Mushna Dua Library

Istikhara

Hadith

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 رَضِّنِي بِهِ

Transliteration

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka biqudratika wa as’aluka min fadlikal-‘azim, fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta‘lamu wa la a‘lam, wa anta ‘allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta‘lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma‘ashi wa ‘aqibati amri faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fih, wa in kunta ta‘lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma‘ashi wa ‘aqibati amri fasrifhu ‘anni wasrifni ‘anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma raddini bih

Translation

O Allah, I seek Your choice by Your knowledge and Your power by Your power. If this matter is good for my religion, life, and outcome, decree it, ease it, and bless it for me. If it is bad, turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree the good for me wherever it is, then make me pleased with it.

Understand the dua

Background & benefit

Background

Jābir narrates that the Prophet ﷺ used to teach them istikhārah in all matters just as he taught a of the Qur’an, instructing them to pray two rakaʿāt and then recite this detailed dua seeking Allah’s choice. The background shows that istikhārah is not reserved for “big crises” only; it is a regular for any significant decision, combining prayer, acknowledgment of Allah’s knowledge and power, and acceptance of His decree.

Benefit

Using it helps a believer hand over anxiety about choices to Allah, while still researching and consulting people, and then be content with how events unfold.

When to recite

After praying two non-obligatory rakʿahs when seeking Allah’s guidance about a permissible decision.

Virtue note

The hadith establishes the method of istikhara. It does not require seeing a dream; dreams are not a condition for istikhara to be valid or beneficial.

Source & authenticity

Source: Hadith

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6382

Authenticity: Sahih

Reported in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (6382). Istikhārah joins prayer, consultation, and trust in Allah; it is not dependent on seeing a dream, but on asking Allah to guide the outcome and then proceeding responsibly.

Related duas

Hadith/DhikrSahih

For Newlyweds

بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ، وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكَ، وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ

Bāraka llāhu laka, wa bāraka ʿalayka, wa jamaʿa baynakumā fī khayr.

“May Allah bless you, and shower blessings upon you, and join you two together in goodness.”

Why this dua?

Asks Allah for blessing, goodness, and harmony in marriage.

Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2130; also in other collections with similar

marriagebarakahfamily

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HadithSahih

Beneficial Knowledge, Good Provision, and Accepted Deeds

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا

Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi‘an wa rizqan tayyiban wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan

O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, good provision, and accepted deeds.

Why this dua?

It guides a believer toward quality over quantity, steering them away from useless information, dubious income, and outward deeds lacking sincerity.

Sunan Ibn Majah 925

knowledgerizqaccepted deeds

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DhikrHasan Sahih

Leaving the House

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَضِلَّ أَوْ أُضَلَّ، أَوْ أَزِلَّ أَوْ أُزَلَّ، أَوْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أُظْلَمَ، أَوْ أَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُجْهَلَ عَلَيَّ

Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah. Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika an adilla aw udalla, aw azilla aw uzalla, aw azlima aw uzlama, aw ajhala aw yujhala ‘alayya

In Allah’s name, I trust in Allah. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from going astray or being led astray, slipping or being made to slip, wronging or being wronged, acting ignorantly or being treated ignorantly.

Why this dua?

Reciting it brings the heart to rely on Allah, not one’s own planning, and reminds a person they are always under His care in public spaces

Sunan Abi Dawud 5095; Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3426

protectionguidancetawakkul

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Hadith/DhikrHasan/Sahih

Qunut Witr Dua

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ

Allāhumma ihdinī fīman hadayt, wa ʿāfinī fīman ʿāfayt, wa tawallanī fīman tawallayt, wa bārik lī fīmā aʿṭayt, wa qinī sharra mā qaḍayt, innaka taqḍī wa lā yuqḍā ʿalayk, wa innahu lā yadhillu man wālayt, wa lā yaʿizzu man ʿādayt, tabārakta rabbana wa taʿālait.

“O Allah, guide me among those You have guided; grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being; take me into Your care among those You have taken into Your care; bless for me what You have given; and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. Indeed, You decree and none can decree over You. Indeed, whoever You befriend is never humiliated, and whoever You oppose is never honored. Blessed and Exalted are You, our Lord.”

Why this dua?

A comprehensive dua for guidance, wellbeing, care, blessing, and protection from evil decrees.

Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1425; also transmitted in other collections as the qunūt of

guidancewellbeingprotection

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Hadith/DhikrSahih

Before Marital Relations

بِسْمِ اللهِ، اللَّهُمَّ جَنِّبْنَا الشَّيْطَانَ، وَجَنِّبِ الشَّيْطَانَ مَا رَزَقْتَنَا

Bismillāh, Allāhumma jannibnā sh-shayṭān, wa jannibi sh-shayṭāna mā razaqtanā.

In the name of Allah. O Allah, keep Satan away from us and keep Satan away from what You provide us.

Why this dua?

Seeks protection and blessing in marital intimacy and possible offspring.

Sahih al-Bukhari 141; Sahih Muslim 1434

protectionfamilychildren

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Hadith/DhikrScholars differed

Entering the Home

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ الْمَوْلَجِ وَخَيْرَ الْمَخْرَجِ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَلَجْنَا، وَبِسْمِ اللَّهِ خَرَجْنَا، وَعَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّنَا تَوَكَّلْنَا

Allāhumma innī as’aluka khayra l-mawlaji wa khayra l-makhraj, bismillāhi walajnā, wa bismillāhi kharajnā, wa ʿalā llāhi rabbinā tawakkalnā.

O Allah, I ask You for the best of entry and the best of exit. In the name of Allah we enter, in the name of Allah we leave, and upon Allah our Lord we rely.

Why this dua?

Brings remembrance and reliance into the household routine.

Sunan Abī Dāwūd 5096

homebarakahtawakkul

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Transliteration

Translation

Background & benefit

Source & authenticity

Categories

Related Adhkar collection

Related duas

For Newlyweds

Beneficial Knowledge, Good Provision, and Accepted Deeds

Leaving the House

Qunut Witr Dua

Before Marital Relations

Entering the Home