Please can you give reference for the du’a of Salatul Istikharah and is it possible to have the du’a in Arabic, transliteration and English translation?
Answer
Sayyiduna Jabir (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports: Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) taught us to make Istikharah concerning all matters in the same way as he would teach us a Surah of the Quran. He would say:
‘When any of you wishes to take up any task, he should perform two raka’h of Salah other than that of Fard (meaning two raka’h of nafl with the intention of Istikharah). He should then say (in supplication):
َاللهُمَّ إِنّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وأسْألُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظيم، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ ولا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْت عَلّامُ الغُيوب، اللهم إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هذا الأمْرَ… خيرٌ لِي في دِيني وَمَعاشِي وَعاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْْدُرْهُ لِي، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هذا الأمر … شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِيْنِي وَمَعاشِيْ وَعاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنّي وَاصْرِفْني عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الخَيرَ حَيثُ كان، ثُمَّ أَرْضِني به
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as-aluka min fadlikal ‘adhim fa innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wala a’lamu wa anta ‘Allamul ghuyub, Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hadhal amra khayrulli fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri faqdurhu li. Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadhal amra sharrul li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri fasrifhu ‘anni wasrifni ‘anhu waqdur liyal khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bihi.
Translation:
I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (the purpose for the istikharah should then be mentioned or brought to mind) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, then ordain it for me and make it easy for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 6382)
Note: The above words of the du’a are as they appear in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 6382. There are other versions with slight variants in wording elsewhere.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar