Dua e Istikhara is a special supplication taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for seeking Allah’s guidance when facing an important decision or feeling uncertain about the right path. Whether it is a marriage proposal, a job opportunity, a business decision, or moving to a new place, Istikhara helps a Muslim seek Allah’s guidance and ask Him to make what is best easier. It is performed by offering two rakats of voluntary salah, followed by the authentic Istikhara dua.
Explore the complete Dua e Istikhara, including its Arabic text, pronunciation, meaning in different languages and the correct way to perform Istikhara.
Dua E Istikhara in Arabic
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 — أَوْ قَالَ: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ — فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ
وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي — أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ — فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Dua E Istikhara in Roman English
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi-ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa as’aluka min fadlikal-azeem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta’lamu wa la a’lam, wa anta allamul-ghuyoob.
Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hadhal-amra (name the matter) khayrun li fi deeni wa ma’ashi wa aqibati amri (aw qala: ajili amri wa ajilihi) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi.
Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadhal-amra (name the matter) sharrun li fi deeni wa ma’ashi wa aqibati amri (aw qala: fi ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu anni wasrifni anhu, waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih.
Dua E Istikhara in English (Meaning)
“O Allah, I seek the best from You through Your knowledge, and I seek strength through Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. You have power and I have none. You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen.
O Allah, if You know that this matter (name it) 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.
And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me, turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and then make me content with it.”
Dua E Istikhara in Hindi (Tarjuma)
ऐ अल्लाह! मैं तेरे इल्म के वसीले से तुझसे भलाई मांगता हूँ, तेरी क़ुदरत के वसीले से तुझसे ताक़त मांगता हूँ और तेरे बड़े फ़ज़्ल का सवाल करता हूँ। बेशक तू क़ुदरत रखता है और मैं नहीं रखता, तू जानता है और मैं नहीं जानता, और तू ग़ैब की बातों को ख़ूब जानने वाला है।
ऐ अल्लाह! अगर तू जानता है कि यह काम (अपने काम का नाम लें) मेरे लिए मेरे दीन, मेरी ज़िंदगी और मेरे अंजाम के लिहाज़ से बेहतर है, तो उसे मेरे लिए मुक़द्दर कर दे, उसे मेरे लिए आसान कर दे और उसमें मेरे लिए बरकत दे।
और अगर तू जानता है कि यह काम मेरे लिए मेरे दीन, मेरी ज़िंदगी और मेरे अंजाम के लिहाज़ से बुरा है, तो उसे मुझसे दूर कर दे और मुझे उससे दूर कर दे, और मेरे लिए भलाई मुक़द्दर कर दे, वह जहाँ भी हो, फिर मुझे उससे राज़ी कर दे।
Dua E Istikhara in Urdu (Tarjuma)
اے اللہ! میں تیرے علم کے وسیلے سے تجھ سے بھلائی مانگتا ہوں، تیری قدرت کے وسیلے سے تجھ سے طاقت مانگتا ہوں اور تیرے بڑے فضل کا سوال کرتا ہوں۔ بے شک تو قدرت رکھتا ہے اور میں نہیں رکھتا، تو جانتا ہے اور میں نہیں جانتا، اور تو غیب کی باتوں کو خوب جاننے والا ہے۔
اے اللہ! اگر تو جانتا ہے کہ یہ کام (اپنے کام کا نام لیں) میرے لیے میرے دین، میری زندگی اور میرے انجام کے اعتبار سے بہتر ہے تو اسے میرے لیے مقدر کر دے، آسان کر دے اور اس میں میرے لیے برکت دے۔
اور اگر تو جانتا ہے کہ یہ کام میرے لیے میرے دین، میری زندگی اور میرے انجام کے اعتبار سے برا ہے تو اسے مجھ سے دور کر دے اور مجھے اس سے دور کر دے، اور میرے لیے بھلائی مقدر کر دے جہاں بھی ہو، پھر مجھے اس سے راضی کر دے۔
Meaning and Explanation of Dua E Istikhara
The dua has three parts, and each one carries its own message.
1. Admission of human limits. The opening lines state that Allah has complete knowledge and power, while the servant has neither. The person does not claim to know what is best, and hands the matter over to the One who does.
2. Asking for the good outcome. The second part asks that if the matter is truly good for religion, livelihood and the final result, Allah should make it happen, make it easy, and place blessing in it.
3. Asking for protection from the harmful outcome. The last part asks that if the matter carries harm, Allah should turn it away, and then bring about something better and give contentment with it.
The final words, “thumma ardini bih” (then make me content with it), are among the most meaningful. A person may receive the right outcome and still feel restless. This line asks for both the right result and a heart at peace with it.
How to Pray Istikhara (Method)
The method follows the hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahih al-Bukhari.
- Make wudu and choose a calm time, apart from the prohibited times for prayer.
- Pray two rakat of voluntary (nafl) salah with the intention of Istikhara.
- Recite Surah Al-Fatiha and any Surah after it in each rakat. Many scholars mention Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rakat and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second, though no fixed Surah is required.
- After completing the prayer, praise Allah and send salawat on the Prophet ﷺ.
