How to Pray Salat al-Istikhara
Salat al-Istikhara is a two-rakat prayer the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught his companions to seek Allah's guidance whenever they faced a decision, big or small. After the two rakats you recite a specific dua naming the matter you are deciding, then proceed with what feels open and untroubled afterward.
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا، كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ.
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to teach us the istikhara prayer for every matter, just as he used to teach us a chapter from the Quran.”
Step 1Make a clear intention for the matter
Decide on the specific matter you want guidance about (a marriage, a job, a journey, a purchase). Istikhara is for permissible matters where you have a real choice — not for things already known to be obligatory or forbidden.
Note
Istikhara is not a request for a dream. It is a request for Allah to make the better path easy and the worse path difficult.
Step 2Perform Wudu (ablution)
Make a complete ritual ablution before standing in prayer. If you need a refresher on the steps, see our wudu guide.
Step 3Pray two rakats outside the obligatory prayers
These two rakats must be voluntary (nafl) — not your Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, or Isha fardh. You may pray Istikhara at any time except the three forbidden times (after Fajr until sunrise, when the sun is at its zenith, and after Asr until sunset).
Step 4After the final tasleem, raise your hands in dua
Once you have completed both rakats and given the closing salaam, raise your hands and praise Allah and send peace upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) before reciting the Istikhara dua.
Step 5Recite the Istikhara dua
Recite the full prophetic dua. When you reach the words 'this matter' name the specific decision you want guidance about, either silently or aloud.
Arabicاللَّهُمَّ 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.
Transliteration
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi-ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-azim, fa-innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa Anta allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra (mention your matter) khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bihi.
Step 6Proceed with the matter and trust Allah
After the dua, proceed with whichever option seems good. If Allah has decreed it best for you, He will make it easy and bless it. If it is harmful, He will turn it away from you and turn you away from it. There is no requirement to wait for a dream or a sign — the answer is in how the matter unfolds.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Waiting for a dream before acting. The hadith promises ease or difficulty, not a vision.
Praying Istikhara during one of the forbidden prayer times (after Fajr, at zenith, after Asr).
Substituting an obligatory prayer (like Fajr fardh) for the two rakats — they must be additional voluntary rakats.
Reciting the dua before the salaam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) made the dua after completing the prayer.
Repeating Istikhara compulsively for the same decision. Once is sufficient; act on what becomes clear.