A job offer, a marriage proposal, a move to a new city, a new business — when a decision is permissible but you genuinely do not know which way is best, Islam gives you a prayer for exactly that moment: Salat al-Istikhara. You pray two rak’ahs, recite a dua asking Allah to choose what is good for you, and then move forward. This guide shows you how to pray istikhara step by step, with the full dua in Arabic, transliteration and translation.
What Is Istikhara?
Istikhara means “seeking what is best” — asking Allah, who knows the unseen, to guide you to the choice that is good for your religion, your livelihood and your Hereafter. Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet ﷺ used to teach his companions istikhara in all matters, just as carefully as he taught them a surah of the Quran:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ
“Kāna Rasūlullāhi ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallama yu’allimunā al-istikhārata fī al-umūri kullihā kamā yu’allimunā as-sūrata min al-Qur’ān.”
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us istikhara in all matters, just as he used to teach us a surah of the Quran.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1162; also numbered 6382 in the Book of Invocations)
When Should You Pray Istikhara?
Pray istikhara when you face a permissible matter and are unsure which option is better: a marriage proposal, a job offer, a move, a business decision, a course of study. You do not pray it about obligations, like salah, or forbidden things — those decisions are already made by Allah’s command. Istikhara is for the open questions in between, where both options are allowed.
Allah explains why we need it:
وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“Wa ‘asā an takrahū shay’an wa huwa khayrun lakum, wa ‘asā an tuḥibbū shay’an wa huwa sharrun lakum, wallāhu ya’lamu wa antum lā ta’lamūn.”
“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216)
How to Pray Istikhara Step by Step
Step 1: Make wudu and form your intention. Perform wudu as usual and intend in your heart that you are praying two rak’ahs of istikhara. Have the decision clearly in mind.
Step 2: Pray two rak’ahs of nafl prayer. Pray two rak’ahs that are not part of an obligatory prayer. In each rak’ah, recite Surah Al-Fatihah followed by any surah you know. There is no fixed surah required for istikhara.
Step 3: Recite the dua of istikhara. After the salam, recite the dua below with sincerity and focus. At the words “this matter”, name your need — in your heart or in words, in Arabic or in your own language. The hadith itself instructs: “let him name his need.”
Step 4: Do your homework and consult trustworthy people. Istikhara does not replace effort. Research the options and ask people of knowledge and experience. Allah commands consultation alongside reliance on Him:
وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
“Wa shāwirhum fī al-amr, fa-idhā ‘azamta fa-tawakkal ‘alallāh, innallāha yuḥibbu al-mutawakkilīn.”
“…and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].” (Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:159)
Step 5: Move forward and watch how things unfold. After istikhara, proceed with the decision. If it is good for you, Allah will make it easy and bless it; if not, doors will close or your heart will turn from it. That ease — or that closing of doors — is itself the answer. You may repeat istikhara on another occasion if still unsure.
You can pray istikhara at any time except the three times when nafl prayer is disliked: after Fajr until the sun has risen, at midday when the sun is at its zenith, and after ‘Asr until sunset.
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 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
“Allāhumma innī astakhīruka bi-‘ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa as’aluka min faḍlika al-‘aẓīm, fa-innaka taqdiru wa lā aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wa lā a’lamu, wa anta ‘allām al-ghuyūb. Allāhumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hādha al-amra khayrun lī fī dīnī wa ma’āshī wa ‘āqibati amrī, faqdurhu lī wa yassirhu lī thumma bārik lī fīh. Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hādha al-amra sharrun lī fī dīnī wa ma’āshī wa ‘āqibati amrī, faṣrifhu ‘annī waṣrifnī ‘anhu, waqdur liya al-khayra ḥaythu kāna thumma arḍinī bih.”
“O Allah, I seek Your choice through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. For You have power and I do 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 it for me. 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.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1162)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Waiting for a dream. The hadith mentions no dream, no colour, no sign in sleep. The answer shows in how events unfold and where your heart settles.
Treating it like fortune-telling. Istikhara is a prayer of trust, not a peek into the future.
Skipping research and advice. Praying and then ignoring all practical information is not reliance — it is negligence. Prayer and homework go together.
Praying about the wrong things. Istikhara is not for choosing between right and wrong. It is for permissible matters where you need guidance between good options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to see a dream after istikhara?
No. Nothing in the hadith mentions a dream. Go by ease, obstacles and the settling of your heart after praying and consulting.
Can I pray istikhara for someone else’s decision?
Istikhara is prayed by the person facing the decision. You can make general dua for others, but the two rak’ahs belong to the decision-maker.
What if I do not know the dua by heart?
You may read it from a book, card or phone until you memorise it. Learn the meaning alongside the words.
When is the best time to pray istikhara?
Any time outside the three disliked times for nafl prayer; night-time is peaceful but not required.
How many times should I repeat istikhara?
As often as you need. If still undecided, pray again on another occasion while continuing to consult and reflect.
Does istikhara replace research and advice?
No. The Quran pairs consultation with reliance on Allah (3:159). Pray, investigate, ask trustworthy people — then decide and trust the result to Allah.
Start Today
The next time a decision weighs on you, do not carry it alone. Make wudu, pray two rak’ahs, recite the dua, and take your next step with a calm heart, knowing you have asked the Best of planners to choose for you.
If you would like your children to learn prayers like istikhara alongside the Quran itself, book a free trial class with Noor Academy Pakistan — our qualified teachers teach Quran, Tajweed and Islamic basics online, at a time that suits your family, In sha Allah.