can recite the words of the Prophet ﷺ with confidence even if you have not yet learned to read Arabic script. This tutorial gives you the whole Arabic text, a simple transcription, the English meaning and instructions for performing istikhara properly.
What Is Salat Istikhara, and Why Use Transliteration?
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ
Allahumma inni astakheeruka bi’ilmik — “O Allah, I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge.”
Salat istikhara is a two-rakat nafl (voluntary prayer) and specific dua (supplication) that Prophet ﷺ gave to anyone making a decision and wishing to Allah to lead him to what is best. This is as the Prophet ﷺ used to teach his companions, just as he used to teach them the Qur’an, and it is documented by Imam Bukhari.
The salatul istikhara dua transliteration is very helpful for new Muslims, children, and those learning Arabic. This is a tool to enhance your pronunciation, not a replacement for the Arabic. Use it as a stepping stone till you get to recite from the Arabic text itself.
Istikhara Dua Transliteration (Full 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
Here is the complete istikhara dua transliteration, which you can read slowly after your two rakats:
Allahumma inni astakheeruka bi’ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as’aluka min fadlikal-‘atheem, fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta’lamu wa la a’lam, wa anta ‘allamul-ghuyoob.
Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hathal-amra khayrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aqibati amri, faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh.
Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hathal-amra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aqibati amri, fasrifhu ‘anni wasrifni ‘anhu, waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana, thumma ardini bih.
If you are looking for the transliteration of istikhara dua or an istikhara transliteration dua that you can save or print, the text above is comprehensive and follows the phrasing of Sahih al-Bukhari. Spelling differs significantly on different pages, but the Arabic below is the same.
Dua Istikhara with English Transliteration and Translation
اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي
Saying the words is merely part of the practice. To know them is to be sincere and focused. A dua istikhara with English transliteration is most effective when placed next to the meaning so that when you recite, you have an understanding of what you are asking Allah for.
Above is the translation of the istikhara dua with english transliteration:
“O Allah, I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You for Your great bounty. You have power, and I have none. You know, and I know not. You are the Knower of the unseen.
O Allah, if in Your knowledge this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it.
“If this matter is bad for me in Your knowledge 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 for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.”
You may refer to it as the istikhara dua in English transliteration or the istikhara dua in English transliteration, but the purpose is the same: to recite the words of the Prophet ﷺ correctly with knowledge of their meaning. When you reach the words “this matter” (hatha al-amr), define in your heart what you are making a decision about – perhaps a job offer, a move or a marriage proposal.
How to Pray Salatul Istikhara and Recite the Dua
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ
Allahumma inni astaqdiruka biqudratik, wa as’aluka min fadlikal-‘atheem — “O Allah, I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You for Your great bounty.”
Many individuals search for the istikhara dua transliteration because they are looking for a simple step-by-step manner to pray. This is the basic way:
- Perform wudu as you would for any prayer.
- Pray two supererogatory (nafl) rakats with the goal of seeking guidance from Allah.
- Once you have finished the prayer, you should recite the dua either in Arabic if you can or from the transliteration if you are still learning.
- When you recite, mention your affair in your heart.
- Carry on with your day and watch how your heart and your circumstances respond.
You do not have to witness a dream. More usual symptoms include ease or trouble with the subject and peace or disquiet in your heart. The dua istikhara transliteration is just a way to help you to pronounce correctly in step three.
Line-by-Line Guide to the Dua of Istikhara Transliteration
وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ
Wa ta’lamu wa la a’lam, wa anta ‘allamul-ghuyoob — “You know, and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen.”
It is considerably easier to memorise the dua of istikhara transliteration if you break the dua into smaller sections. This is the way to go about it:
- The opening (Allahumma inni astakheeruka): You accept your poor understanding and beg Allah to guide you through His.
- The first request (…khayrun li fi deeni): You ask for the case to be decided for you if it is good for your religion, your livelihood and your end outcome.
- The second request (…sharrun li fi deeni): You beg that it be turned away if it is detrimental and that you be made content with what Allah determines.
It is practical to learn one portion per day and memorise it. Someone using a dua istikhara with a transliteration guide can start with the first part and add a portion every day or two until the whole dua is comfortable.
Tips for Pronouncing the Transliteration Correctly
وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana, thumma ardini bih—”And decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.”
A few habits help because transliteration cannot reproduce all Arabic sounds:
- Hear it out. The cadence and force of the words will be matched by listening to a skilled reciter.
- Take it slow. Rushing is the number one cause of mispronunciation, especially for longer words such as wa as’aluka min fadlikal-‘atheem.
- Study the hard letters. It appears that the “ayn” (ع) and the “kh” in “astakheeruka” do not exist in English, and a teacher can help you with them.
- Head for the Arabic. The Arabic script should be used more, and the transliteration less, over time. It is the original text of the supplication.
Final Thoughts
اللَّهُمَّ اقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Allahumma-qdur liyal-khayra haythu kan, thumma ardini bih — “O Allah, decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.”
The transcription of Salat Istikhara Dua opens up a magnificent Sunnah to every Muslim, regardless of their knowledge of Arabic. Use it to recite with confidence, and to know what you are asking for. As your Arabic gets better, start to go gradually nearer the original text. If you have a huge decision to make, pray your two rakats, say the dua genuinely and believe that Allah knows what is best for you better than you do.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the transliteration of the istikhara dua?
It is the Arabic supplication of istikhara but written in Latin letters so that non-Arabic readers can say it. The complete text is above.
Is it permissible to read Istikhara from transliteration?
Yes, when learning, you can recite from the transliteration if you cannot read Arabic yet. Try to learn the Arabic over time.
Do I say the dua inside the Salah or outside?
The Prophet ﷺ instructed that the dua be said after the completion of two rakats.
Can I pray Istikhara for a marriage decision?
Yes. People usually pray Istikhara for marriage, work, travelling and any halal decision. It is an addition to consulting and your own research, not a replacement.
How long till I get an answer?
There isn’t a time limit. Some people get clarity right away, while others might repeat the istikhara for a few days.
