Life has many decisions to make. Which partner to choose. Which job offer to take. Where to move next. Even starting a business requires a lot of thinking, especially with Islamic practices. There is a way to make such decisions easily with Islam’s guidance. This guide has everything you need to know about the Istikhara prayer, along with the Arabic text, transliteration, English translation, and step-by-step Urdu guidance to guide you on how to pray and recite Istikhara.
What Is Istikhara Dua?
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ
Allahumma inni astakheeruka bi’ilmik — “O Allah, I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge.”
Dua Istikhara means to ask Allah for the best thing to happen. It is the prayer that a Muslim recites for help to pick the best for themselves, for what Allah has decreed for them, and for their guidance in the matters of their life in this world and the hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught chapters of the Quran to his companions and the Istikhara prayer along with it, and showed the companions the importance of Istikhara in their lives.
Dua Istikhara is not just asking someone else for advice; in the Istikhara prayer, you put your case before Allah, and you are not asking for a dream. Rather, you ask for your situation, your heart, and Allah’s decision to be in what is best for you, which may not be what you originally wanted.
How to Pray Salat Istikhara
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ
Allahumma inni astaqdiruka biqudratik — “O Allah, I seek ability by virtue of Your power.”
To pray the Istikhara prayer, follow the following steps:
- Make wudu (ablution) as you would to perform other prayers.
- Perform two nafl rakats and ask Allah for assistance in your need.
- Afterwards, recite the following dua while you focus your mind on the problem you are facing.
- After completion, continue with your regular life, but pay attention to what seems to be easy or difficult in your heart and in your circumstances.
You need not observe any dream. The Istikhara Du’a is effective while you wait for guidance, as depicted by ease or difficulty in your way, clarity of your heart or confusion of your heart, and the normal progression of circumstances.
Istikhara Dua in Arabic (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
This is the exact Istikhara du’a recorded by Imam Bukhari, and this is the same du’a that Muslims around the world recite after the two rakahs of Dua a-Istikhara.
Istikhara Dua Transliteration
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ
For those still learning to read Arabic script, here is the istikhara dua transliteration:
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.
This Salat Istikhara du’a Transliteration is also commonly called Istikhara Dua English Transliteration or Dua of Istikhara Transliteration. It is meant for readers of any level to recite the du’a of the Prophet ﷺ in the same words. It is the same text used for dua istikhara with English translation, Istikhara Dua with English Transliteration, and English Istikhara du’a found on the internet.
Dua for Istikhara in English (Full Translation)
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ
Saying a prayer with meaning shows sincerity and focus. Here is the istikhara dua in english along with some variants like istikhara dua english, dua istikhara english, and salatul istikhara dua in english:
“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 then bless me in it.
But if in Your knowledge this matter is bad 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 for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.”
This translation of dua e istikhara is adopted by all of dua e istikhara with translation and dua e istikhara translation, whatever your query be for dua istikhara with translation or dua istikhara with english translation or istikhara dua with english translation in full. “This matter” (hatha al-amr) is where, in the prayer, you can mention the topic in question either silently in your heart or, as stated by many scholars, by saying it out loud during the prayer.
Istikhara Dua for Marriage
اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي
Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hathal-amra khayrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aqibati amri, faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li — “O Allah, if You know this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, then decree it for me and make it easy for me.”
Many people look up the istikhara dua for marriage. This is usually in relation to a marriage proposal and asking for guidance regarding the proposed marriage. This may also be called the marriage istikhara dua and dua istikhara for the decision. Two rakats are performed, and then the istikhara dua is said. As stated before, “this matter” (hatha al-amr) is the proposal or the person who is being considered.
People often think of istikhara as a replacement for sound judgment, family consultation, and practical research. This misconception highlights the misunderstanding regarding the purpose of istikhara. Istikhara actually draws on all the aforementioned aspects and cannot replace them. From a scholarly perspective, istikhara should be accompanied by forthright communication, ensuring a match with other parties, and asking for help from family members after evaluating their maturity and wisdom.
Short Istikhara Dua
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.”
As many users are looking for a short form version of istikhara dua, when saying dua is shorter, easier, and more convenient, this short form version should be used with caution. It is always best to say the full two-rakat prayer and long dua whenever the situation permits.
Dua for Istikhara in Urdu
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ
Many people search for istikhara dua in urdu, istikhara dua in urdu, dua istikhara in urdu, and istikhara dua in urdu translation to better understand the dua in their native language. However, the Arabic text is the same regardless of language. Trustworthy Islamic resources and apps provide the dua istikhara in Urdu translation and dua for istikhara in Urdu, helping people follow the dua phrase by phrase while reciting the original Arabic text.
Final Thoughts
اللَّهُمَّ اقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
There are many important decisions in life that involve so much uncertainty. Luckily, Islam provides us with a very simple, yet very comforting way to deal with that, called istikhara. It is the combination of two nafl prayers, the istikhara dua, combined with the sincerity of prayer, that instills the reader with the certainty of the existence of Allah’s knowledge over theirs. Istikhara brings clarity to major decisions such as marriage, career, travel, and starting businesses, etc.
Utilizing this Sunnah guides learners of this dua in English transliteration, or even just those wanting to always have a dua for istikhara PDF on hand to aid their recitation of the salatul istikhara dua transliteration, to go through the same peace and clarity routine prior to making a major decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the istikhara dua?
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ – The dua is recited after two voluntary rakats, asking Allah to guide a person toward the best outcome in the decision they are facing.
Do I need to see a dream after praying istikhara?
No. Some people experience dreams. More commonly, signs experienced by people are ease and difficulty of situations, and comfort and discomfort in hearts.
Can I do istikhara for more than one matter at a time?
It is recommended to do istikhara for individual matters, as that helps concentrate the heart and prayer on one specific matter.
Is it necessary to say the dua in Arabic?
The use of the Arabic wording is the Sunnah, but it is acceptable to recite in learners’ own languages if Arabic is not read.
How long do I have to wait for my answer?
Depending on the person, answers can come quickly, or, as some people have noticed, they have to remain attentive to how the dua changes their circumstances, sometimes even having to perform istikhara multiple times throughout the day.
