Islamic Guide · Decisions

How to praySalat al-Istikhara

Istikhara is a two-rak'ah voluntary prayer, followed by a special du'a, performed when seeking Allah's guidance on whether an important matter is good for you. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught it to the Companions for every important matter. This guide covers the full method, the classical Istikhara du'a, and how to interpret the result.

Published · 2026-05-25Rak'ahs · 2 naflProphet's teaching · Bukhari

Contents

What is Istikhara?
For what matters is it prayed?
Step-by-step method
The Istikhara du'a — full text
How to interpret the result
In the Hatırla İslam app
Frequently asked questions

Istikhara is the Arabic word for "seeking what is good." In Islam it is a two-rak'ah prayer and a special du'a performed before making a decision, by which a Muslim asks Allah whether that matter is good for him or her. Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us Istikhara as he would teach us a surah of the Qur'an." (Bukhari)

Definition

What is Istikhara?

Istikhara is a spiritual practice tied to the process of making a decision. When a Muslim is uncertain about a matter, after completing the normal process of research and consultation, in the final step he or she turns to Allah and asks whether that matter is good for them.

Istikhara has two parts: 1) a two-rak'ah voluntary prayer, 2) the special Istikhara du'a recited after the salām. The prayer prepares the spiritual ground for turning to Allah; the du'a is where the specific matter is asked about.

Istikhara is not a "fortune-telling" or "answer-getting" device. It is the spiritual completion of one's surrender to Allah and of one's own decision-making process.

Matters

For what matters is it prayed?

Istikhara is performed for concrete and significant decisions. Typical matters:

Marriage or divorce
Changing jobs, a new job offer
Buying or selling a house or car
A significant investment or loan
Choice of education / university
A critical medical decision (surgery etc.)
Relocating to another city or country
Partnerships, starting a business

Matters Istikhara is NOT prayed for: things that are clearly haram (alcohol, interest, zina, etc.), things that are already fard or wajib (you do not pray Istikhara about whether to pray, fast, or give zakah), and entirely trivial preferences (such as what colour to wear).

Step-by-step

Step-by-step method

Make your intention (niyyah). Clearly bring to mind the matter you need to decide on (e.g., a job offer, a marriage proposal, a purchase or sale). Intention: "I intend to pray two rak'ahs of Istikhara to seek what is best for me." Istikhara is performed for a concrete decision, not for vague wishes.
Opening takbir + 1st rak'ah (al-Fatiha + al-Kafirun). Raise your hands to the level of your ears/shoulders and say "Allāhu Akbar" to enter the prayer; then fold your hands. Recite Subhānaka, then the Ta'awwudh and Basmala. After al-Fatiha, recite Surah al-Kafirun (Qul yā ayyuha'l-kāfirūn…). Perform the rukū', the standing (qawmah), and the two sajdahs.
2nd rak'ah (al-Fatiha + al-Ikhlas). Stand for the second rak'ah. After the Basmala, recite al-Fatiha and then Surah al-Ikhlas (Qul huwa'llāhu ahad…). Perform the rukū' and the two sajdahs. In the final sitting (qa'da), recite the Tashahhud, the Salli–Bārik and the Rabbanā du'as, then give the salām.
Recite the Istikhara du'a. After the salām, open your hands in supplication. The classical Istikhara du'a: "Allāhumma innī astakhīruka bi-'ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratik, wa as'aluka min faḍlika'l-'aẓīm. Fa-innaka taqdiru wa lā aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa lā a'lam, wa anta 'allāmu'l-ghuyūb. Allāhumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hādha'l-amra khayrun lī fī dīnī wa ma'āshī wa 'āqibati amrī — wa 'ājilihi wa ājilihi — faqdurhu lī wa yassirhu lī thumma bārik lī fīh; wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hādha'l-amra sharrun lī fī dīnī wa ma'āshī wa 'āqibati amrī — wa 'ājilihi wa ājilihi — faṣrifhu 'annī wa'ṣrifnī 'anhu, wa'qdur liya'l-khayra ḥaythu kāna thumma arḍinī bih."
Bring your specific matter to mind. When you reach the phrase "hādha'l-amra" ("this matter") in the du'a, visualise the specific decision in your heart at that very moment. You are asking Allah whether that matter is good for you. The meaning: "O Allah, by Your knowledge I ask You to choose what is best for me; You know and I do not know. If this matter is good for me, ordain it for me; if it is bad for me, turn it away from me, and grant me the good wherever it may be."
Go to sleep in a state of wudu. Istikhara is usually prayed before going to bed. After the salām and the du'a, go to sleep while still in wudu. No specific sleeping direction is mandated in the hadith sources; the sunnah is to lie on the right side and to make istighfar as you fall asleep.
Look for the result in the flow of life and the inclination of your heart. You do not need to see a dream after Istikhara. The result usually comes in one of three ways: 1) A change in the inclination of your heart toward the matter (peace or unease); 2) Ease or difficulty opening up in front of the matter; 3) A dream (rare). If the answer is not clear, it is recommended to repeat Istikhara for 3, 5 or 7 nights.

