Istikhara prayer is a practice that Muslims can turn to when they need help navigating through life's uncertainties. Although not mandatory, It is a highly recommended way to seek Allah's guidance and ask for the best outcome.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the steps and significance of Istikhara prayer, providing clear and easy-to-follow instructions on how to properly perform the prayer.
If you're curious about other prayers like Taraweeh or Janazah, we've got you covered! Check out our detailed guides!
What is Istikhara prayer?
Istikhara prayer is a sunnah prayer consisting of two raka'at (units) with the specific intention of seeking guidance from Allah. It can be performed when facing important decisions in various aspects of life, such as marriage, career pathways, business ventures, and more.
The word "Istikhara" itself translates to "seeking the best of affairs." By engaging in Istikhara prayer, Muslims express their desire to seek Allah's guidance on whether to proceed or withdraw from a particular matter.
It is a powerful practice that reminds believers of their reliance on Allah's wisdom and His ability to guide them towards what is truly beneficial for them.
The Ruling of Istikhara
The scholars of Islam agree that Istikhara is a Sunnah. It is a beautiful practice taught and encouraged by the Prophet (PBUH). Its authenticity is based on a well-known hadith narrated by Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
“The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to teach us to seek Allah’s guidance (Istikhara) in all matters, just as he would teach us a chapter from the Qur’an.”
The Prophet (PBUH) advised that whenever a person faces a decision or feels uncertain about something, they should pray two rak‘ahs of voluntary prayer and then recite this du’a:
“O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. You have power, I have none; You know, and I do not; You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (mention the matter here) is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and my hereafter, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. But if You know that it is bad for me in my religion, worldly life, or hereafter, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.”
(Bukhari, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Ahmad)
This beautiful supplication shows that Istikhara is not just about asking for a “yes” or “no.” It’s about surrendering to Allah’s wisdom, trusting Him to guide us toward what is best and to protect us from what is not.
Benefits of Istikhara Prayer
Performing Istikhara prayer offers several benefits for Muslims. Let's take a look at them:
1. Clear Mind: Istikhara prayer helps in clearing the mind, allowing individuals to focus better on the decision at hand. It eliminates distractions and creates mental clarity by seeking Allah's guidance.
2. Understanding Your True Desires: Istikhara prayer enables individuals to tap into their subconscious and better understand their true desires. It provides an opportunity to connect with oneself and gain insights into what truly matters.
3. Awareness of Consequences: By seeking Allah's guidance through Istikhara prayer, individuals become more aware of the potential outcomes, whether positive or negative, of their decision. This helps them make more informed choices.
4. Peace and Tranquility: Engaging in Istikhara prayer brings about a sense of peace and tranquility regarding the decision one is about to make. It reduces anxiety and instills trust in Allah's guidance, bringing inner calmness.
In summary, Istikhara prayer not only helps in seeking Allah's guidance but also provides mental clarity, understanding of one's true desires, awareness of potential consequences, and a sense of peace and tranquility. By performing Istikhara prayer, believers can navigate life's uncertainties with confidence and trust in Allah's plans.
Conditions for Performing Istikhara Prayer
Before seeking guidance through Istikhara prayer, there are important conditions to keep in mind. Let's break them down in simple terms:
1. Intention: When you want to make an Istikhara prayer, you should have a sincere intention. This means your desire to seek Allah's guidance should come from your heart with honesty.
2. Taking Action: While asking for guidance, it's important to also take practical steps towards your decision. Trusting in Allah's guidance doesn't mean sitting back and doing nothing. You should make efforts and take actions to help with your decision.
3. Accepting Allah's Will: Regardless of the outcome of your decision, you should willingly accept whatever Allah decides for you. Having faith in Allah's plan brings inner peace and contentment.
4. Keeping it Halal: Istikhara prayer is meant for seeking guidance in matters that are allowed in Islam. It should not be used for decisions involving haram or forbidden actions.
5. Repentance and Avoiding Wrongdoings: Before seeking guidance, it's important to seek forgiveness for any past mistakes, resolve conflicts, and stay away from earning or consuming anything haram.
6. Seeking Guidance for Anything: You can seek Allah's guidance for any matter, big or small. Trusting in Allah's wisdom can offer blessings and guidance even in unexpected ways.
In essence, when you perform Istikhara prayer, remember to have a sincere intention, take practical steps, trust in Allah's plan, keep your decisions in line with Islam's teachings, seek forgiveness, and seek guidance for all aspects of your life. Following these simple guidelines can help you seek clarity and make better decisions with Allah's guidance.
How to Pray Istikhara Prayer? (Step-by-step)
1. Intention (Niyyah)
Start by sincerely intending to perform the Istikhara prayer for the sake of seeking clarity and making better decisions with Allah's guidance. While it's not mandatory to say it aloud, your intention should be clear in your mind, to give you an idea: “I intend to offer two raka'at of the Istikhara prayer”.
2. Takbeer and Recitation
Initiate the prayer with Takbeer, saying "Allahu Akbar'' and raising your hands. Like a regular Fardh salah, recite Surah Al-Fatiha followed by Quranic verses in the two raka'at of Istikhara.
