Sahih al-Bukhari 6382

Hadith text

Narrated Jabir:The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara for each and every matter as he used to teach us the Suras from the Holy Qur'an. (He used to say), "If anyone of you intends to do something, he should offer a two-rak`at prayer other than the obligatory prayer, and then say: 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika-l-'azim, fa innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wala a'lamu, wa anta'allamu-l-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-lamra khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati `Amri (or said, fi 'ajili `Amri wa ajilihi) fa-qdurhu li, Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna ha-dha-l-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati `Amri (or said, fi ajili `Amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni was-rifni 'anhu wa aqdur li alkhaira haithu kana, thumma Raddani bihi," Then he should mention his matter (need)

Jabir bataate hain: Nabi (SAW) humein har maamle ke liye Istikhara sikhaate the jaise wo humein Quran ki Surate sikhaate the. (Wo kehte,) 'Agar tum mein se koi kuch karne ka iraada kare, to use farz namaz ke ilaawa do rakat namaz padhni chaahiye, aur phir kehna chaahiye: "Allahumma Inni Astakhiruka Bi'ilmika, Wa Astaqdiruka Biqudratika, Wa As'aluka Min Fadlika-l-Azim, Fa Innaka Taqdiru Wala Aqdiru, Wa Ta'lamu Wala A'lamu, Wa Anta Allamul-Ghuyub. Allahumma In Kunta Ta'lamu Anna Hadhal-Amra Khairun Li Fi Deeni Wa Ma'aashi Wa Aaqibati Amri (ya kaha, Fi Aajili Amri Wa Aajilihi) Faqdurhu Li, Wa In Kunta Ta'lamu Anna Hadhal-Amra Sharrun Li Fi Deeni Wa Ma'aashi Wa Aaqibati Amri (ya kaha, Fi Aajili Amri Wa Aajilihi) Fasrifhu Anni Wasrifni Anhu Wa Aqdur Li Al-Khaira Haithu Kaana, Thumma Raddani Bihi." Phir use apna maamla (zaroorat) zikr karni chaahiye.' (Aye Allah! Main tere ilm se teri bhalaai maangta hoon, aur teri qudrat se tujhse taaqat maangta hoon, aur tujhse tera azeem fazl maangta hoon, kyunke tu qudrat rakhta hai aur main nahi rakhta, aur tu jaanta hai aur main nahi jaanta, aur tu ghaib ki baaton ka jaanne wala hai. Aye Allah! Agar tu jaanta hai ke ye maamla mere deen, meri zindagi aur mere anjaam ke liye behtar hai, to ise mere liye muqaddar kar de, aur agar tu jaanta hai ke ye maamla mere deen, meri zindagi aur mere anjaam ke liye bura hai, to ise mujhse door kar de aur mujhe usse door kar de, aur jahaan bhi bhalaai ho, use mere liye muqaddar kar, phir mujhe usse raazi kar.)

Sahih al-Bukhari 6382 · Book 80, Hadith 77