Du’a Istikharah from the Wird of Sayyid Muhammad ibn al-Habib (q.s.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is a comprehensive du’a istikharah from the wird of Sayyid Muhammad ibn al-Habib (q.s.).  The istikharah taught by the Prophet (s.a.w.) is the submission of one’s affair for Divine Approval and a supplication for guidance and blessings in it.  The concept that istikharah is some kind of oracle whereby you can dodge making a decision on something the Real has confronted you with, is utterly misguided; our Rabb has Empowered us to make decisions relating to our own concerns by providing us with faculties of perception and intellect, and the emphasis in doing istikharah is not on getting a reply, but on the act of submission – the realisation of our Islam.  As such it represents the very matrix, on which the intent and approach of all our ud’iyyah should be based.  The great importance of this is indicated in a reliable hadits, in which Sayyidina Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (r.a.) related, “Rasulullah (s.a.w.) used to teach us the way of doing istikharah in all matters, like he taught us the suwar of the Qur’an; he said, ‘If anyone of you thinks of embarking on any affair, he should offer two rak’at nawafil and then pray the du’a istikharah, mentioning his affair in it.’” 

Sayyid Muhammad ibn al-Habib (q.s.) has formulated the mention of “the affair” that we are submitting for Divine Approval and for which we seek Allah’s (s.w.t.) Guidance and Blessings, in such a manner that it covers all our actions and conduct.  As such, this du’a, which the shaykh has left as a priceless legacy in his wird for the fuqara’ to be recited at the two ends of the day, is a formidable safeguard against straying and being waylaid on this path of ours. 

The Du’a Istikharah 

ٱللهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ٱلْأَعْظَمِ 

Allahumma innii astakhiiruka bi’ilmika wa astaqdiruka biqudratika wa as’aluka min fadhlika al-‘azhiimi al-‘azham. 

O Allah!  I ask You for what is good by Your Knowledge, and I ask You to Decree by Your Power and I ask of You from Your Unfathomable Kindness. 

فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَ تَعْلَمُ وَ لاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ أَعْلاَّمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ 

Fa’innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdiru wa ta’lamu wa laa a’alamu wa anta a’allaamu al-ghuuyub 

Since You are Capable and I am not, and You Know and I do not, and You are Best Aware of the unseen. 

ٱللهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا ٱلأَمْرَ وَهُوَ جَمِيعُ حَرَكَاتِي وَسَكَنَاتِي الظَّاهِرَةِ وَالبَاطِنَةِ مِنْ قَوْلٍ وَفِعْلٍ وَخُلُقٍ وَحَالٍ 

Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna haadzaa al-‘amra wa huwa jamii’u harakatii wa sakanaatii azh-zhaahirati wa al-baathinati min qawlin wa fi’lin wa khuluqin wa haalin 

O Allah!  If You Know that this affair, which comprise of all my movements and stillness, manifest and concealed, in terms of word and action and character and state, 

عِبَادَةً وَعَادَةً فِي حَقِّي وَفِي حَقِّ غَيْرِي فِي هٰذَا ٱليَومِ وَ فِي مَا بَعْدَهُ (أو ... فِي هٰذِهِ ٱللَّيلَة وَ فِي مَا بَعْدَها) وَفِي بَقِيَّةِ عُمُورِي 

‘Ibaadatan wa ‘aadatan fii haqqii wa fii haqqi ghayri fii haadzaa al-yawmi wa fii maa ba’dahu (fi hadhihi al-laylati wa fii maa ba’dahaa) wa fii baqiyyati ‘umuurii 

In worship and general conduct, in my own concern and concerning others, on this day (night) and all that follows it, and in all remaining matters, 

Please note that if the du’a is recited at the beginning of the day, then recite:فِي هٰذَا ٱليَومِ وَ فِي مَا بَعْدَهُ, fii haadzaa al-yawmi wa fii maa ba’dahu, “on this day and all that follows it”.  If it is recited at the end of the day, then recite: فِي هٰذِهِ ٱللَّيلَة وَ فِي مَا بَعْدَها, fi hadhihi al-laylati wa fii maa ba’dahaa, “on this night and all that follows it”. 

خَيْرٌ لِّي فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَايَ وَمَعَاشِي وَمَعَادِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي وَعَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَ يَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ 

Khayru llii fii diinii wa dunyaaya wa ma’aashii wa ma’aadii wa ‘aaqibati amrii wa ‘aajilihi wa ‘ajilihi faaqdirhu lii wa yassirhu lii tsumma baarik lii fiih 

Is good for me in my religion and my worldly concerns and my livelihood and my routines, and in the immediate and future outcome of my affair, then Ordain it for me, and Make it easy for me, and then Bless me in it. 

وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا ٱلأَمْرَ وَهُوَ جَمِيعُ حَرَكَاتِي وَسَكَنَاتِي الظَّاهِرَةِ وَالبَاطِنَةِ مِنْ قَوْلٍ وَفِعْلٍ وَخُلُقٍ وَحَالٍ 

Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna haadzaa al-amra wa huwa jamii’u harakaatii wa sakanaati azh-zhaahirati wa al-baathinati min qawlin wa fi’lin wa khuluqin wa haalin 

O Allah!  If You Know that this affair, which comprise of all my movements and stillness, manifest and concealed in terms of word and action and character and state, 

عِبَادَةً وَعَادَةً فِي حَقِّي وَفِي حَقِّ غَيْرِي فِي هٰذَا ٱليَومِ وَ فِي مَا بَعْدَهُ (أو ... فِي هٰذِهِ ٱللَّيلَة وَقِي مَا بَعْدَها) وَفِي بَقِيَّةِ عُمُورِي 

‘Ibaadatan wa ‘aadatan fii haqqii wa fii haqqi ghayrii fii haadzaa al-yawmi wa fii maa ba’dahu (fi hadziihii al-laylati wa fii maa ba’dahaa) wa fii baqiyyati ‘umuurii 

In worship and general conduct, in my own concern and concerning others, on this day (night) and all that follows it, and in all remaining matters, 

Please note that if the du’a is recited at the beginning of the day, then recite:فِي هٰذَا ٱليَومِ وَ فِي مَا بَعْدَهُ, fii haadzaa al-yawmi wa fii maa ba’dahu, “on this day and all that follows it”.  If it is recited at the end of the day, then recite: فِي هٰذِهِ ٱللَّيلَة وَ فِي مَا بَعْدَها, fi hadhihi al-laylati wa fii maa ba’dahaa, “on this night and all that follows it”. 

 شَرٌّ لِّي فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَايَ وَمَعَاشِي وَمَعَادِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي وَعَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِيْ عَهُ 

Sharru lli fii diinii wa dunyaaya wa ma’aashi wa ma’aadi wa ‘aaqibati amrii wa ‘aajilihi wa ‘ajilihi faaswrifhu ‘annii wa aswrifnii ‘anhu 

Is harmful for me in my religion and my worldly concerns and my livelihood and my routines, and in the immediate and future outcome of my affair, then Avert it from me and Divert me from it. 

وَاقْدِرْ لِي ٱلخَيرَ حَيثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِيْ بِهِ جإنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَدِيرٌ ج 

Wa aqdir lii al-khayra haytsu kaana tsumma ardhinii bihi jiinnaka ‘alaa kulli shay’in qadiir 

And Ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and Make me satisfied with it; truly You have Power over everything. 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) added that  the person should mention his affair.