The word Istikharah is derived from the root khayr. In its origins, the Arabic word khayr meant “everything that is excellent.” Khayr is a broad term that encompasses all that is excellent. Istikharah means “to seek the good”. ” This is the definition of istikharah. So, Istikhara literally means “to seek the excellent,” and when you recite the Istikhara dua, you are asking Allah (SWT) for the finest outcome imaginable. Also, we should be aware that it is a Sunnah two-raka’at prayer with the goal of seeking Allah’s (SWT) advice on whether to proceed or withdraw from the affair. It could be about marriage, job paths, business, and other issues.
After we understand the meaning of Istikhara, we should know how to pray Istikhara Prayer and what to say to ask Allah to grant us the best choices.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Istikhara:
The First Raka’:
First, make the Niyyah (intention) by reciting “I intend to perform two rakats of the salat al Istikhara” And then recite takbir “Allahu Akbar.” This is when the prayer begins.
– Begin by saying: “Audhu billahi min-ash-shayta -nir-rajeem Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-raheem” then recite Surah Al Fatiha. After that Recite Surah Al-Kafirun – Go into Ruku (bowing position) and say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Azeem” – Go into the first Sajdah and say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa’la” – Now step into the second Sajdah and say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa’la” after rising from the first Sajdah in jalsa position (sitting position between the two Sajdahs).
The Second Raka’:
As you rise to begin the next raka’, say “Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-raheem” then recite Surah Al Fatiha and after that recite Surah Al-Ikhlas. – We bow and say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Azeem” in Ruku (bowing position). – We say “Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa’la” in the first Sajdah. – Now, in the jalsa position, sit up from the first Sajdah (Sitting position between the two Sajdahs) – Now we recite “Subahaana Rabbiyal Aa’la” in the second Sajdah.
Following that, you sit for the entire Tashshahud: At-tahiyyat, Allah-umma salli, Allah-umma Barik, and Rabbana are recited. By first turning to your right and reciting “Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah,” and then turning to his left and repeating the process.
Istikhara Dua:
Invoke Allah (S.W.T) with the adab of making a Dua after concluding the prayer with the Salam. Read the following Dua as taught by our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W):
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 ـ أَوْ قَالَ عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ ـ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي ـ أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ ـ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي “وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي ـ قَالَ ـ وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ
The Pronunciation of the Istikhara Dua:
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
The Meaning of Istikhara Dua:
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 and make it easy for me, and then 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.
The Prophet added that afterwards, the person should name (mention) his need. (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
What is the best time to pray Istikhara?
Unlike the five mandatory prayers, which have their own set of timings, Salat Istikhara has no predetermined time. It is permissible to execute it at any time of day, with the exception of the following hours:
1. From the time of the Subuh prayer until the daybreak
2. From the time the sun reaches its meridian until it passes through it (which is about 5 minutes before Zuhur)
3. Until sundown, after the Asar prayer
“حين تطلُعُ الشمسُ بازغةً حتى ترتفعَ، وحين يقومُ قائمُ الظهيرةِ حتى تميلَ الشمس، وحين تَضيَّفُ الشمسُ للغروبِ حتى تغرُبَ”
The Prophet (S.A.W) said, “When the sun rises until it reaches high in the horizon, when the sun is at its meridian until it gets past the meridian, and when the sun sets until it is completely down.” (Sahih Muslim)
In Salaat Al-Istikhaarah, when should the du’aa be offered?
When it comes to du’aa’ al-istikhaarah, it is recommended that it be said after the prayer is completed. The majority of academics have this viewpoint.
The Hanafis, Maalikis, Shaafa’is, and Hanbalis said: The du’aa’ should come immediately after the prayer, according to al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (3/245). This is in agreement with what is said in the text of the hadeeth of Allah’s Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
Quranic verses and Hadith on Istikharah: Prayer for guidance
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي الْمَوَالِي، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَلِّمُنَا الاِسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الأُمُورِ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ “ إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ لِيَقُلِ 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 ـ أَوْ قَالَ عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ ـ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي ـ أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ ـ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ ـ قَالَ ـ وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ ”.
Jabir bin`Abdullah Narrated: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Qur’an. He said, “If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two rak`at prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer): — ‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as’alaka min fadlika Al-`azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu Wala a’lamu, Wa anta ‘allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta’lam anna hadha-lamra Khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati `Amri (or ‘ajili `Amri wa’ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati `Amri (or fi’ajili `Amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.’ (O Allah! I ask guidance 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 know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter–(or said: If it is better for my present and later needs)–Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter–(or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)–Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it). The Prophet (ﷺ) added that then the person should name (mention) his need.
Allah the Almighty teaches us how to ask for His help: “O you who believe! Seek help through patience and prayers. Allah is with the patient.” (Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 153)
Also, in another verse Allah says: “But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and may love a thing although it is evil for you. Allah knows, and you do not.” ( Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 216)
We should be content with whatever Allah selects for us and not seek to pursue our own will, especially when the answer to the Istikhara becomes evident. We should pray Allah to bless us and provide us with helpful information. May He assist us in carrying out His directives in ways that please Him, as well as in following in the footsteps of His loving Prophet (PBUH). Allah is, without a doubt, the All-Seeing, All-Hearing, and Best Planner. May He lead us and make all of our problems go away. Ameen.
