Istikhara: how to pray and the dua
Istikhara means asking Allah for what is best. Before important decisions, such as marriage, a job, studies or moving, you pray two rak'ahs and then make this supplication.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us istikhara in all matters, as he taught us a surah of the Quran.
Jabir, Sahih al-Bukhari
How to pray istikhara
- Make wudu and pray two rak'ahs with the intention of istikhara, outside the disliked times.
- After the prayer, make the dua below and mention your matter where indicated, for example "this marriage" or "this job".
- Trust in Allah and act: if the matter is good for you, Allah will make it easy; if not, He will turn you away from it.
The dua of istikhara
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 هَٰذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَٰذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmik, wa astaqdiruka biqudratik, 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 'anhu, waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih
O Allah, I ask You for the better choice through Your knowledge and for strength through Your power, and I ask You of Your immense bounty. For You are able and I am not; You know and I do not, and 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, decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari. At "hadhal-amra" (this matter) think of your matter or name it.
Do I need to see a dream?
No. Istikhara is not fortune-telling and does not require a dream. Its answer shows in how Allah arranges things: what is good becomes easy, what is bad is prevented. Many scholars recommend also asking experienced people for advice (istishara).
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Frequently asked questions
Can I pray istikhara more than once?
Yes. If the matter is still unclear, you can repeat the istikhara.
Can I make the dua without the two rak'ahs?
The Sunnah is to say it after two rak'ahs. Someone who cannot pray at the moment, for example during menstruation, may make the dua on its own according to many scholars.
This article was written with the help of AI. Quran verses are inserted directly from the Quran text (translation: Saheeh International); it is general information, not a religious ruling (fatwa). For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar. Found a mistake? Write to support@hadaff.de.