Istikhara: Seeking the Best from Allah (swt)
A Supplication from Imam Ali ibn al‑Husayn Zain al‑ Abidin
Supplication from Imam `Ali ibn al‑Husayn Zain al‑ `Abidin peace be upon him, from al‑Sahifatul Sajjadiyah
The following Dua' has been taught to us by the 4th Imam, al‑Sajjad, peace be upon him, as he is commonly known. The Arabic and English Dua' are as follows:
أَللَّهمُمَّ إنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وآلِهِ وَاقْضِ لِيْ بالْخِيْرَة وَأَلْهِمْنَا مَعْرِفَةَ الاخَتْيارِ، وَاجْعَل ذَلِكَ ذَرِيعَةً إلى الرِّضا بِما قَضَيْتَ لَنَا وَالتِّسْلِيْمِ لِمَا حَكَمْت. فَأَزح عَنَّا رَيْبَ الارتِياب، وَأَيدْنا بِيَقِين الْمخْلصِينَ، وَلاتَسُمْنا عَجْزَ الْمَعْرِفةِ عَمَّا تَخَيَّرْت، فَنَغْمِط قَدْركَ، وَنَكْزَه مَوضِعَ رِضاك،
ونجْنَحَ إلَى الَّتِي هَي أَبْعَدُ مِنْ حُسْنِ العاقِبة وَأَقْرَبُ إلى ضِدِّالْعافيَةِ، حَبِّبْ إليْنا مانَكرَهُ مِنْ قَضائِك وَ سَهَّل عَلَيْنَا مَا نَسْتَصْعِبُ مِنْ حُكْمِكَ، وَأَلهمنا الانْقِياد لِمَا أَوْرَدْتَ عَلَيْنا منْ مَشِيَّتِكَ حَتَّى لا نُحِبَّ تَأخِيرَ ما عَجَّلْتَ، ولاتَعْجيْلَ ماأَخَّرْتَ، وَلانَكْرَهَ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ، ولاَنَتَخَيَّرَ ما كَرِهْت، وَاخْتِمْ لَنَا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْمَدُ عاقِبةً وَأكْرَمُ مَصِيراً إنَّكَ تُفِيدُ الْكَرِمَةَ وَتُعْطِي الْجَسِيمَةَ، وَتَفْعَل ماتُرِيدُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلٌ شَيءٍ قَدِيرٌ.
O' God, I ask from Thee the best in Thy knowledge, so bless Muhammad and his Household and decree for me the best!
Inspire us with knowledge to chose the best and make that a means to being pleased with what Thou hast decreed for us and submitting to what Thou hast decided! Banish from us the doubt of misgiving and confirm us with the certainty of the sincere!
Visit us not with incapacity to know what Thou hast chosen, lest we despise Thy measuring out, dislike the place of Thy good pleasure, and incline toward that which is further from good outcome and nearer to the opposite of well‑being!
Make us love what we dislike in Thy decree and make easy for us what we find difficult in Thy decision!
Inspire us to yield to that which Thou bringest upon us by Thy will, lest we love the delay of what Thou hast hastened and the hastening of what Thou hast delayed, dislike what Thou lovest, and choose what Thou dislikest!
Seal us with that which is most praised in outcome and most generous in issue! Surely Thou givest generous gain, bestowest the immense, dost what Thou wilt, and Thou art powerful over everything!