Sahifa Sajjadiya 33: Asking for the Best (Istikhara)

Text and Translation

اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهٖ، وَاقْضِ لِي بِالْخِيَرَةِ

ALLAAHUMMA INNEE ASTAKHEERUKA BI-I'LMIKA FASALLI A'LAA MUHAMMADIN WA AALIHEE WAQDI LEE BIL KHIYARAH

O God, I ask from Thee the best in Thy knowledge, so bless Muhammad and his Household and decree for me the best!

وَاَلْهِمْنَا مَعْرِفَةَ الِاخْتِيَارِ، وَاجْعَلْ ذٰلِكَ ذَرِيعَةً اِلَى الرِّضَا بِمَا قَضَيْتَ لَنَا وَالتَّسْلِيمِ لِمَا حَكَمْتَ فَاَزِحْ عَنَّا رَيْبَ الِارْتِيَابِ، وَاَيِّدْنَا بِيَقِينِ الْمُخْلِصِينَ

WA ALHIMNAA MA'RIFATAL IKHTIYAARI WAJ'AL DHAALIKA DHAREE'ATAN ILAR RIDAA BIMAA QADAYTA LANAA WAT TASLEEMI LIMAA HAKAMTA FA-AZIH A'NNAA RAYBAL IRTIYAABI WA AYYIDNAA BIYAQEENIL MUKHLISEEN

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!

وَلَا تَسُمْنَا عَجْزَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ عَمَّا تَخَيَّرْتَ فَنَغْمِطَ قَدْرَكَ، وَنَكْرَهَ مَوْضِعَ رِضَاكَ، وَنَجْنَحَ اِلَى الَّتِي هِيَ اَبْعَدُ مِنْ حُسْنِ الْعَاقِبَةِ، وَاَقْرَبُ اِلَى ضِدِّ الْعَافِيَةِ،

WA LAA TASUMNAA A'JZAL MA'RIFATI A'MMAA TAKHAYYARTA FANAGHMITA QADRAKA WA NAKRAHA MAWDI'A RIDAAKA WA NAJNAHA ILAL LATEE HIYA AB'ADU MIN HUSNIL A'AQIBATI WA AQRABU ILAA DIDDIL A'AFIYAH

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!

حَبِّبْ اِلَيْنَا مَا نَكْرَهٗ مِنْ قَضَائِكَ، وَسَهِّلْ عَلَيْنَا مَا نَسْتَصْعِبُ مِنْ حُكْمِكَ

HABBIB ILAYNAA MAA NAKRAHOO MIN QADAA'IKA WA SAHHIL A'LAYNAA MAA NASTAS'IBU MIN HUKMIK

Make us love what we dislike in Thy decree and make easy for us what we find difficult in Thy decision!

وَاَلْهِمْنَا الِانْقِيَادَ لِمَا اَوْرَدْتَ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ مَشِيَّتِكَ حَتَّى لَا نُحِبَّ تَاْخِيرَ مَا عَجَّلْتَ، وَلَا تَعْجِيلَ مَا اَخَّرْتَ، وَلَا نَكْرَهَ مَا اَحْبَبْتَ، وَلَا نَتَخَيَّرَ مَا كَرِهْتَ

WA ALHIMNAL INQIYAADA LIMAA AWRADTA A'LAYNAA MIN MASHIYYATIKA HATTAA LAA NUHIBBA TA'KHEERA MAA A'JJALTA WA LAA TA'JEELA MAA AKHKHARTA WA LAA NAKRAHA MAA AHBABTA WA LAA NATAKHAYYARA MAA KARIHT

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!

وَاخْتِمْ لَنَا بِالَّتِي هِيَ اَحْمَدُ عَاقِبَةً، وَاَكْرَمُ مَصِيراً، اِنَّكَ تُفِيدُ الْكَرِيمَةَ، وَتُعْطِي الْجَسِيمَةَ، وَتَفْعَلُ مَا تُرِيدُ، وَاَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

WAKHTIM LANAA BILLATEE HIYA AHMADU A'AQIBATAN WA AKRAMU MASEERAN INNAKA TUFEEDUL KAREEMATA WA TU'TIL JASEEMATA WA TAF'ALU MAA TUREEDU WA ANTA A'LAA KULLI SHAY'IN QADEER

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.