The simple prayer that changes destinies

What is istikhara?

Istikhara is a prayer that helps you to make decisions – big or small – and a submission to Allah’s divine knowledge.

It’s a sunnah that the Messenger ﷺ encouraged the sahaba to do for all matters, in combination with seeking advice from people of knowledge.

How to pray istikhara?

Continue to pray the following sequence until your dua is answered
Set a pure intention for Allah to guide you and work to avoid sins so that your dua is not compromised. Ensure you are praying for something halal and that is not harmful.
It is sunnah to make wudu and pray 2 rakat of namaz (salah) first, but it is also permissible to recite the istikhara prayer without the salah, especially if you are unable to pray or make wudu (such as during menstruation).
Recite the dua:

Istikhara dua in Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ

Transliteration of istikhara dua:

Allahumma innee astakheeruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qadratika wa as’aluka min fadlika al-’adheem fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru wa ta’lamu wa la a’lamu wa anta ‘allaam ul-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna haadha al-amra [mention the thing to be decided here] khayrun lee fee deenee wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati amree faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee thumma baarik lee feehi wa in kunta ta’lamu anna haadha al-amara sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati amree fasrifhu ‘annee wasrifnee ‘anhu waqdur lee al-khayra haythu kaana thumma ardinee bih

Translation of istikhara dua:

O Allah, I seek Your guidance (in making a choice) 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, and I do not. You know, and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter 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, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be and make me content with it [Sahih al-Bukhari #6382].

How to know if my istikhara has been answered?

There are many misconceptions that istikhara will be followed by signs, but the reality is that Allah makes easy for you the right path, and makes difficult the one that is not blessed.

An example of an answered istikhara dua could be: You have to make a decision to take a new job abroad or stay in your current job. You consistently pray istikhara and now you start to have issues at your current job, and you keep hearing positive things about the new country. Maybe your heart feels inclined to the change, or maybe you encounter practical examples of the path to the right decision.

There are many ways istikhara prayer can be answered, but having faith that Allah will guide you ultimately ensures you feel at peace with your decisions.