Du'a

The Istikhara du'a — full text

The Istikhara du'a was taught by the Prophet (peace be upon him), and its classical text is as follows:

Transliteration:
Allāhumma innī astakhīruka bi-'ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratik, wa as'aluka min faḍlika'l-'aẓīm. Fa-innaka taqdiru wa lā aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa lā a'lam, wa anta 'allāmu'l-ghuyūb.

Allāhumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hādha'l-amra khayrun lī fī dīnī wa ma'āshī wa 'āqibati amrī — wa 'ājilihi wa ājilihi — faqdurhu lī wa yassirhu lī thumma bārik lī fīh;

Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hādha'l-amra sharrun lī fī dīnī wa ma'āshī wa 'āqibati amrī — wa 'ājilihi wa ājilihi — faṣrifhu 'annī wa'ṣrifnī 'anhu, wa'qdur liya'l-khayra ḥaythu kāna thumma arḍinī bih.

Meaning: "O Allah, by Your knowledge I seek the good from You; by Your power I seek strength from You; I ask of Your great bounty. You have power and I have none; You know and I do not; You are the All-Knower of the unseen.

O Allah, if this matter is good for me — in my religion, my life and the outcome of my affairs, in the short term and the long term — ordain it for me, make it easy for me and bless it for me.

And if this matter is bad for me — in my religion, my life and the outcome of my affairs, in the short term and the long term — turn it away from me and turn me away from it; ordain the good for me wherever it may be, and then make me content with it."

Interpretation

How to interpret the result

The result of Istikhara usually shows up in three ways:

The inclination of your heart: If after Istikhara you feel calm and reassured about the decision, that direction is good; if you feel unease, anxiety or constriction, it may be bad for you.
The flow of events: If unusual ease opens up in front of the matter (doors open, you meet the right people), that direction is good; conversely, if unusual obstacles arise, it may be bad.
A dream (rare): Some people see a clear dream after Istikhara. But a dream is not required; those who do not see one look for the result in the heart and in the flow of life.

Important: Istikhara is not a magical "you sleep and Allah decides for you" operation. Maintaining your normal effort (research, consultation) regarding the decision is essential. Istikhara completes that effort with a spiritual balance.

Hatırla İslam

In the Hatırla İslam app

The Istikhara section of the Hatırla İslam app offers a field where you can write down your decision, a visual guide to the 2 rak'ahs, and the Istikhara du'a in Arabic, transliteration and English meaning. You can set up a calendar reminder to repeat Istikhara on the same matter for up to 7 nights. After the decision, you can also record the outcome.

For deeper spiritual orientation around a decision, Tahajjud prayer is also effective; performed together with Istikhara in the last third of the night, it speeds the clarification of the decision. You may also benefit from the daily du'as section.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Salat al-Istikhara and why is it prayed?

Istikhara in Arabic means "to seek what is good." Salat al-Istikhara is a two-rak'ah voluntary (nafl) prayer that a Muslim performs before making a decision, asking Allah whether that matter is good for him or her. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach Istikhara to the Companions for every important matter (Bukhari). It brings calm and accuracy to anyone facing a difficult choice.

How many rak'ahs is Istikhara?

