How to Pray Istikhara: Step by Step

When it comes to your future, it is only Allah who knows what lies ahead, as He is All-Knowing All-Powerful. So, whenever you get confused about making any decision in life, you can ask Allah for aid by performing the Istikhara prayer.

Whether you want to pick a career path, move forward with a marriage proposal, buy a new house, or any other matter in your life, no one in the world can provide you with as sincere a suggestion as Allah can. All you need to do is put your trust in Him and follow His guidance for the outcomes in your favor.

If you have decided to consult Allah Almighty for any matter, you should know how to perform Salat-ul-Istikhara correctly. Keep reading this blog to learn that procedure step by step.

But before jumping into the process, let’s elaborate on the meaning of Istikhara.

What is Istikhara?

Istikhara means ‘to seek goodness’ from Allah. It refers to a dua that you recite after the prayer. It is an expression of how beautifully you put your trust in Allah. You ask Allah for His infinite wisdom for any uncertainty in life with the hope that He will guide you to the best path. You get this guidance either from feelings, circumstances or any signs that clarify the right path.

Istikhara is the sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAW). He has always taught His companions to seek counseling from Allah in every matter of life.

In a Hadith, He says: "Amongst the happiness of the son of Adam is the abundance in performing Istikhara (seeking the best) from Allah the exalted and contentment upon what is ordained by Allah for him. And amongst the misery of the son of Adam is his disregard for Istikhara to Allah the exalted and his resentment for what is ordained by Allah for him." (Sunan At-Tirmizi)

How to Do Istikhara? Step By Step Procedure

Now that you are clear about what Istikhara is, let’s move forward with its procedure. It is very simple to perform, but you must do it with the right intentions. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Perform Wudu

First of all, perform wudu, the ritual washing before every prayer. It ensures that you are physically clean as well as spiritually pure to bow before Allah, the Most Compassionate.

2. Set an Intention

After performing the wudu, set an intention for your Istikhara prayer. Make sure your heart and mind are fully focused on asking for Allah’s guidance regarding the specific matter at hand. Also, be open to receiving His will and taking action accordingly. Be ready to follow it even if it is not in your favor.

3. Pray two Rakah

Now, offer two Rakat in a quiet place. In the first Rakah, reciting Surah Al-Kafiron after Surah Al-Fatiha is preferable. In the second Rakah, you can recite Surah Ikhlas after Surah Al-Fatiha and say Tasleem.

4. Say Salam and Recite Dua for Istikhara

After saying Salam, raise both your hands in front of Allah Almighty and start praying by calling Him by His beautiful names. Also, send salutations on the Holy Prophet (SAW) and then recite dua for Istikhara, that is:

Transliteration

‘’Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ilmika wa-astaqdiruka biqudratika wa-as’aluka min fadhlika al-adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru walaa aqdiru. Wa ta’lamu walaa a’alamu wa anta allaamul ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna haadhal-amr (mention your concern) khayrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma’aashiy wa-‘aaqibati amri, faq dur hu liy wa-‘yassar hu- li summa barik li feehi. Wa in-kunta ta’lamu anna haadhal amr sharrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma’aashiy wa-‘aaqibati amri. Fa-srifhu ‘annee wa-srifni ‘anhu. Wa aqdur lial khayra haythu kaana thumma a-rdhiniy bihee.’’

5. Pray to Allah

After reciting the above dua, you can now ask Allah for His guidance in your own language as well. Put your concerns before Him wholeheartedly and then leave the matter to Him without any fear.

6. Repeat the process as many times as you want

You can continue Istikhara on a daily basis until you get the answer. Sometimes, you may receive the guidance within a day, but other times it may take longer. The timing is in Allah's hands, so be patient until you get clarity from Allah.

Best Time for Istikhara Prayer

You can offer Salat-ul-Istikhar anytime in the day or night except for forbidden hours, during which all prayers are prohibited. These are:

1. After Fajar prayer, until sunrise.

2. 5 minutes before Zuhr Prayer.

3. After Asar prayer until sunset.

There is a hadith by Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) in which Allah's Messenger (Peace and Blessings be upon him) says:

‘’ Do not intend to observe prayer at the time of the rising of the sun nor at its setting, for it rises between the horns of Satan.’’ (Muslim)

How to Know the Outcome of Istikhara?

If a matter becomes easy for you after performing Istikhara, it is a sign of goodness from Allah. On the other hand, if there are any obstacles or difficulties, know that Allah is pushing you away from that matter.

Sometimes, you may see a sign from Allah in your dreams. But that is not mandatory in every case. Most of the time, you will feel your heart inclining towards the suggested action from Allah.

Conclusion

Istikhara prayer is a beautiful practice and a wonderful gift from Allah. It enables you to deepen your connection with him by seeking his guidance in every matter. All you need is sincerity, faith, and patience while seeking answers.

For more information on Istikhara, you can read our authentic Islamic books and learn from reputed Islamic scholars.

FAQS

Can I pray Istikhara even for small matters?

Yes, you can pray Istikhara for both significant and small matters, as it's worth seeking guidance from Allah in every case.

What if the answer to Istikhara is against our will?

You might feel uneasy when the outcome of Istikhara does not align with your desires. But remember, Allah’s plan is always better than your wishes. So, accept it wholeheartedly and act upon it without any fear or regret.

Can someone else pray Istikhara for us?

Yes, someone else can pray Istikhara for you but the most beneficial is to do it yourself. Your personal connection with Allah will lead you towards better guidance.