Sahih al-Bukhari 1166

Hadith text

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Qur'an. He said, "If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two rak`at prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer): -- 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as'alaka min fadlika Al-`azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta'lamu Wala a'lamu, Wa anta 'allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta'lam anna hadha-lamra Khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati `Amri (or 'ajili `Amri wa'ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati `Amri (or fi'ajili `Amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.' (O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter--(or said: If it is better for my present and later needs)--Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter--(or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)--Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it). The Prophet (ﷺ) added that then the person should name (mention) his need

Jabir bin Abdullah (رضی اللہ عنہ) bataate hain: Nabi humein Istikhara (Allah se hidayat maangna kisi kaam ke baare mein) karna sikhate the, jaise Quran ki Surahtein sikhate the. Aap ne farmaya: "Agar tum mein se koi kisi kaam ke baare mein sochta hai, use farz ke ilawa do rakat padhni chahiye aur (namaz ke baad) yeh dua padhni chahiye: 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as'alaka min fadlika Al-azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta'lamu Wala a'lamu, Wa anta 'allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta'lam anna hadha-lamra Khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati Amri (ya 'ajili Amri wa'ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati Amri (ya fi'ajili Amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi' (Aye Allah! Main tere ilm se hidayat maangta hoon, aur teri qudrat se taaqat maangta hoon, aur tere azeem fazl se sawaal karta hoon. Tu qaadir hai aur main nahi hoon, tu jaanta hai aur main nahi jaanta, aur tu ghaib ka poora jaanne wala hai. Aye Allah! Agar tujhe pata hai ke yeh kaam mere deen, meri rozi aur mere anjaam ke liye behtar hai (ya mere is jahaan aur agle jahaan ke liye behtar hai), to ise mere liye muqarrar kar de aur asaan bana de, phir usme barkat de. Aur agar tujhe pata hai ke yeh kaam mere liye mere deen, rozi aur anjaam ke liye bura hai (ya is jahaan aur agle jahaan ke liye bura hai), to ise mujhse door kar de aur mujhe usse door kar de. Aur mere liye jahan bhi bhalai ho wahi muqarrar kar, phir mujhe usi par razi kar de).'" Nabi ne joda ke phir shaks apni zaroorat ka naam le.

Sahih al-Bukhari 1166 · Book 19, Hadith 45