Seeking Allah’s help in anything important can be beneficial for us and we must seek the divine help before important things. The best way to seek Allah’s help is through Istakhara which we have covered in detail in the dua for Istakhara article.
However, that is not the only option you have. Here are the best dua for guidance from Allah, which you should recite before making important decisions. We will also mention the benefits of reciting it and how to do that.
Hadith: Narrated Tariq: `Abdullah said, “The best talk is Allah’s Book (Qur’an), and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad.”—Sahih al-Bukhari 6098
Dua for guidance from Hadith
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
Dua for guidance in English: Allahumma inni as’aluka al-huda wa at-tuqa wa al-‘afafa wa al-ghina
Translation: O Allah. I beg of Thee the right guidance, safeguard against evils, chastity and freedom from want.
Hadith: Abdullah reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) used to supplicate (in these words): ” O Allah. I beg of Thee the right guidance, safeguard against evils, chastity and freedom from want.” —Sahih Muslim 2721a
Explanation: The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has asked for the right guidance from Allah against evils of all kinds. We should follow the Sunnah of the Messenger (PBUH) and recite this dua for guidance in every aspect of life. You can also recite the dua for knowledge and dua for protection.
Dua for Guidance from the Holy Quran
The Holy Quran was revealed as a book of knowledge and guidance. Here is the best supplication for guidance from the Holy Quran.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Dua for Guidance English transliteration: Rabbanaa aatinaa min ladunka rahmatan wa hayyi’ lanaa min amrinaa rashadaa.
Translation: Our Lord! Grant us mercy from Yourself and guide us rightly through our affairs.
Explanation: The Arabic text is taken from Surah Al-Kahf Verse 10. In this Verse the Quran speaks about the people of the cave and the plague. The people who slept in the cave were saved from the plague which destroyed the entire populaton of their city.
They prayed for Allah’s mercy from the plague, and Allah caused them to sleep for years and protected them from plague and distress. We should recite this verse whenever we are in need of Allah’s guidance. You can also recite the dua for ease and dua for patience with it.
Dua for seeking Allah’s guidance for a decision
This dua is also called the Istikhara Dua.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ (يُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – أَوْ قَالَ : عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ – فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – أَوْ قَالَ : عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ – فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ.
English transliteration: Allāhumma innī astakhīruka bi `ilmik, wa astaqdiruka biqudratik, wa as’aluka min faḍlika ‘l-`Aẓīm, fa’innaka taqdiru wa lā aqdir, wa ta`lamu wa lā a`lam, wa anta `allāmu ‘l-ghuyūb, Allāhumma in kunta ta`lamu anna hādha ‘l-amra – [then mention the thing to be decided] Khayrun lī fī dīnī wa ma`āshī wa `āqibati amrī – [or say] `ājilihi wa ājilih – faqdurhu lī wa yassirhu lī thumma bārik lī fīh, wa in kunta ta`lamu anna hādha ‘l-amra sharrun lī fī dīnī wa ma`āshī wa `āqibati ‘amrī – [or say] `ājilihi wa ‘ājilihi – faṣrifhu `annī waṣrifnī `anh, waqdur liya ‘l-khayra ḥaythu kān, thumma arḍinī bih.
Translation: O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, You are Capable and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [then mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, – [or say: in this life and the afterlife] – then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, – [or say: in this life and the afterlife] – then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and help me to be content with it.” Whoever seeks the counsel of the Creator will not regret it and whoever seeks the advice of the believers will feel confident about his decisions, for Allah has said in the Qur’an: “And consult them in the affair. Then, when you have made a decision, put your trust in Allah. —Hisn al-Muslim 74
Hadith: Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) said: The Prophet (PBUH) used to teach us to seek Allah’s Counsel in all matters, as he used to teach us a Surah from the Qur’an. He would say: When any of you has an important matter to decide, let him pray two Rak’ahs other than the obligatory prayer, and then say this dua for asking Allah for guidance.
What are the benefits of dua for Allah’s guidance?
Reciting dua for Allah’s guidance has numerous spiritual benefits:
- Strengthens Connection with Allah: It reinforces reliance on Allah and deepens faith, acknowledging that He is the best guide. Recite the 2nd Kalam to improve your relationship with Allah.
- Provides Clarity: It helps in making decisions and seeking clarity in difficult matters, leading to the right path. Here is the dua for success and forgiveness dua.
- Promotes Peace of Mind: Trusting Allah’s guidance brings emotional comfort and relief from anxiety. Recite this dua for anxiety and laziness dua for the peace of mind.
- Enhances Spiritual Growth: It fosters humility and submission to Allah’s will, enhancing personal and spiritual growth. We should always thank Allah for his blessings and mercy.
How to recite the dua for guidance?
You can recite the dua for guidance anytime and anywhere. However, there are a few protocols that must be followed to achieve maximum effect.
- Make ablution — Here is the dua after Wudu
- Perform two Raa’kat Salat-ul-Hajjat (Prayer of the need)
- Make supplication to Allah with a pure heart
- You can make supplication for guidance after every obligatory Salah
- The best supplication is asked in the night prayer. Recit the dua for Tahajjud after offer Tahajjud Salah and ask Allah for guidnace.
- The dua for seeking guidance can be recited after offering Fajr Salah. Remember to supplicate the dua after Fajr Salah.
Wrap Up
We have discussed the best dua for guidance from the Holy Quran and Sahih Hadiths, which you can recite to invoke Allah’s guidance and mercy. We have also mentioned the benefits of reciting the dua for guidance and the best practices to maximize the effects of this supplication.
We hope that you will benefit from this guide and share it with others. Remember us in your prayers.
FAQs
What is the dua for guidance in Arabic?
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
OR
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
What is the dua for guidance in English?
You can recite these supplications to ask Allah’s guidance.
- Rabbanaa aatinaa min ladunka rahmatan wa hayyi’ lanaa min amrinaa rashadaa.
- Allahumma inni as’aluka al-huda wa at-tuqa wa al-‘afafa wa al-ghina
What is the best dua for guidance in making a decision?
You can recite the above-mentioned supplications and seek Allah’s guidance. However, the Sunnah for important decisions was reciting the Istikhara dua, which we have mentioned in the third heading.
Allah will guide you and make your heart comfortable when making the decision. Stay strong after making a decision with Allah’s guidance and will.
What else should you know?
Here is a list of a few powerful dua you should know.
