Istikhara Prayer Guideصلاة الاستخارة
Learn how to seek Allah's guidance through the Istikhara prayer for important life decisions like marriage, career, and more.
The Complete Istikhara Dua
Arabic
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 [اذكر حاجتك] 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 biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-'azim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allam ul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra [mention your need] 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 al-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 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. You know; I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge this matter [mention your need] is good for 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 in Your knowledge this matter is bad for 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 the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.
📚 Sahih Bukhari 1162, 6382, 7390
How to Pray Istikhara - Step by Step
Step 1:Make Wudu (Ablution)
Perform proper wudu as you would before any prayer.
Step 2:Pray Two Rak'ahs
Offer two voluntary rak'ahs of prayer. This can be at any time except the forbidden times.
Step 3:Recite the Istikhara Dua
After the salaam, recite the Istikhara dua. When you reach the phrase "[mention your need]", state your specific matter in your heart or words.
Step 4:Have Sincere Intention
Your heart should be completely open to whatever Allah decrees. Do not have a predetermined preference.
Step 5:Trust in Allah
After performing Istikhara, proceed with your decision if there are no obstacles. Trust that Allah will guide you.
Important Note
When you reach the phrase "[mention your need]" in the dua, think about or verbalize your specific matter. For example: "this job offer" or "this marriage proposal". Your heart should be completely neutral, open to whatever Allah decrees.
Best Times for Istikhara
The most blessed time when Allah descends to the lowest heaven
Convenient time with wudu already performed
Combines with night prayer for extra blessing
When timing is critical
Forbidden Prayer Times
- ✕From Fajr prayer until the sun rises (about 15-20 minutes after sunrise is safe)
- ✕When the sun is at its peak (a few minutes before and during Dhuhr adhan)
- ✕From Asr prayer until the sun sets completely
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Reasons for Istikhara
Marriage
Seeking guidance for a potential spouse
Career
Job offers, business decisions, relocations
Education
Choosing schools, courses, or fields of study
Housing
Buying, renting, or moving to a new place
Travel
Major trips or pilgrimage planning
Partnerships
Business partnerships or collaborations
Understanding Salat al-Istikhara
Istikhara (استخارة) means "seeking goodness" or "seeking what is best". It is a prayer of guidance that Muslims perform when facing important decisions. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this practice to his companions and encouraged them to seek Allah's guidance in all matters.
The Wisdom Behind Istikhara
Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) reported: The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us Istikhara for all matters, just as he would teach us a Surah from the Quran. He said: "When one of you intends to do something, let him pray two rak'ahs other than the obligatory prayer, then say [the Istikhara dua]..." (Sahih Bukhari)
How Allah Answers Istikhara
The answer to Istikhara does not always come as a dream. It may manifest as: a feeling of peace or unease about the decision, doors opening or closing unexpectedly, advice from trusted people, or changes in circumstances. The key is to trust Allah and proceed with what seems best after making Istikhara.