Salat al-Istikhara
Seeking Allah's Guidance in Making Life Decisions
📖 What is Istikhara?
Istikhara (Arabic: الاستخارة) means "to seek the good" from Allah. It is a prayer performed when facing an important decision, asking Allah to guide you toward what is best for your faith, life, and afterlife.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "If any one of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, let him pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say..."(Sahih al-Bukhari)
⏰ When to Perform Istikhara
- ✓Before Marriage Proposals: When considering a potential spouse
- ✓Before Major Decisions: Job offers, moving cities, business ventures
- ✓When Uncertain: When you have two or more good options
- ✓After Research: Not instead of effort, but after gathering information
Important: Istikhara is NOT for obligatory acts (like prayer or fasting) or prohibited acts (like haram relationships). It's for permissible choices (mubah).
📋 How to Perform Istikhara (Step by Step)
Make Wudu (Ablution)
Perform a complete ablution to be in a state of purity.
Pray Two Rak'ahs
Pray 2 units of voluntary (nafl) prayer. You may recite any surahs you know.
Recite the Dua
After completing the prayer and giving salaam, recite the Istikhara dua (provided below).
Mention Your Decision
When you reach the part 'in this matter' in the dua, clearly state what you're deciding about.
Trust Allah's Plan
After making dua, trust that Allah will guide you. Don't wait for dreams — watch for signs.
Make Your Decision
Proceed with what feels right and what opportunities open up. Trust the process.
🤲 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 خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي
فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ
وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي
فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Transliteration:
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-'azim
fa-innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamu l-ghuyub
Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-l-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri
faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi
Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-l-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri
fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li al-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bihi
English 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 [mention your decision here] is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs, immediate and in the future,
then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me.
And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and help me to be content with it."
💡 After Istikhara — What to Expect
✓ You DON'T Need a Dream
Many people mistakenly believe Istikhara requires a dream. This is NOT true. Dreams are not a requirement. Allah guides through many ways.
✓ Watch for Signs
Pay attention to what becomes easier or harder. If a path opens smoothly, it may be good. If obstacles appear, it may be protection.
✓ Inner Peace
Notice how you feel. Allah places tranquility (sakina) in your heart toward the right decision.
✓ Make a Decision and Trust
After Istikhara, make your choice and proceed. Trust that Allah has guided you. Don't second-guess or wait indefinitely.
Remember: Istikhara is not magic. It is a dua asking Allah to make the right path easy and the wrong path difficult. Whatever happens after is part of Allah's answer.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
Waiting for a Dream
Dreams are not required. Proceed based on circumstances and inner peace.
Doing Istikhara for Someone Else
Each person should perform their own Istikhara for their decision.
Using it for Haram/Wajib Acts
Istikhara is only for permissible (mubah) choices, not for things already required or forbidden.
Repeating Without Action
After performing Istikhara, take action. Don't delay indefinitely hoping for more signs.
💍 Istikhara for Marriage Proposals
When considering marriage, Istikhara is especially important. You are seeking Allah's guidance for a life partner — a decision that affects your deen, happiness, and future.
When to do Istikhara for marriage:
- •After meeting a potential spouse and gathering basic information
- •Before accepting or rejecting a proposal
- •When you have multiple good options
- •After consulting family and trusted advisors
Tip: When reciting the dua, clearly mention the person by name: "O Allah, if marriage with [name] is good for me..." This brings focus to your intention.