Whenever Muslims make a decision, They should seek Allah’s guidance and wisdom. If you are unsure about a decision you should make, we will tell you Istikhara Dua, and guide you to perform Istikhara Prayer.
Istikhara is often performed when you are faced with a significant decision, such as getting married, starting a new job, or deciding on a major life change.
Istikhara is important because then you can do to ask for Allah’s help in making your decision. Only Allah knows what is best for us, and there may be good in what we consider as bad, and bad in what we consider as good.
Table of Contents
Istikhara Meaning
The word “Istikhara” comes from the Arabic root “khayr” which means “goodness” or “good.” Istikhara, at its core, means seeking goodness or seeking guidance from Allah.
Istikhara Dua
Pronunciation
The following video we have made will help you learn the proper pronunciation of the Istikhara Dua word by word:
Transliteration
Allaahumma ‘innee ‘astakheeruka bi’ilmika, wa ‘astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa ‘as’aluka min fadhtikal-‘Adheemi, fa’innaka taqdiru wa laa ‘aqdiru, wa ta’lamu, wa laa ‘a’lamu, wa ‘Anta ‘Allaamul-Ghuyoobi, Allaahumma ‘in kunta ta’lamu ‘anna haathal-‘amra-[then mention the thing to be decided] Khayrun lee fee deenee wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati ‘amree – [or say] ‘Aajilihi wa ‘aajilihi – Faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee thumma baarik lee feehi, wa ‘in kunta ta’lamu ‘anna haathal-‘amra sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati ‘amree – [or say] ‘Aajilihi wa ‘aajilihi – Fasrifhu ‘annee wasrifnee ‘anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kaana thumma ‘ardhinee bihi
in Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمَكَ، 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- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ- فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ- فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Meaning
O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, You are Capable and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [then mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, – [or say: in this life and the afterlife] – then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, – [or say: in this life and the afterlife] – then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and help me to be content with it. Whoever seeks the counsel of the Creator will not regret it and whoever seeks the advice of the believers will feel confident about his decisions. Allah said in the Qur’an: “And consult them in the affair. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.” [Al-Bukhari 7:162]
Related:
Istikhara Prayer
Solat istikhara is a powerful prayer that Allah has granted us to ask for His guidance in all matters. We should not hesitate to pray Istikhara before making any choice in our lives whether it is big or small.
It’s important to do this prayer sincerely, knowing in our hearts that only Allah can give us the guidance we seek and resolve to follow the guidance He gives us, even if it contradicts our own desires.
We should also say the dua is in a firm position, not begging or pleading, but asking Allah clearly for guidance.
We also should be patient after our dua. We do not put Allah on a timetable. And we should not expect some sort of miracle, or dreams full of signs and symbols. We simply say our prayers and trust that Allah has heard us and will answer us in the best way.
How to perform Solat Istikhara
Prerequisites
- Perform Wudu
- Prepare your space for prayer
- Make the intention by reciting “I intend to perform two Rakat of the Salat al Istikhara”
| 1st Rakat | 2nd Rakat |
| You say Takbir “Allahu Akbar” This starts the prayer. Begin reciting “Subhanaka” After you say: “Audhu billahi min-ash-shayta -nir-rajeem Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-raheem” Reciting Surah Al Fatiha Reciting Surah Al-Kafirun Go into Ruku (the bowing position) and We say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Azeem” Go into the 1st Sajdah and We say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa’la” Now sit-up from the first Sajdah in jalsa position (Sitting position between the two Sajdahs) Now go into the 2nd Sajdah and We say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa’la” | Rise up to proceed to the next raka’at, You say “Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-raheem” Reciting Surah Al Fatiha Reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas Go into Ruku (the bowing position) and We say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Azeem” Go into the 1st Sajdah and We say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa’la” Now sit up from the first Sajdah in jalsa position (Sitting position between the two Sajdah) Now go into the 2nd Sajdah and We say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa’la” After this, you sit for the complete Tashshahud: You recite At-tahiyyat, Allah-umma salli, Allah-umma Barik, and Rabbana. By turning your face to the right first and saying “Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah” and then to his left and doing the same |
It is important to note that Istikhara is not a way to predict the future or receive a get answer from Allah. It is solely a way of seeking Allah’s guidance and submitting yourself to His will. Through Istikhara, Allah may open or close doors, inspire your heart towards a certain direction, or bring about circumstances that help in making the best decision Inshallah.
