Istikhara: the prayer and dua for choosing well
Two rak‘ahs, then a supplication in which you entrust your choice to Allah.
Istikhara is asking Allah to choose for you what is good, before a decision. You pray two rak‘ahs other than the obligatory prayer, then say the supplication the Prophet ﷺ taught like a surah, naming the matter. Then you act with trust, without necessarily waiting for a dream.
The prayer, step by step
- Make wudu, then pray two rak‘ahs that are not the obligatory prayer, with the intention of istikhara.
- Recite Al-Fatiha and a surah of your choice in each rak‘ah, as in any prayer.
- After the salam, say the istikhara dua, naming the matter where indicated.
- Then act with trust; repeat istikhara if hesitation remains.
The Prophet ﷺ taught istikhara for every matter as he taught a surah: whoever is considering something prays two rak‘ahs other than the obligatory prayer, then makes the supplication, naming the matter.
The istikhara dua
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 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 الأَمْرَ 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
Allâhumma innî astakhîruka bi 'ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratik, wa as'aluka min fadlika l-'azîm, fa innaka taqdiru wa lâ aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa lâ a'lam, wa anta 'allâmu l-ghuyûb. Allâhumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hâdhâ l-amra khayrun lî fî dînî wa ma'âshî wa 'âqibati amrî (aw qâla: 'âjili amrî wa âjilih) fa-qdurhu lî wa yassirhu lî thumma bârik lî fîh, wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hâdhâ l-amra sharrun lî fî dînî wa ma'âshî wa 'âqibati amrî (aw qâla: fî 'âjili amrî wa âjilih) fa-srifhu 'annî wa-srifnî 'anhu wa-qdur liya l-khayra haythu kân, thumma ardinî bih
O Allah, I ask You to choose for me by Your knowledge, I ask You for strength by Your power, and I ask You of Your immense favour. For You are able and I am not, You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know this matter to be good for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs (or he said: in my affairs now and later), then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know this matter to be bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs (or he said: in my affairs now and later), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, then decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.
After istikhara
Scholars hold two views: for some, you move towards what you were considering, and if it is good Allah makes it easy, if not He turns it away; for others, you follow what your heart opens to. There is no need to see a dream.
You can repeat it if hesitation remains, and seek advice from wise people: istikhara and consultation go together.
Frequently asked questions
When should the istikhara prayer be done?
Before a permissible decision you are unsure about: a marriage, a job, a journey. Not for an obligation nor for something forbidden. Avoid the times when voluntary prayer is discouraged.
Do I have to see a dream after istikhara?
No. The hadith does not mention a dream. You act, and Allah makes easy what is good or turns it away.
Can I do istikhara for someone else?
Scholars differ: some allow doing it for a loved one who asks; others keep it for the person making the decision, and you then supplicate for your loved one. For a specific case, ask your imam.
Tilawa editorial team · Updated 2026-10-24 · Report an error