The Istikhara prayer
A two-rakʿah sunnah prayer taught by the Prophet ﷺ for asking Allah's guidance before an important decision.
What is Istikhara?
Istikhārah means "seeking the best". Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh (raḍiya-llāhu ʿanhu) said: "The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us istikhara for every matter, just as he would teach us a surah from the Quran." (Bukhari)
You pray two rakʿahs and then recite a specific duʿāʾ, naming your decision. It replaces anxiety and hesitation with reliance on Allah — tawakkul.
Key facts
- A sunnah two-rakʿah prayer taught by the Prophet ﷺ (Bukhari) for seeking Allah's guidance on a specific matter.
- Prayed once you are considering a decision — marriage, work, travel, a large purchase — that is halāl in itself.
- Not used for choosing between right and wrong: those already have a clear ruling in the Sharīʿah.
- May be prayed at any time except the three forbidden times (sunrise, zenith, sunset).
- May be repeated — some scholars mention up to seven times — until the heart finds ease.
- The result is not always a dream or feeling. It appears in the events that follow: doors opening or closing.
How to pray Istikhara
Wudu & Niyyah
Perform wudu. Face the Qibla and make the intention silently to pray two rakʿahs of Ṣalāt al-Istikhārah, seeking Allah's guidance regarding a specific matter — hold that matter clearly in mind.
Opening Takbir & Qiyām
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar
Raise both hands and say the takbir, fold the hands on the chest. Recite the opening duʿāʾ, then Al-Fātiḥa, followed by Sūrah Al-Kāfirūn.
Note: Sūrah Al-Kāfirūn in the first rakʿah, Sūrah Al-Ikhlāṣ in the second is recommended.
Rukūʿ
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna Rabbiya-l-ʿAẓīm
Bow with the back straight, hands gripping the knees, and repeat the tasbīḥ three times.
Sujūd × 2
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subḥāna Rabbiya-l-Aʿlā
Prostrate with all seven parts touching the ground. Sit calmly between the two sujūds, then prostrate again. Make your personal duʿāʾ during sujūd.
Second rakʿah with Al-Ikhlāṣ
Stand for the second rakʿah. Recite Al-Fātiḥa and Sūrah Al-Ikhlāṣ, then complete the rukūʿ and the two sujūds as before.
Tashahhud & Tasleem
Sit for the Tashahhud, Ibrāhīmiyya salawat and any short duʿāʾ, then give the tasleem to the right and left.
Recite the Istikhara dua
After the tasleem, raise your hands and recite the full istikhara duʿāʾ from the Prophet ﷺ. When you reach the words 'this matter of mine' (hādhā-l-amr), name the specific matter in your heart — or aloud — the marriage, job, journey or decision you are seeking guidance about.
The Istikhara dua
The Istikhara dua (Bukhari)
After Tasleemاللَّهُمَّ 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
Allāhumma innī astakhīruka bi-ʿilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratik, wa as'aluka min faḍlika-l-ʿaẓīm, fa-innaka taqdiru wa lā aqdir, wa taʿlamu wa lā aʿlam, wa anta ʿallāmu-l-ghuyūb. Allāhumma in kunta taʿlamu anna hādhā-l-amra khayrun lī fī dīnī wa maʿāshī wa ʿāqibati amrī, fa-qdurhu lī wa yassirhu lī, thumma bārik lī fīh. Wa in kunta taʿlamu anna hādhā-l-amra sharrun lī fī dīnī wa maʿāshī wa ʿāqibati amrī, fa-ṣrifhu ʿannī wa-ṣrifnī ʿanh, wa-qdur liya-l-khayra ḥaythu kān, thumma arḍinī bih.
"O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask You of Your vast bounty. For You are able and I am not, You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of all unseen things. 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 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 good wherever it is, then make me content with it."
How do I know the answer?
- After the prayer, act on what your heart is most at ease with — proceed with tawakkul.
- If the matter becomes easy, doors open and blessings follow, that is often Allah's guidance toward it.
- If obstacles increase, difficulty appears or the matter closes off, that is often guidance away from it.
- You do not need a dream. Do not paralyse decisions waiting for a sign.
- Consult trusted, knowledgeable Muslims (istishārah) alongside istikhara — the Prophet ﷺ practised both.
Guidance is based on mainstream Sunni fiqh. Consult a qualified scholar for madhhab-specific details.