Istikhara Prayer (Salat al-Istikhara): Dua and Steps

صَلَاةُ الاسْتِخَارَة

Asking Allah to choose what is good before a decision: marriage, work, travel, a purchase…

Where does the Istikhara prayer come from?

Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah reports that the Prophet ﷺ used to teach his companions the istikhara for all their affairs, just as he taught them a surah of the Quran: “When one of you is considering a matter, let him pray two rak‘ahs other than the obligatory prayer, and then say…” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1162).

How to pray the Istikhara, step by step

  1. Perform your wudu.
  2. Form the intention in your heart to pray two rak‘ahs of istikhara for a specific matter.
  3. Pray two rak‘ahs like an ordinary voluntary prayer (see how to pray salah). No particular surah is required.
  4. After the salam, praise Allah, send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, then recite the istikhara dua below.
  5. In place of the words “this matter” (hâdhâ-l-amr), name your project: this marriage, this job, this journey…
  6. Then act with trust (tawakkul) and accept what Allah decides.

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
Allâhoumma innî astakhîrouka bi‘ilmika, wa astaqdirouka bi qoudratika, wa as’alouka min fadlika-l-‘azhîm. Fa innaka taqdirou wa lâ aqdirou, wa ta‘lamou wa lâ a‘lamou, wa anta ‘allâmou-l-ghouyoûb. Allâhoumma in kounta ta‘lamou anna hâdhâ-l-amra khayroun lî fî dînî wa ma‘âchî wa ‘âqibati amrî, faqdourhou lî wa yassirhou lî, thoumma bârik lî fîh. Wa in kounta ta‘lamou anna hâdhâ-l-amra charroun lî fî dînî wa ma‘âchî wa ‘âqibati amrî, fasrifhou ‘annî wasrifnî ‘anhou, waqdour liya-l-khayra haythou kâna, thoumma ardinî bih.

“O Allah, I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and then bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be, and then make me content with it.”

Sahih al-Bukhari, 1162 — narrated by Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah

After the Istikhara: how to interpret the answer?

The istikhara is not a draw of lots, nor a wait for a sign. The believer entrusts the choice to Allah and then moves forward. If doors open and the heart remains at peace, he continues; if obstacles multiply, he sees in this a direction from Allah. Scholars link the istikhara with consultation (istishara) of people of sound advice.

For other everyday supplications, see our duas in Arabic, transliteration and English and the morning and evening supplications.

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Frequently asked questions

You may be wondering…

How do you pray the Istikhara prayer?

You perform wudu, then pray a voluntary prayer of two rak‘ahs with the intention of istikhara. After the salam, you recite the istikhara dua, naming the matter concerned at the appropriate place. Then you act, entrusting the outcome to Allah.

How do you know the answer to the Istikhara?

It is not necessary to have a dream. After the istikhara, you move forward with the matter: if Allah makes it easy, it is good; if He makes it difficult or turns you away from it, there was no good in it. It is also recommended to seek advice from wise and trustworthy people.

Can the Istikhara prayer be performed at any time?

Yes, apart from the times when voluntary prayer is discouraged: after the Fajr prayer until the sun has risen, at the zenith, and after Asr until sunset. The last third of the night is an especially favoured time to call upon Allah.

Can you repeat the Istikhara?

Yes. If you remain undecided, there is nothing preventing you from repeating the istikhara several times for the same matter.

Can you recite the Istikhara dua without praying?

The Sunnah is to say it after two rak‘ahs. For a woman during her period, many scholars allow reciting the dua on its own, since prayer is not possible.

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