📖 Purpose: This prayer replaces the pre-Islamic practice of divination. It is performed when a Muslim is undecided about a permissible matter (e.g., marriage, business, travel, job). After performing the prayer, Allah will guide you to what is best for you.
Step 1: Perform Wudu (ablution)
Step 2: Pray two Rak'ats of non-obligatory prayer
Step 3: Recite Surah Al-Kafirun (109) in the first Rak'at
Step 4: Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (112) in the second Rak'at
Step 5: After the Tasleem, recite the Dua of Istikhara (see below)
Step 6: Mention your need in the dua where indicated
Step 7: Trust in Allah's guidance - you may feel inclined toward one option, or circumstances may become clear
دُعَاءُ الاسْتِخَارَة - Dua of Istikhara
Recite this dua after completing the two Rak'ats:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ [اذْكُرْ حَاجَتَكَ] خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'azim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra [udhkur hajatak - mention your need here] 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.
Translation: "O Allah, I seek Your guidance 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 You know that this matter [mention your need here] is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair, then ordain 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 end of my affair, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it."
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
📖 Important Notes:
• You can perform Istikhara multiple times for the same matter if needed
• The guidance may come through: feeling inclined toward one option, circumstances becoming clear, or doors opening/closing
• Trust in Allah's wisdom - He knows what is best for you even if it seems different from what you want
• You can perform Istikhara at any time except the prohibited times (sunrise, zenith, sunset)