3. Istikhara Dua (supplication)
After completing the two raka'at prayer, end the prayer with the Salam (saying "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah"), signifying the completion of the prayer. Then recite the Istikhara dua as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The dua goes as follows:
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 خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، 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 walaa aqdiru, wa ta'lamu walaa a'lamu, wa anta 'allamul ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra khayrun li fi diini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra sharrun li fi diini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati amri (or fi ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu anni wasrifni anhu waqdur li al-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bihi.”
Meaning:
"O Allah! I seek Your counsel from Your knowledge and power from Your might, and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not, You know and I do not, and You are All-knowing of the unseen (hidden). O Allah! If You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs in the Hereafter, if it is better for my present and later, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is harmful (bad) for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs in the Hereafter, or if it is bad for my present and later, then ward it off from me and keep me away from it. Then ordain for me with whatever is good for me wherever it may be found, and help me be content with it."
It is worth mentioning that if clarity in the matter is not achieved immediately, it is recommended to continue performing the Istikhara prayer for several days.
Common Misconceptions about Istikhara
1. Istikhara is About Dreams and Signs
Many people believe Istikhara must lead to a dream or a clear sign, but that’s not from the Sunnah. The Prophet (PBUH) taught Istikhara as a du’a asking Allah to guide and make what’s best easy for us.
Seeing someone in a dream or noticing random “signs” often just reflects our own thoughts and emotions. True guidance from Istikhara shows in how events unfold with ease and blessing, not through symbols or visions.
2. Someone Else Can Pray Istikhara for You
It’s a common misconception that a “pious person” can perform Istikhara on your behalf and get an answer for you. In reality, Istikhara is deeply personal. It’s your direct conversation with Allah.
While you can always ask others to make dua for you, the two rak‘ahs of Istikhara are meant to be done by the one making the decision.
3. Istikhara Gives Instant Answers
Some expect immediate clarity or an obvious outcome after praying Istikhara. But Allah’s guidance may unfold slowly. Sometimes, things fall into place with ease; other times, delays or difficulties protect us from harm.
Istikhara isn’t about getting a “yes” or “no.” It’s about trusting Allah’s timing and wisdom in whatever path He opens or closes for you.
How will you know the answer to your Istikhara prayers?
After performing Istikhara prayer, it's important to remember that the answer may not come immediately, and not necessarily in the form of a dream. Instead, the outcome can manifest through various signs.
For instance, if you feel a strong inclination or clarity towards a particular decision, it may indicate the path you should take. On the other hand, if you don't feel a clear inclination, it's essential to assess your situation and consider whether there are any obstacles or ease in proceeding or withdrawing from a matter. Allah's facilitation in our circumstances can guide us towards the best outcome from our Istikhara. As stated in the Quran:
"And consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely upon Him."
(Surah Ali-’Imran, verse 159)
When to Perform Istikhara?
Istikhara is more than just a prayer for big decisions. It’s a beautiful reminder to seek Allah’s guidance in every aspect of life. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught his companions to perform Istikhara just as he taught them chapters from the Qur’an, showing how important and universal this act of worship is.
While we often turn to Istikhara for major life choices like marriage, career moves, or buying a home, the early Muslims would perform it even for smaller matters. Whether it’s choosing a project, making a purchase, or planning a journey, Istikhara helps align our hearts with what Allah knows is best for us.
At the same time, the Prophet (PBUH) encouraged istishara, consulting people of wisdom and sincerity before making decisions. He himself would seek advice from companions such as Abu Bakr (RA) and Umar (RA), teaching us that seeking Allah’s guidance and the counsel of others go hand in hand.
Unlike the five daily obligatory prayers, Istikhara has no fixed time. You can perform it at any point in the day except during the three prohibited times of prayer:
a. After Fajr until the sun rises,
b. When the sun is directly overhead (just before Dhuhr), and
c. After Asr until sunset.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Do not pray when the sun is rising until it has risen, when it is at its zenith until it passes the meridian, and when it is setting until it has completely set.”
(Sahih Muslim)
As for when to recite the du’a of Istikhara, scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned that it can be said during the prayer or after it, though reciting it before the Tasleem (the final salutation) is preferable, as the Prophet (PBUH) often made his supplications before completing the prayer.
Ultimately, Istikhara is not bound by time or occasion; it’s about turning to Allah with sincerity whenever you face uncertainty. Whether the matter feels small or significant, seek His guidance, take your steps, and trust that whatever unfolds is part of His perfect wisdom.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Istikhara prayer is a powerful way to seek guidance from Allah during times of uncertainty. Sometimes, the answer to our Istikhara prayers may come in the form of a clear inclination or ease in proceeding with a certain decision. In other cases, it may require us to reflect on our circumstances and seek advice from trusted individuals.
Ultimately, we should rely on Allah and have faith that He will guide us towards what is best for us. The Istikhara prayer is a reminder of our dependence on Allah and a means of seeking His mercy and blessings. May we all have the strength and wisdom to make the best decisions through Istikhara, and may Allah guide us on the path of righteousness in all aspects of our lives.
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