Dua al-Istikhara (seeking guidance in a decision)
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ
Allāhumma innī astakhīruka bi-ʿilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratik, wa as’aluka min faḍlika’l-ʿaẓīm, fa-innaka taqdiru wa lā aqdir, wa taʿlamu wa lā aʿlam, wa anta ʿallāmu’l-ghuyūb.
“O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge, and I seek ability by Your power, and I ask You of Your immense bounty. For You are able and I am not, You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen.”
When to say it
Said after praying two units of prayer, when facing a permissible choice or decision.
Virtue & benefit
The Prophet ﷺ taught it as the way to ask Allah to choose the better path in any matter of concern. (This is the opening; the full text continues with the request.)
Source
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (1166), from Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh.
Frequently asked
How do you pray istikhara?
Pray two voluntary units of prayer, then recite the dua of istikhara, naming your matter where the Prophet ﷺ said "this matter of mine".
When should I make istikhara?
Whenever you are unsure about a permissible decision — marriage, work, travel — asking Allah to guide you to the better outcome.
Make this dua a daily habit
SABR helps you memorise and retain your everyday duas with spaced repetition — so the words are ready on your tongue when you need them.