- Recite Dua e Istikhara, naming the matter at the point where “hadhal amr” appears.
- Decide carefully, consult trusted people, and move ahead in the direction that becomes easier.
According to the hadith, the dua is made after the two rakat. Scholars have mentioned that it may be recited before or after the salam, and either is acceptable.
When to Read This Dua
Dua e Istikhara is read when a person faces a permissible matter and cannot decide between options. Common situations include:
- A marriage proposal or the choice of a spouse
- Accepting or leaving a job
- Starting a business or entering a partnership
- Buying a house or relocating
- Choosing a field of study
- Planning a major journey
Islamic scholars note that Istikhara is not made for obligatory acts such as prayer, or for forbidden acts. A person does not ask whether to pray or whether to commit a sin. Istikhara is for permissible matters where the choice is open.
It can be prayed more than once for the same matter if the heart remains unsettled. The Prophet ﷺ did not fix a number of repetitions.
Dua E Istikhara For Marriage
Marriage is the matter for which people pray Istikhara most often. A proposal may look suitable in every visible way, yet the future holds things no one can see. Dua e Istikhara for marriage places the decision before Allah first.
The method is the same as above. The person prays two rakat, recites the dua, and mentions the proposal at “hadhal amr”, for example by saying “this marriage” with the name of the person in mind.
After Istikhara, the following steps are recommended:
- Gather information about the character, religious commitment and conduct of the other person.
- Consult parents, elders and sincere well-wishers.
- Move forward if the matter becomes easy and the heart finds peace.
- Step back if doors close or serious concerns appear.
Istikhara does not replace effort and consultation. It sits alongside them.
Dua E Istikhara PDF
Many readers like to keep Dua e Istikhara in a printable form. A Dua e Istikhara PDF with Arabic text, transliteration and tarjuma can be saved on a phone or printed and kept near the prayer mat. When saving a PDF, check the Arabic text carefully against the version in Sahih al-Bukhari, because errors in vowel marks sometimes appear in unofficial copies.
Download:- dua e istikhara only dua
Benefits of Dua E Istikhara
The benefits below are drawn from the hadith and from the statements of scholars.
Guidance from Allah in decisions. The dua is a direct request for what is best, made to the One who knows every outcome.
Peace of heart. A person who has prayed Istikhara moves ahead with less anxiety, since the matter has been placed before Allah.
Reliance on Allah (tawakkul). The dua builds the habit of trusting Allah’s knowledge over one’s own limited judgment.
Acceptance of the result. The closing request for contentment helps a person accept the outcome, whether it matched the first wish or not.
Following the Sunnah. Praying Istikhara is a practice the Prophet ﷺ taught with great care, so it carries reward in itself.
Blessing in the chosen path. The dua asks Allah to place barakah in the matter if it is good, and that blessing can extend to work, family and home.
Disclaimer: This content is for general Islamic information and is based on authentic sources. Please verify the Arabic text and religious rulings with a qualified Islamic scholar. Istikhara should be accompanied by sincere effort, consultation and sound judgment.
Common Misunderstandings About Istikhara
A dream is not required. Some people wait for a dream after Istikhara. No authentic hadith makes a dream a condition. The answer usually appears as ease or difficulty in the matter, along with inclination of the heart.
Colours and signs are not part of the Sunnah. Beliefs about seeing white or black in a dream have no basis in the authentic hadith.
Seven repetitions or seven days are not fixed. The narration about repeating seven times is not established as authentic, so the matter should not be presented as a requirement.
Sleeping is not necessary. The dua can be prayed at any suitable time and nothing requires the person to sleep after it.
Read Also: Dushman Se Bachne Ki Dua
Conclusion
Dua e Istikhara teaches a Muslim to pair effort with trust in Allah. The person studies the options, consults others, and then asks the One who knows what is hidden to choose what is best.
The dua is short, and its words carry a complete lesson: humility before Allah’s knowledge, a request for good, protection from harm, and contentment with what is decreed. Whether the matter is marriage, work or travel, Dua e Istikhara in Arabic, with its Urdu, Hindi and English tarjuma, offers a reliable way to begin any important decision.
May Allah grant everyone good decisions, ease in every matter, and hearts that are at peace with His decree. Ameen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dua e Istikhara?
It is the prayer for seeking Allah’s choice in a matter. It is recited after two rakat of nafl salah, as taught by the Prophet ﷺ in Sahih al-Bukhari.
Can Dua e Istikhara be read in Urdu, Hindi or English?
The Arabic text should be recited in prayer. A person who cannot yet recite it from memory may read it from a page. Reading the tarjuma in Urdu, Hindi or English helps the heart connect with the meaning, and personal needs can also be asked in one’s own language.
Is a dream necessary after Istikhara?
No. A dream is not a condition. The person should move ahead with the option that becomes easier and sits well in the heart, after consultation with sincere people.
Can Istikhara be done for someone else?
The authentic hadith describes a person praying for their own decision. A person may ask a righteous relative to make dua for them, but the Sunnah method is to pray Istikhara for oneself.
What if the answer is not clear?
The person can repeat the prayer, consult trusted people, and make a decision based on the best available information. Allah rewards sincere effort and trust.