Istikhara dua is a dua said alone or during prayer to consult Allah in a matter that you are about to go through with. Whether to proceed with this matter or refrain from it. Muslim then awaits a sign which is usually how easy things flow or become hard to go through with.
Type of signs you can look for
Unlike what is commonly believed the signs are not shown in a dream or when a strange encounter happens. It is certainly not a voice or a weird experience.
The sign you should look for is easy: the flow of the matter is going. Meaning that if you pray istikhara to buy something, a positive sign would be that every step you make is going easily and you encounter no obstacles. A negative sign would be many obstacles while trying to do one thing.
How to pray istikhara ?
To pray Istikhara you do wudu and pray two rak’ahs of prayer. Then you say the istikhara dua after you have finished the prayer. Some Islamic scholars said you can say the dua before the end of the last rak’ah during the prayer.
- Perform ablution (Wudu): Before performing istikhara prayer, perform ablution as you would for any other prayer.
- Perform two Rak’ahs: Offer two Rak’ahs (units) of voluntary prayer, just like you would for any other voluntary prayer. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah and a short Surah in the first Rak’ah and then recite Surah Al-Fatihah and a short Surah in the second Rak’ah.
- Make the intention of istikhara: After completing the voluntary prayer, make the intention of performing istikhara.
- Recite the dua for istikhara: Recite the dua for istikhara, which is as follows:
“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 ‘allam al-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha al-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or ‘ajili amri wa’ajilihi) faqdurhu li wa yasirhu li thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha al-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or fi’ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu anni wa-srifni anhu waqdur li al-khayr haithu kana thumma ardini bihi.”
“O Allah, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] 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. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next), then turn me away from it, [and] turn it away from me, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.”
- Repeat the istikhara prayer: You may repeat the istikhara prayer as many times as you need to until you feel confident about the decision you are making.
istikhara prayer is not a guarantee that things will turn out exactly as you hope, but it is a way to seek Allah’s guidance and trust in His wisdom and mercy. May Allah guide you and grant you success in all your endeavors
What is the Istikhara prayer text?
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمَكَ، 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- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ- فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ- فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Transliteration:
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
Translation:
O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, You are Capable and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [then mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion and my life and for my welfare in the life to come, – [or say: in this life and the afterlife] – then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and my life and for my welfare in the life to come, – [or say: in this life and the afterlife] – then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and help me to be content with it.
Did prophet Muhammed pray istikhara?
Yes, he did. He often prayed istikhara even in ordinary decisions such as buying or selling something.
Examples of Istikhara situations
Buying or selling something, Accepting a marriage proposal, moving, traveling, starting a business, or accepting a job offer.
Importance of Istikhara prayer
Consulting Allah in your affairs brings you closer to him and makes your decision more right and clear. Allah will direct you towards what is best for you and pushes you away from what is bad for you.
Significance of istikhara prayer and dua
Istikhara can be very useful. It will aid you in your journey and help you make decisions based on a clear vision.
Related Questions
Can women pray Istikhara while on period?
No, if you have your period or just gave birth you can only say the dua.
Can I say istikhara dua without prayer?
The correct way is to say it after you have prayed two extra rak’ahs. The praying part should not be skipped, however, if you find yourself in an urgent situation and can’t pray you can say the dua.
Can I pray Istikhara without wudu?
No, you have to do wudu before istikhara prayer
When is the best time to pray istikhara?
You can pray istikhara anytime during the day or night. However, it is preferred to do it during the final third of the night.
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Tips to get Istikhara right from the very first time
- Pray at night
- Say the dua after the prayer of in the last rak’ah
- Keep repeating the dua even after the prayer is over
- Monitor how you feel in your heart about that matter or affair
- Observe the sign of how easy or hard the flow of things are
How many times do you pray Istikhara?
If you are not clear about the result of the istikhara, it is recommended to repeat istikhara up to 7 times if necessary, and on separate occasions. Your answer may not necessarily come to you in the form of a dream or even as a ‘feeling.
