Istikhara: The Guidance Prayer
Overview
Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right thing concerning any affair in one’s life, especially when one has to choose between two permissible alternatives, e.g. a career choice, getting married, etc.
Anytime a Muslim is making a decision, he or she should seek Allah's guidance and wisdom, and the best way t do that is by praying Istikhara. Allah alone knows what is best for us, and there may be good in what we perceive as bad, and bad in what we perceive as good.
If you are ambivalent or unsure about a decision you have to make, there is a specific prayer for guidance (Salah-l-Istikhara) that you can do to ask for Allah's help in making your decision. Should you marry this certain person? Should you attend this graduate school? Should you take this job offer or that one? Allah knows what is best for you, and if you are not sure about a choice that you have, seek His guidance.
Importance
Istikhara was strongly recommended by Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him before undertaking any major decision.
Time
Can be performed anytime of day when prayer is permitted, along with wudu.
Number of Rakahs
2 rakahs of non-obligatory prayer (or Nafl) followed by the Istikhara du'a.
How to pray
There are several methods from various sources on how to pray Istikhara. The following one is the most recommended by scholars, and the others are mentioned below.
Recommended method
Do Wudu, pray the 2 rakahs prayer, and then sit facing the qiblah, thinking about the topic you are concerned about, and recite:
Du'a Istikhara - Main
Arabic
Transliteration
Allahumma inni astakheeroka bi ilmik. Wa'astaq-diroka biqodratik. Wa'as'aloka min fadlikal-azeem. Fa'innaka taqdiru wala aqdir. Wata lamo wala-a lam. Wa'anta-allamul ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta lamu anna (hathal-amra*) khayul-lee fi deenee wama ashi wa ajila amri wa'ajilah, faqdorho lee, wayassirho lee, thomma-barik lee fih. Wa'in konta ta lamo anna (hathal-amra*) sharrul-lee fi deenee. Wama ashi. Wa ajila amri. Wa'ajilaho. Fasrifho annee. Wasrifnee anh. Waqdur leyal-khayr haytho kan. Thomma ardini bih.
Translation
h Allah! I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power; I have none. And You know; I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things.
Oh Allah! If in Your knowledge, (this matter*) is good for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge, (this matter*) is bad for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it. And ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.
Other method 1
Shaykh al Tusi has advised the seeker of Istikhara to have a bath, pray a 2 rakat Salah, and after the salam go into sajdah and recite 3 times:
Du'a Istikhara 1
Arabic
Transliteration
Astakheerulaha Fee Jamee-i Umooree Kullihaa Khiyaratin Fee Aa'afiyatin
Other method 2
Sahib al Zaman has advised to pray Istikhara by keeping in mind the task with the intention of doing it and reciting Durood 3 times:
Du'a Durood
Arabic
Transliteration
Allahhumma S'alli A'laa Muhammadin Wala Aali Muhammadin, Kama Saleeta Ala Ibrahima, Wala Aalay Ibrahima, Innaka Hameedun Majeed.
Allahhumma Baarik A'laa Muhammadin Wala Aali Muhammadin, Kama Baarakta Ala Ibrahima, Wala Aalay Ibrahima, Innaka Hameedun Majeed.
Translation
"O God! Send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the House of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Abraham and upon the House of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious. O God! Bless Muhammad and the House of Muhammad as You blessed Abraham and the House of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious."
Then hold a rosary (taasbih) at any place in your left hand and from there with the right hand, start moving two beads at a time. If only one bead remains in the end do what you want to do and if two beads are left do not do it. Doing or not doing is optional, not compulsory.
Other method 3
Refer to Method 2 and do as follows:
Keep in mind the task with the intention of not doing it
Recite Durood:
Du'a Durood
Arabic
Transliteration
Allahhumma S'alli A'laa Muhammadin Wala Aali Muhammadin, Kama Saleeta Ala Ibrahima, Wala Aalay Ibrahima, Innaka Hameedun Majeed.
Allahhumma Baarik A'laa Muhammadin Wala Aali Muhammadin, Kama Baarakta Ala Ibrahima, Wala Aalay Ibrahima, Innaka Hameedun Majeed.
Translation
"O God! Send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the House of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Abraham and upon the House of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious. O God! Bless Muhammad and the House of Muhammad as You blessed Abraham and the House of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious."
Then hold a rosary (taasbih) at any place in your left hand and from there with the right hand, start moving two beads at a time. If only one bead remains in the end do what you want to do and if two beads are left then the work has to be done. It becomes obligatory to carry it out, otherwise there is every likelihood of loss and deprivation.
