Allahumma Inni Astakhiruka Bi Ilmika Dua Meaning & Arabic
Allahumma inni astakhiruka is a dua for istikhara. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught us dua istikhara, which means asking Allah to choose for us what is best for our religious and worldly interests in all matters, religious and worldly.
Istikharah is a word which means asking Allah to help one make a choice, meaning choosing the best of two things where one needs to choose one of them.
Allahumma Inni Astakhiruka in Arabic Arabic Text
Here is the full dua written in Arabic Text:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمَكَ، 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- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ- فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِه
Transliteration
The dua is transliterated as Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ‘ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratik, wa asaluka min fadlik al-azim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta’lamu wa la a’lam, wa anta ‘allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta’lam anna [hadhal-amr] khayrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri, faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta’lam anna [hadhal-amr] sharrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri, fasrifhu ‘anni wasrifni ‘anhu waqdur li al-khayr haythu kan. Thumma ardini bih
Allahumma Inni Astakhiruka Bi Ilmika Dua Meaning in English
Allahumma inni astakhiruk means O Allah, 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 (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs ), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next), then turn me away from it, [and turn it away from me], and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.
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Hadith Text
Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) 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 rakat 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’aqibatiAmri (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’aqibatiAmri (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.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1166
Commentary on The Hadith
Ibn Hajr (may Allah have mercy on him) said, commenting on this hadith:
Concerning the phrase The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to teach us to make istikharah in all things, Ibn Abi Jamrah said: It is a general phrase which refers to something specific.
With regard to matters that are wajib (obligatory) or mustahabb (liked or encouraged), there is no need for istikharah to decide whether to do them, and with regard to matters that are haram (forbidden) or makrooh (disliked), there is no need for istikharah to decide whether to avoid them.
The issue of istikharah is confined to matters that are mubah (allowed), or in mustahabb matters when there is a decision to be made as to which one should be given priority.
According to scholars, it refers to both great and small matters, and probably an insignificant issue could form the groundwork for a big issue.
The phrase O Allah, I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge is explaining because You know best. Similarly, by virtue of Your power most likely means seeking Your help.
I seek ability (astaqdiruka) means I ask You to give me the power or ability (qudrah) to do whatever is being asked for, or it probably means I ask You to decree (tuqaddir) this for me. So it may mean making it easy.
I ask You of Your great bounty refers to the fact that Allah gives out of His great generosity, but no one has the right to His blessings. This is the opinion of Ahl al-Sunnah.
You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not refers to the fact that power and knowledge belong to Allah alone, and the slave has no share of them except what Allah decrees for him.
O Allah, if in Your knowledge this matter, according to one report, he should mention it by name. It is apparent from the context that he should state it, but it is probably sufficient to be thinking of the matter whilst making this du’a.
Then ordain it for me means make it happen for me or it may mean make it easy for me.
Then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it means so that my heart will no longer feel attached to it after it has been turned away.
Make me pleased with it means make me content with it, so that I will never regret asking for it or be sorry that it happened, because I do not know how it will turn out, even if at the time of asking I am pleased with it.
The secret is that one’s heart should not be attached to the matter in question, because that will result in a person becoming restless. Being pleased with something means that one’s heart is content with the decree of Allah.”
(Summarized from the commentary of al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) on the hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Da’wat and Kitab al-Tawheed.)
What To Recite in Istikharah Prayer?
Regarding the recitation in Istikharah prayer, there are three opinions:
- The Hanafis, Malikis, and Shafi’is suggest reciting Qul ya ayyuha’l-kafirun in the first rak`ah and Qul huwa Allahu ahad in the second, after al-Fatihah. Additional verses related to decision-making can also be included.
- Some of the Salaf recommend adding verses from Surah al-Qasas verse 68 in the first rak
ah and a verse from Surah al-Ahzab verse 36, in the second rakah after reciting al-Fatihah. - The Hanbalis and some fuqaha hold that no specific verses are designated for recitation in Istikharah prayer.
When Should The Du‘aa’ Be Offered in Salat Al-istikhaarah?
The majority of scholars, including the Hanafis, Maalikis, Shaafa‘is, and Hanbalis, agree that du`a al-istikhaarah should be said after finishing the prayer, specifically after saying the salaam.
This is based on the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) instructing to pray two rak‘ahs and then say the istikhaarah dua after concluding the prayer. This is emphasized by scholars like Shaykh Ibn Baaz and Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, confirming that the dua should follow the salaam at the end of the prayer.
The Importance Of Praying Istikhaarah
There are three reasons why praying istikhaarah is important:
- The first reason is to show our desperate need of Allah alone, to disconnect any hope except hope in Allah, to put our trust in Him (may He be glorified and exalted), and to delegate all our affairs to Him.
- The second reason is to make the right choice, be successful in what one is striving to achieve and to be helped by Allah in one’s efforts.
- The third reason is acceptance of the divine decree and contentment with one’s lot. Whoever seeks Allah’s guidance in his affairs by praying istikhaarah will not regret what he ultimately chooses to do, and he will feel reassurance and certainty which will ward off from him all worry and grief that could result from his choice.
Conclusion
Whoever is sincere in turning to his Lord and delegating his affairs to Him, and prays istikhaarah for guidance in some of his affairs, should go ahead and do it.
If it becomes easy for him, this is a sign that it is good for him, but if he is stopped and it becomes difficult, then he should forget about it, and he should realize that being prevented from doing it is good in sha Allaah.
Adopted from IslamQA website.
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