Salat al-Istikhara is a recommended prayer through which a Muslim asks Allah to guide him toward what is best when facing a decision or an uncertain matter.
It consists of two rak‘ahs, followed by the Istikhara supplication. The person mentions the matter for which he is seeking guidance, such as marriage, travel, a purchase or another permissible decision.
How Many Rak‘ahs Are in Salat al-Istikhara?
Salat al-Istikhara consists of two rak‘ahs performed as a voluntary prayer. After completing them, the Muslim makes the Istikhara supplication and mentions the matter about which guidance is being sought.
The purpose of Istikhara is to entrust the matter to Allah and ask Him to choose what is best, recognizing that Allah knows what a person does not know and has power over what a person cannot control.
What Is the Istikhara Supplication?
The well-known Istikhara supplication includes:
“O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge, and I seek strength through Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. For You are able while I am not able, You know while I do not know, 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 affair, 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 affair, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me whatever is good wherever it may be, then make me content with it.”
When reaching the words “this matter,” the person identifies the matter for which he or she is seeking guidance.
How Is Salat al-Istikhara Performed?
Pray Two Voluntary Rak‘ahs
The Muslim begins by performing two rak‘ahs of voluntary prayer, separate from the obligatory prayers.
Make the Istikhara Supplication
After completing the two rak‘ahs, the person makes the Istikhara supplication and asks Allah to guide the matter toward what is beneficial.
Mention the Matter Clearly
The person identifies the decision in the supplication. For example, the prayer may refer to marriage to a particular person, traveling to a particular place or making a specific purchase.
This allows the supplication to be directly connected to the decision for which guidance is being sought.
What If You Do Not Know the Istikhara Dua?
Someone who has not memorized the full Istikhara supplication can ask Allah for what is good in words that he or she understands and can say.
Examples include:
O Allah, decree what is good for me.
O Allah, make what is good easy for me.
O Allah, open my heart to this journey if it is good for me.
O Allah, open my heart to this marriage if it is good for me.
The important point is to turn sincerely to Allah and ask Him to choose what is beneficial and keep away what is harmful.
What Is the Wisdom Behind Istikhara?
Istikhara reflects a Muslim’s reliance upon Allah and recognition that divine knowledge is greater than human knowledge.
A person may believe that something is beneficial while its consequences may be harmful, or dislike something that ultimately contains good. Through Istikhara, the Muslim asks Allah to decree what is best, make it easy and bless it, or turn it away if it contains harm.
Is Istikhara Only for Marriage and Travel?
No. A Muslim may seek Allah’s guidance in various permissible matters when facing uncertainty and making a decision, including marriage, travel, purchases and other similar matters.
Obligatory acts and prohibited matters are not matters for Istikhara because obligations are to be performed and prohibited acts are to be avoided.
How many rak‘ahs are in Salat al-Istikhara?
Salat al-Istikhara consists of two voluntary rak‘ahs.
When is the Istikhara dua recited?
The supplication is recited after performing the two rak‘ahs, while identifying the matter for which guidance is being sought.
What if I do not know the full Istikhara dua?
You can make a sincere supplication in words you understand, asking Allah to decree and facilitate what is good for you.
Can Istikhara be performed for marriage?
Yes. Marriage is among the permissible matters for which a Muslim may seek Allah’s guidance.
What is the purpose of Istikhara?
Its purpose is to ask Allah to choose what is best, turn away what is harmful and grant the person contentment with what Allah decrees.