Other method 4
This method has been recommended by Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq :
1. Perform Wudu (ablution) or pray any salah
2. Sit facing qiblah and recite Surah Al Fatiha once:
Surah Al Fatiha
Arabic
Transliteration
Alhamdul lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen
Ar rahma nir-raheem
Maliki yawmid-deen
Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een
Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem
Siratal Lazeena an'amta 'alayhim
Ghai-ril maghdubi 'alayhim
Walad dal-leen. Ameen
Translation
"Praise is only for Allah, Lord of the Universe.
The most Kind, the most Merciful.
The master of the Day of Judgement.
You alone we worship and to you alone we pray for help.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those whom you have blessed.
Who have not deserved your anger,
Nor gone astray."
3. Recite Durood 15 times:
Du'a Durood
Arabic
Transliteration
Allahhumma S'alli A'laa Muhammadin Wala Aali Muhammadin, Kama Saleeta Ala Ibrahima, Wala Aalay Ibrahima, Innaka Hameedun Majeed.
Allahhumma Baarik A'laa Muhammadin Wala Aali Muhammadin, Kama Baarakta Ala Ibrahima, Wala Aalay Ibrahima, Innaka Hameedun Majeed.
Translation
"O God! Send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the House of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Abraham and upon the House of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious. O God! Bless Muhammad and the House of Muhammad as You blessed Abraham and the House of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious."
4. Recite the following du'a once:
Du'a Istikhara 2
Arabic
Transliteration
ALLAAHUMMA INNE AS-ALUKA BIH'AQQIL H'USAYNI WA JADDIHEE WA ABEEHI WA AKHEEHI WA UMMIHEE WAL A-IMMATI MIN D'URRIYYATIHEE AN TUS'ALLIYA A'LAA MUH'AMMADIN WA AALI MUH'AMMADIN WA AN TAJ-A'LA LIYAL KHIYARATA FEE HADD'IHIS SABH'ATI WA AN TURIYANEE MAA HUWAL ASLAH'U LEE FEE DEENEE WA DUNYAAYA ALLAAHUMMA IN KAANA AS'LAH'U FEE DEENEE WA DUNYAAYA FI-A'LA MAA ANAA A'AZIMUN A'LAYHI FAAMURNEE WA ILLAA FANHANEE INNAKA A'LAA KULLI SHAY-IN QADEER.
5. Hold the rosary in your left hand at any place and start moving one bead at a time with your right hand and say: SUBH'AANALLAAH, ALH'AMDULILLAH, LA ILAAHA ILLALLAAH on three heads one by one, continue it till you reach the end. If the last bead ends with SUBH'AANALLAAH it means 'neither good nor bad". If it ends with ALH'AAMDULILLAAH IT MEANS GOOD. And if it ends with LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAAH it means do not do it.
Other method 5
This is a method of seeking Istikhara from the Holy Quran recommended by Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him:
1. Recite Surah Al Ikhlas 3 times::
Surah Al Ikhlas
Arabic
Transliteration
Qul Hu-walaahu 'Ahad
'Allahus-Samad
Lam yalid, wa lam yuulad
Walam yakul-la-Huu kufuwan 'ahad.
Translation
" Say: He is Allah, the One and Only! Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him. "
2. Recite Durood 3 times:
Du'a Durood
Arabic
Transliteration
Allahhumma S'alli A'laa Muhammadin Wala Aali Muhammadin, Kama Saleeta Ala Ibrahima, Wala Aalay Ibrahima, Innaka Hameedun Majeed.
Allahhumma Baarik A'laa Muhammadin Wala Aali Muhammadin, Kama Baarakta Ala Ibrahima, Wala Aalay Ibrahima, Innaka Hameedun Majeed.
Translation
"O God! Send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the House of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Abraham and upon the House of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious. O God! Bless Muhammad and the House of Muhammad as You blessed Abraham and the House of Abraham; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious."
3. Then recite this du'a once:
Du'a Istikhara 3
Arabic
Transliteration
ALLAAHUMMA INNEE TAFAA-ALTU BIKITAABIKA WA TAWAKKALTU A'LAYKA FA-ARINEE MIN KITAABIKA MAA HUWA MAKTOOBUN MIN SIRRIKAL MAKANOONI FEE GHAYBIKA
4. Open the Holy Quran and derive an indication from the first line of the right hand page.
Other facts
• Seeing a dream: A lot of people believe you will see a dream that will tell you what to do. Although that can happen, the main thing is that Allah will make it (whatever you are concerned about) easier for you if it is good for you, or if it is not beneficial then he will remove you from it. You might experience a feeling, such as if you are worried about whether you should marry a certain person, if it is good for you Allah will give you a feeling if peace that you should marry that person, or you might see a dream, but most likely Allah will just help the situation seem clearer to you.
• What to pray for: Some people think you should only pray when there is something specific you need guidance with, but a lot of people pray istikhara regularly, and just pray that Allah guides them in their day-t-day decisions and that whatever happens is beneficial for them.
• How often to pray: It is recommended to pray istikhara once a day over as many days as possible to get a clearer indication.