Istikhara is 2 rak'ahs of voluntary prayer. In the first rak'ah, after al-Fatiha, it is recommended (sunnah) to recite Surah al-Kafirun; in the second rak'ah, after al-Fatiha, Surah al-Ikhlas. The Tashahhud, Salli–Bārik and Rabbanā du'as are recited normally and the salām is given. After the salām, the Istikhara du'a is recited.

When is Istikhara prayed?

It is usually preferred after Isha and just before going to sleep. However, outside the obligatory prayer times and the disliked (karahah) times — sunrise, sunset, and exact zenith — it can be prayed at any time of day. If a decision is urgent, you do not need to wait for night. The preference for sleeping time comes from the practice recorded in the hadith of Jabir ibn Abdullah (Bukhari).

What is the Istikhara du'a?

The classical du'a taught by the Prophet (peace be upon him) begins: "Allāhumma innī astakhīruka bi-'ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratik, wa as'aluka min faḍlika'l-'aẓīm…" Meaning: "O Allah, I ask You for the good through Your knowledge; I ask You for strength through Your power; I ask of Your great bounty. You know and I do not know." The full text is given in step 4 above.

Do I have to see a dream after Istikhara?

No, not at all. A dream is only one of the ways the result may appear and it is rare. Usually the result comes in three ways: 1) A change in your heart's inclination toward the matter (a sense of peace or unease), 2) Ease or difficulty arising in real events, 3) A dream. Those who wait for a dream are often disappointed; the real sign is the state of the heart.

For how many nights in a row is Istikhara prayed?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) considered a single Istikhara to be sufficient; one night is enough. However, if the matter is not clear or hesitation remains, it is permissible to repeat it for 3, 5 or 7 consecutive nights. The limit of 7 nights is a classical practice, not an obligation. What matters is that your heart settles — that can happen in one night or over several.

Who performs Istikhara? Can someone else do it on my behalf?

The person who has to make the decision should pray Istikhara himself or herself. However, for the elderly, the sick or those unable to pray, a relative (parent, spouse) may pray on their behalf. In that case the one praying mentions the other person in the intention: "I intend Istikhara to seek the good for [person's name]." This is called "having Istikhara prayed." The most authentic option, though, is still to pray it personally.

For what kinds of matters is Istikhara prayed?

Istikhara is performed for concrete and significant decisions: marriage, changing jobs, buying a house, relocation, a critical medical decision, choice of education, a major investment, etc. It is not done for things that are clearly haram or clearly good (e.g., you cannot make Istikhara to commit a sin). It is also not done for wajib or fard acts (prayer, fasting, zakah) — those are already required.

After Istikhara, should I wait or take action?

Simply "waiting" after Istikhara is incorrect. Continue your normal effort regarding the decision: research, consult those whose opinion you value, observe. If a door opens after Istikhara, walk through it; if obstacles appear, reconsider. Istikhara is a helpful guide, not a magical answer-box. Acting with reliance on Allah (tawakkul) is essential.

Is there a short alternative for those who cannot pray Istikhara?

Someone who does not have the time or strength to pray can also seek Allah's guidance by reciting just the Istikhara du'a without the prayer. The Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended Istikhara with the prayer, so the full form is the prayer; but reciting the du'a alone can also be a means. What matters is to entrust the matter to Allah and to lean on His knowledge more than on your own decision-making power.

Why are al-Kafirun and al-Ikhlas recited?

In some narrations the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not specify particular surahs for Istikhara; reciting al-Fatiha + any surah is permitted. The scholars' recommendation, however, is: al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah (emphasising sincerity and tawhid) and al-Ikhlas in the second (the oneness of Allah). These two surahs are known as the "surahs of tawhid" and fit the spiritual nature of Istikhara.

How is Istikhara used in the Hatırla İslam app?

The Hatırla İslam app has a dedicated Istikhara section: the 2 rak'ahs are illustrated visually, and the Istikhara du'a is provided in Arabic, Latin transliteration and meaning. There is a field where you can write down your decision clearly; you can set up a calendar reminder to repeat Istikhara on the same matter for up to 7 days. You can also record the outcome after the decision.