How to Pray Istikhara Prayer

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By Ustadha Fahmina

How to Pray Istikhara with Istikhara dua

How to Pray Istikhara Prayer? A Lost Sunnah We Need to Revive

Have you ever found yourself stuck at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take? Whether it’s a major life decision like marriage, a job change, or even something seemingly small, we often rely on advice from friends, endless Google searches, or simply our own logic. But how often do we turn to Allah first?

Istikhara, the beautiful Sunnah of seeking guidance from Allah, is one of the most powerful yet most neglected acts of worship today. It was a regular practice of the prophet ﷺ and his companions, yet in our busy lives, many of us either forget about it or misunderstand its true purpose. Istikhara is not just about seeking a dream or a clear “yes” or “no” answer—it’s about entrusting your heart to Allah, knowing that He will guide you toward what is best.

If you’ve ever hesitated about how to pray Istikhara or wondered what to expect after performing it, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. It’s time to revive this lost Sunnah and bring the peace of divine guidance into our lives.

What does Istikhara mean?

Istikhara in Arabic means seeking guidance to make a decision concerning something. It is said in Arabic Istakhir Allaaha yakhir laka (Seek guidance from Allaah and He will guide you (to the right decision)).

Istikhara definition

In sharee’ah terminology, Istikhara means seeking guidance (to the right decision), i.e., seeking guidance as to what Allah knows is the best and most appropriate choice, by means of prayer or the du’a narrated concerning Istikhara.

How to Pray Istikhara Prayer : The method to Pray Istikhara

How to do Istikhara prayer step by step? The method of performing Salat-ul-Istikharah is as follows:

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1. Perform wudu and offer two Rakāhs with the intention of Salāt-ul-Istikharah.

2. The Salāh will be performed normally like any other Salāh. Recite Surah Kāfirūn in the first Rakah and Surah Ikhlas in the second Rakāh.

3. Upon completing the Salāt, recite the following Duā.

Istikhara Dua

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اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي[2]

(Note: Some of the narrations have mentioned the word رَضِّنِي instead of the word أَرْضِنِي .Both forms are correct.)

Allaahumma inni astakheeruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’aluka min fadlika, fa innaka taqdiru walaa aqdir, wa ta’lamu wa laa a’lam, wa anta ‘allaam al-ghuyoob. Allaahumma fa in kunta ta’lamu haadha’l-amra (then the matter should be mentioned by name) khayran li fi ‘aajil amri wa aajilihi (or: fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma baarik li fihi. Allaahumma wa in kunta ta’lamu annahu sharrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri (or: fi ‘aajili amri wa aajilihi) fasrifni ‘anhu [wasrafhu ‘anni] waqdur li al-khayr haythu kaana thumma radini bihi

Narrated by al-Bukhaari in several places in his Saheeh (1166).

Translation:

Oh Allāh! I seek from You a decision by virtue of Your Knowledge (of what is best), and I seek from You the ability (to realise my object) by virtue of Your Power, and I ask You (to grant me) from Your Great Bounty, for indeed You have power and I do not have power, and You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the Unseen. Oh Allāh!

If, according to Your Knowledge, this matter is good for me with regards to my religious affairs, my worldly life and my final outcome (i.e. in the Hereafter), then direct it towards me and ease it for me, thereafter grant me blessing in it. And if, according to Your Knowledge, this matter is evil for me with regards to my religious affairs, my worldly life and my final outcome (i.e. in the Hereafter), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it. And direct towards me that which is good, no matter where it is, thereafter make me pleased with it (i.e. that good.)”

Mention your need while reciting the underline portion of the Dua. It is Mustahab to follow this procedure three times. One may use the help of a book etc. if one does not know the Dua by heart. Alternatively, if time does not allow a person to go through this entire procedure, one may recite the following Dua without having to perform any Salāh. This is the shortest form of Istikharah.

اَللَّهُمَّ خِرْ لِيْ وَاخْتَرْ لِيْ

“Oh Allāh, destine good for me and choose for me.”[3]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

 Is there religious background of Istikhara?

Jabir radi allahu anhu said, “The Prophet. may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to teach us the istikhara in matters just as if it was a sura of the Qur’an. He said, ‘When someone is concerned about something, he should pray two rak’ats and then say, ‘O Allah, I ask You for the good by Your knowledge and I ask You for strength by Your power and I ask You for some of Your immense abundant favour, You have the power and I do not.

You know and I do not know. You are the Knower of the Unseen Worlds. O Allah, if You know that this affair is good for me in my deen, my livelihood and the end of my affair (or he said ‘in the beginning of my affair’) and its conclusion, then avert it from me and avert me from it. Decree for me the good wherever it is and then make me content.” Then he should state what he needs.'”

Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 703

[1]  “وندب صلاة الاستخارة” أي طلب ما فيه الخير وهي تكون لأمر في المستقبل ليظهر الله تعالى خير الأمرين (حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح، ص397، دار الكتب العلمية بيروت – لبنان)

[2]حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي المَوَالِي، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ المُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا، كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ القُرْآنِ، يَقُولُ: ” إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ، فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الفَرِيضَةِ، ثُمَّ لِيَقُلْ:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – أَوْ قَالَ عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ – فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي – أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ – فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي ” قَالَ: «وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ» (صحيح البخاري ج2 ص57، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)

[3] Istikharah in the light of Sunnah Pg. 35-37

Abdul Hannan Nizami,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

Reference: askimam

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Ustadha Fahmina

Founder and Senior Editor

Ustadha Fahmina holds the Alimah sanad from two prestigious institutes and is a certified Optometrist Doctor. She teaches Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh, Seerah to Women and Kids and is passionate about spreading authentic information about the religion of Islam. Connect with her to keep updated about her recent ebooks and projects.

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