My Account 🌙 Istikhara Dua – Seeking Guidance from Allah
Life is full of decisions—some small, others life-changing. Whether it’s choosing a spouse, accepting a job offer, or making a personal move, Islam offers a powerful spiritual tool: Istikhara. This Sunnah prayer helps believers seek Allah’s guidance when faced with uncertainty.
🕋 What Is Istikhara?
Istikhara (استخارة) means “seeking goodness.” It’s a prayer taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to help Muslims make decisions with divine clarity. The Prophet ﷺ emphasised its importance, saying:
“If anyone of you intends to do something, he should offer a two-rak‘at prayer other than the obligatory prayer and then say the Istikhara dua.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 6382
How to Seek Allah’s Guidance in Life Decisions
🧎♂️ How to Perform Istikhara
- Perform Wudu (Ablution)
- Pray Two Rak‘ahs of Nafl Salah with the intention of Istikhara
- Recite the Istikhara Ki Dua after completing the prayer
- Mention Your Concern when saying “هذا الأمر” (this matter)
- Trust Allah’s Plan and observe how events unfold
🕊️ The Dua for Istikhara
🕌 Arabic 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.
🌐 English Translation
“O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek Your power through Your might, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. For indeed, You have power while I do not, and You know while I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen.
O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and for my afterlife, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it.
And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and for my afterlife, 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 content with it.”
🇵🇰 Urdu Translation
اے اللہ! میں تیرے علم سے بھلائی مانگتا ہوں، اور تیری قدرت سے طاقت مانگتا ہوں، اور تیرے عظیم فضل سے سوال کرتا ہوں۔
بے شک تو قدرت رکھتا ہے اور میں نہیں رکھتا، تو جانتا ہے اور میں نہیں جانتا، اور تو غیبوں کا جاننے والا ہے۔
اے اللہ! اگر تو جانتا ہے کہ یہ کام میرے دین، میری زندگی اور میرے انجام کے لحاظ سے میرے لیے بہتر ہے، تو اسے میرے لیے مقدر کر دے، اسے میرے لیے آسان کر دے، اور اس میں میرے لیے برکت دے۔
اور اگر تو جانتا ہے کہ یہ کام میرے دین، میری زندگی اور میرے انجام کے لحاظ سے میرے لیے نقصان دہ ہے، تو اسے مجھ سے دور کر دے اور مجھے اس سے دور کر دے، اور میرے لیے جہاں کہیں بھی بھلائی ہو، اسے مقدر کر دے، پھر مجھے اس پر راضی کر دے۔
💍 Istikhara for Marriage
Marriage is a major life decision. Istikhara helps you seek Allah’s guidance in choosing the right spouse. Pray two rak‘ahs, recite the dua, and observe how events unfold. Ease may indicate goodness, while obstacles might be a sign to reconsider.
🌟 Signs of Istikhara
- A sense of peace or clarity
- Unexpected ease or sudden obstacles
- Repeated thoughts or intuitive feelings
- Dreams (optional, not necessary)
❌ Common Misconceptions
| Misconception | Truth |
|---|---|
| Istikhara always results in a dream | Guidance often comes through circumstances |
| Only scholars can perform Istikhara | Every Muslim can do it |
| It’s only for big decisions | You can do Istikhara for any matter |
| It gives instant answers | Sometimes clarity comes gradually |
🧠 Why Istikhara Matters
- It’s a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
- It strengthens your connection with Allah
- It brings peace and confidence in your choices
- It helps avoid regret and confusion
🙏 Final Thoughts
Istikhara is a spiritual lifeline—a way to surrender your worries to the One who knows all. When you’re unsure, let your heart speak to Allah. Trust His wisdom, and walk the path He opens for you.
May Allah guide us all to the best decisions in life. Ameen.
