1
Make wudu and pray two rak'ahs of nafl with the intention of Istikhara.
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Seeking Allah's guidance in a decision
Salatul Istikhara
صَلَاةُ الِاسْتِخَارَةِ
Time
Any permissible time (avoid the three forbidden times: sunrise, zenith, sunset)
Rak'ahs
2 rak'ahs of Nafl
Overview
The Prophet ﷺ taught the Istikhara du'a for anyone facing a decision — big or small. It is a plea to Allah to choose what is best.
Virtue
"‘Whoever seeks Allah's guidance will never regret; whoever consults his brothers will never be disappointed.’"
How to perform
2
In the first rak'ah after al-Fatiha, it is Sunnah to recite Surah al-Kafirun.
3
In the second rak'ah after al-Fatiha, recite Surah al-Ikhlas.
4
After the tasleem, raise your hands and recite the Istikhara du'a below.
5
When you reach ‘hadhal-amr’ (this matter), name your specific decision aloud or in your heart.
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Then act upon what your heart is inclined toward and trust Allah's plan — do not wait for a dream or sign.
The Istikhara Du'a
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 فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'azim, fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fih. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anh, waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih.
"O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge, and I seek strength by Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. You know, I know not. You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it. And decree for me what is good, wherever it may be, and make me content with it."