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Istikhara prayer is a way to ask Allah to guide you toward what is best when you face a decision. You pray two voluntary units of prayer, then say the supplication taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. You do not need to see a dream before you act.
What istikhara means
Istikhara means asking Allah to choose what is good for you. It is for a permissible matter in which you have a real choice, such as considering a job, a move, or a marriage proposal. It does not replace an obligation or make a prohibited action permissible.
The Prophet’s companion Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that the Prophet ﷺ taught his companions istikhara for their affairs. He instructed them to pray two units apart from the obligatory prayer, then make a supplication asking Allah for the good of the matter and protection from its harm (Sahih al-Bukhari 6382).
How to perform istikhara prayer
A rak‘ah is one unit of prayer. The basic sequence is:
- Identify the decision you are making.
- Pray two voluntary rak‘ahs, separate from an obligatory prayer.
- After the prayer, say the istikhara supplication. At the words “this matter,” bring your specific choice to mind or name it.
- Consider the information available, consult trustworthy people where helpful, and take a reasonable next step.
Jabir’s report teaches the two rak‘ahs followed by the supplication. You do not need a special chapter of the Qur’an for this prayer. If you are still weighing options, you can make istikhara again; do not feel that a fixed number of repetitions is required.
The istikhara dua
Dua means supplication: asking Allah in your own words or with words taught in the Qur’an and Sunnah. The transliteration below represents the supplication in Jabir’s report (Sahih al-Bukhari 6382). English spellings of Arabic sounds vary.
الدعاء بالعربية — صحيح البخاري ١١٦٦
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 — أَوْ قَالَ: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ — فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ.
وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي — أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ — فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ‘ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as’aluka min fadlika al-‘azim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta‘lamu wa la a‘lam, wa anta ‘allamu al-ghuyub.
Allahumma in kunta ta‘lamu anna hadha al-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma‘ashi wa ‘aqibati amri — aw qala: ‘ajili amri wa ajilihi — faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fihi.
Wa in kunta ta‘lamu anna hadha al-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma‘ashi wa ‘aqibati amri — aw qala: fi ‘ajili amri wa ajilihi — fasrifhu ‘anni, wasrifni ‘anhu, waqdur li al-khayra haythu kana, thumma ardini bihi.
The phrase hadha al-amra means “this matter.” Name or bring your decision to mind there. The wording “or: in its immediate and later outcome” reflects a variation reported within the hadith; you do not need to say both alternatives.
English meaning:
O Allah, I ask You to choose what is best through Your knowledge. I ask You for ability through Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. You have power and I do not; You know and I do not; You know what is unseen.
O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs—or for my present and future—then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me.
If You know that this matter is bad for my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs—or for my present and future—then turn it away from me and turn me away from it. Decree good for me wherever it may be, then make me content with it.
If you cannot yet recite the Arabic, learn it gradually. You can also ask Allah for guidance in words you understand. For advice on how to perform the prayer in your circumstances, ask a trusted local imam or scholar.
What to expect afterward
Istikhara is not fortune-telling. It is a prayer asking Allah to guide your choice and its outcome, not a way to learn hidden facts or receive a guaranteed sign.
You do not have to see a dream. Nor must you wait for a sudden feeling of certainty. Gather facts, consider whether the choice is sound, seek advice, and proceed as best you can. An opportunity opening or closing may help shape your decision, but do not treat every event as a message you must decode.
Consultation still matters. If you are considering a marriage, for example, ask appropriate questions about character and compatibility. If you are considering work, understand the role and its conditions. Pray while taking ordinary care with the decision.
When should you avoid the two-rak‘ah prayer?
Sunni schools differ on voluntary prayers during certain times. Their discussions include the period after Fajr until sunrise, around the sun’s highest point before Dhuhr, and after Asr until sunset. Rules for prayers performed for a specific reason, including istikhara, also differ: some scholars allow exceptions that others do not.
To avoid the disagreement, choose a time outside those periods when you can. Check your local prayer times, remembering that the moments near sunrise and sunset need particular care. If your choice is urgent or you cannot pray at present, you can still make dua and seek guidance; ask a trusted local scholar about the prayer in your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a dream after istikhara?
No. Jabir’s report teaches prayer and supplication; it does not make a dream a condition for deciding (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166). Use the information and advice available to you, then make the best choice you can.
Can I pray istikhara for someone else’s decision?
You can ask Allah to guide and help another person. The person facing the choice can also pray istikhara themselves and seek advice. If you are unsure how to handle a shared decision, speak with a trusted imam.
Can I read the dua from my phone?
Yes, you can read it while learning it. Practices concerning recitation and supplication within prayer can vary by school; the steps above place the dua after the two rak‘ahs. For other practical prayer questions, see the QiblaFind FAQ.
What if both options still seem good?
Istikhara does not always remove uncertainty. Compare the options, consult someone with relevant knowledge, and choose responsibly. You can ask Allah for guidance again without delaying indefinitely for a sign.
Do I need to face the Qibla for the dua?
Face the Qibla, the direction of the Ka‘bah in Makkah, for the two rak‘ahs. After the prayer, you can make dua without treating a particular direction as a condition. If you need to check your prayer direction, use the Qibla compass.