Invocation of Consultation in Islam - Dua of salat al Istikharah: Practical Guide and Meaning

The invocation of Salat al-Istikhara should be made after the final salutation (salam) of the two rak’ahs of prayer. It is essential to complete the formal prayer before proceeding to the specific Istikhara invocation. This sequence ensures that the prayer is complete and that the invocation is made in a state of concentration and devotion, following the prescribed steps for this important practice.

Then raise both hands towards the sky and recite the invocation:

The invocation of Salat al-Istikhara in Arabic, French, and phonetics is as follows:

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيْرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنْ هَذَاالأَمْرَ [هنا يسمى حاجته] خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – أو قالَ : عَاجِلِهِ وَ آجِلِهِ – فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – أوْ قالَ : عَاجِلِهِ وَ آجِلِهِ – فَاصْرِفْهُ عَني، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ

English:

O Allah, I consult You with Your knowledge, and I implore You to grant me power through Your power, and I ask You from Your immense generosity. For You are capable and I am incapable, You know all while I know not, and You are the Great Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [name the matter] is good for me in my religion, in my life, and in the outcome of my affairs, or as He said: in the immediate and in the future, decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, in my life, and in the outcome of my affairs, or as He said: in the immediate and in the future, turn it away from me, turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be, then make me content with it.

Transliteration:

Allâhoumma innî astakhîrouka bi-‘ilmika wa astaqdirouka bi-qoudratika, wa as-alouka min fadlika-l-‘azîm. Fa-innaka taqdirou wa lâ aqdirou, wa ta’lamou wa lâ a’lamou, wa anta ‘allâmou-l-ghuyûb. Allâhoumma in kounta ta’lamou anna hâdhâ-l-amra khayroun lî fî dînî wa ma’âshî wa ‘âqibati amrî, fa-qdourhou lî wa yassirhou lî, thumma bârik lî fîhi. Wa in kounta ta’lamou anna hâdhâ-l-amra sharroun lî fî dînî wa ma’âshî wa ‘âqibati amrî, fa-srifhou ‘annî wa srifnî ‘anhou, wa qdour lî al-khayra haythou kâna, thumma ardinî bihî.