What is Istikhara?
Istikhara is a special prayer in Islam. The word “Istikhara” comes from Arabic. It means “to seek what is good” or “to ask for the best choice.”
When you have a difficult decision to make, you perform Istikhara. You ask Allah to guide you to the right choice. Allah knows everything. He knows what is best for you. You don’t always know what is best, but Allah does.
Why Do We Need Istikhara?
Sometimes in life, we face tough choices:
- Should I marry this person?
- Should I take this job?
- Should I move to another city?
- Should I start this business?
- Should I buy this house?
We might feel confused. We might not know which choice is better. This is when Istikhara helps us. We ask Allah to show us the right path.
When Should You Perform Istikhara?
Good times to do Istikhara:
- Before making any big life decision
- When you have two or more good choices
- When you feel confused about what to do
- When you want to know the right timing for something
- Before starting something important
Important note: Only do Istikhara for things that are allowed in Islam. Don’t do Istikhara for things that are clearly forbidden (haram).
How to Perform Istikhara – Step by Step
Step 1: Prepare Yourself
- Make Wudu (wash yourself for prayer)
- Find a clean, quiet place to pray
- Face the Qibla (direction of Mecca)
- Have a sincere heart
- Think clearly about your decision
Step 2: Pray Two Rakats
- Pray 2 rakats of voluntary prayer
- These are extra prayers, not your regular daily prayers
- Pray them slowly and with focus
- You can recite any Surahs you know well
Step 3: Recite the Istikhara Dua
After finishing the 2 rakats, raise your hands and recite the special Istikhara dua.
The Complete Istikhara Dua
Arabic Text:
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: 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: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ – فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
English Translation:
“O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek Your power through Your might, and I ask You from Your great bounty. You have power and I do not. You know and I do not. You are the Knower of all hidden things.
O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs – both immediate and distant – then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it.
But if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs – both immediate and distant – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it. Decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.”
Understanding the Dua – Part by Part
Part 1: Praising Allah
“O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge…”
Here you recognize that:
- Allah knows everything
- Allah has all the power
- Allah is generous and kind
- You have limited knowledge
- You need Allah’s help
Part 2: If It’s Good for Me
“O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me…”
You ask Allah:
- If this choice is good for your religion
- If this choice is good for your daily life
- If this choice is good for your future
- Then make it easy for you
- Then give you blessings in it
Part 3: If It’s Bad for Me
“But if You know that this matter is bad for me…”
You ask Allah:
- If this choice is bad for your religion
- If this choice is bad for your daily life
- If this choice is bad for your future
- Then take it away from you
- Then guide you to something better
- Then make you happy with what He chooses
After Performing Istikhara
What to Do:
- Trust Allah completely – Have faith that Allah will guide you
- Be patient – The answer might not come immediately
- Stay alert – Watch for signs in your life
- Make practical efforts – Take normal steps toward your decision
- Accept the outcome – Be happy with whatever Allah chooses
How Allah Might Answer:
Through your feelings:
- You might feel peaceful about one choice
- You might feel worried about another choice
- You might lose interest in something
- You might feel more excited about an option
Through circumstances:
- Things become easy for one choice
- Obstacles appear for another choice
- New opportunities open up
- Doors close for certain paths
Through other people:
- Someone gives you good advice
- You meet someone who helps you decide
- People around you support one option
- Others warn you about something
Through dreams:
- Some people get guidance through dreams
- But don’t rely only on dreams
- Dreams should match with other signs
Important Points to Remember
Do’s:
- Have a clean heart and sincere intention
- Think clearly about your decision before praying
- Say the specific thing you want guidance about
- Be ready to accept any answer from Allah
- Repeat Istikhara for several days if needed
- Combine Istikhara with practical research
Don’ts:
- Don’t do Istikhara for haram (forbidden) things
- Don’t expect immediate magical answers
- Don’t ignore practical considerations
- Don’t keep doing Istikhara forever for the same decision
- Don’t ask others to do Istikhara for your personal decisions
Common Mistakes People Make
- Waiting for dramatic signs – Allah’s guidance often comes in simple, natural ways
- Doing Istikhara for obvious choices – If something is clearly good or bad, you don’t need Istikhara
- Not taking action – After Istikhara, you still need to make efforts
- Ignoring practical advice – Istikhara works alongside using your mind and seeking counsel
- Expecting specific dreams – Not everyone gets guidance through dreams
Different Situations for Istikhara
Marriage Decisions:
- “O Allah, if marrying [person’s name] is good for me…”
- Consider character, compatibility, religious commitment
- Don’t ignore red flags even after Istikhara
Career Choices:
- “O Allah, if taking this job is good for me…”
- Consider salary, work environment, career growth
- Think about impact on your family and worship
Business Ventures:
- “O Allah, if starting this business is good for me…”
- Do market research alongside Istikhara
- Consider financial risks and ethical aspects
Moving/Travel:
- “O Allah, if moving to [place] is good for me…”
- Research the new location thoroughly
- Consider family, education, and community needs
Benefits of Istikhara
- Peace of mind – You know Allah is guiding you
- Better decisions – You combine divine guidance with human effort
- No regrets – You trust that Allah chose what’s best
- Stronger faith – You develop a closer relationship with Allah
- Less stress – You don’t carry the burden alone
Conclusion
Istikhara is a beautiful gift from Allah to His servants. It shows that Islam cares about every aspect of our lives. When you perform Istikhara correctly, you invite Allah into your decision-making process.
Remember that Istikhara is not magic. It works best when combined with:
