How to perform Salat al Istikhara and Dua – Prayer (Salah, Salat)

How to Perform Salat Al Istikhara and Dua

How to Perform Salah Al Istikhara and Dua

How to Perform Salat Al Istikhara and Dua

Salat Al Istikhara

Before proceeding into how to perform Salat-Al-Istikhara or any prayer, one has to know the meaning of the prayer one is going to perform. Likewise, we should first know the meaning of Istikhara in order to understand more clearly about why and how to perform Salat-Al-Istikhara and how to make Dua for Istikhara.

Meaning of Istikhara

Istikhara is a means to seek guidance or direction from Almighty Allah in goodness, when one is in difficulty selecting between the two choices and needs to make a decision to choose any one of them.

Often times we are in dilemma to choose a decision between the two options available (This or That). To solve this problem, the solution is to do Istikhara.

From Allah’s attributes amongst many, we know that Allah is Al Baseer (The All Seeing), As – Same’e (The All Hearing) and Al Khaliq (The Creator), So who can see and hear us better than Him, and who knows our past and future better than Him. Seeking Allah’s (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) guidance for any good work big or small is a blessing in itself, as Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala wants us to ask Him about the khair, since we are weak humans and we don’t know about our decision in certain matters good or bad.

Hadith on Istikhara (Hadith on Salat-Al-Istikhara)

According to Sahih Al Bukhari, Volume 02, Book No. 21, Hadith Number: 263, which was narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah:

Allah’s Messenger Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide on to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Surah’s of the Quran. He (Prophet Muhammad (May Allah’s Peace and Blessing be Upon Him) said, “If anyone of you thinks of doing any job(work) he should offer two rakat prayer other than the mandatory prayer and say (after the completion of the two rakat prayer as)

Dua for Istikhara

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 فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ

Transliteration of Dua for Istikhara

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as’aluka min fadlika al-adhimi fa-innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, Wa ta’alamu wala a’alamu, Wa anta allamul ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta’alamu anna hadhal amra khairun li fi dini wa ma’aishi wa’aqibati amri faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li fihi, Wa in kunta ta’alamu anna hadhal amra shar-run li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu, Waqdur li ya-l-khaira haithu kana thumma ardini bihi.

Translation of Dua for Istikhara

Oh Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, and power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. Oh Allah! if You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, and then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me in my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, and make me satisfied with it.

How to perform Salat Al Istikhara and Dua

Salat Al Istikhara is a set of two rakats performed like any other obligatory prayer.

1.    Perform ablution (wudhu) in order to stand for Salat-al-Istikhara.

2. Do the Niyyah (Intention) to perform two rakats of Salat-al-Istikhara facing the Qibla {direction of Makkah or Kaaba (The House of Allah)}

3.   Now raise your hands and touch your thumbs to your ear lobes with palm facing the Qibla and say Takbir – Allahu Akbar which means Allah is the Greatest and fold your hands (right hand should be placed over the left hand) and placed it over the chest.

4. Now complete the two rakats of prayer as we perform in any other compulsory prayer or as follows:

 Salat-al-Istikhara - First Rakat

·    Recite Sanaa – “Subhana kallahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabara kasmuka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha gairuka”…. which means “Oh Allah, how perfect You are and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no God but You.”

·     Then recite Taawudh – “Audhubillahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem” (I seek refuge or shelter in Allah from the rejected Satan) and Tasmiya – “Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem” (In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful)

·       Recite Al Fatiha (The Opening) Surah (Chapter 01) of the Glorious Quran.

·       Recite Surah Al Kafiroon (The Disbelievers) (Chapter 109) of the Glorious Quran. (If you know any other surah other than this you can recite, however recommended though is Surah Al Kafiroon). You can learn this Surah, it’s a small Surah and has great benefits of reciting.

·       Then make Ruku (Bowing Position) and say “Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem” which means (“How perfect is my Lord, Supreme”) three or five or seven times.

·       Then stand straight and say “Sam’i Allahu Liman Hamida” (Allah hears those who praise Him), and say “Rabbana lakal hamd” means (Our Lord, praise be to you)

·       Then go into prostration (Sajdah) and recite “Subhana Rabbiyal A’ala” (How perfect is my Lord, The Highest) three or five or seven times.

·       Then sit in jalsa and do the second prostration (sajdah) and recite “Subhana Rabbiyal A’ala” (How perfect is my Lord, The Highest) three or five or seven times.

·       Then stand up straight again, this completes the first rakat.

Salat Al Istikhara - Second Rakat

·       Recite Al Fatiha (The Opening) surah (Chapter 01) of the Glorious Quran.

·       Recite Surah Al Ikhlas (The Sincerity) (Chapter 112) of the Glorious Quran. 

·       Then make Ruku (Bowing Position) and say “Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem” which means (“How perfect is my Lord, Supreme”) three or five or seven times.

·       Then stand straight and say “Sam’i Allahu Liman Hamida” (Allah hears those who praise Him), and say “Rabbana lakal hamd” means (Our Lord, praise be to you)

·       Then go into prostration (Sajdah) and recite “Subhana Rabbiyal A’ala” (How perfect is my Lord, The Highest) three or five or seven times.

·       Then sit in jalsa and do the second prostration (sajdah) and recite “Subhana Rabbiyal A’ala” (How perfect is my Lord, The Highest) three or five or seven times.

·       After the second prostration, sit and recite Tashahhud (At-tahiyatu lillahi was salawatu…..), recite Durood e Ibrahim (Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin, wa ala ali Muhammadin……), recite any Dua for forgiveness.

·       After that say Salaam “Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah” (Peace and Mercy of Allah upon you) on the right and left hand side.

5.    After Salaam recite the Dua for Istikhara

Istikhara Dua

6.    One has to include their choice in place of ‘Hadal Amra’ comes in the dua for istikhara. One can say for example as ‘job or work best for me’. (Hadal Amra colored in red for your reference in the picture above)

7.    ‘Hadal Amra’ repeats two times in the dua for istikhara, so you have repeat your choice for which you have to ask guidance for one more time in place of second ‘Hadal Amra’ as well. (Hadal Amra colored in red for your reference in the picture above)

8.    This is how to perform salat-al-istikhara and dua

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Common Questions regarding the Salat-al-istikhara

1.    When to perform Salat al istikhara?

One can perform two rakat of salat al istikhara in any part of the day except during the time between the fajr salat and sunrise. One can pray istikhara after Isha’a salat as well.

2.    We have to pray two rakats or we can recite only dua for istikhara?

It is dependent upon an individual, whether he/she wants to perform salat al istikhara and then recite dua or want to recite dua for istikhara only. It is recommended and taught by beloved Prophet Muhammad (May Allah’s Peace and Blessings upon Him) to pray two rakats of salat al istikhara prayer and then recite the dua for istikhara.

3.    Is salat al istikhara different for males and females?

Salat Al Istikhara and Dua for Istikhara is the same for everyone (males or females)

4.    Salat-Al-Istikhara can be performed on someone’s behalf?

It is recommended that an individual who want to seek Allah’s guidance in goodness of decision, should perform prayer by himself/herself. But if he/she wants to make others perform istikhara on their behalf, if they know that person can do so.

5.    How many times one has to pray salat-al-istikhara (Prayer to seek guidance from Allah) or perform Istikhara?

The answer to this question depends upon the situation of an individual, if Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala has showed the right decision to make after performing salat-al-istikhara only one time, then you don’t need to continue. If you still could not make decision, then you can pray salat-al-istikhara upto total number of seven times.

6.     How do we come to know about the result of istikhara?

When we do ask Allah for the guidance, be content with the decision of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, If it is not good for you, He will remove it or turns you away from that path, and if He puts khair(goodness) in the decision even if it is against your needs, know that He has better plans for you than what you are asking for.

7.    I prayed Salat-al-Istikhara sometimes but did not got immediate results. How many days I have to pray?

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala test everyone differently, be patient and keep asking Him, if you haste in your prayer and duas. Possiblity is that it will not be answered unless you are patient. If you pray for once and twice and without firm determination that Allah Subahanahu wa Ta’ala will surely guide you, then possibility is that you will quit soon. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has blessed us with beautiful gift in form of Istikhara, use it wisely to gain the pleasures of Allah’s Guidance.

Other related Islamic Quiz you would like to take part in:

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Common Misconceptions regarding Istikhara

1.    Istikhara is to be done only to seek guidance in matter of marriage and jobs only:

Istikhara is not limited to selection of bride and groom regarding marriages, nor only for selecting jobs only. As mentioned above it is a beautiful gift as dua to seek guidance in any affairs from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to the mankind. So, one can take this tool to seek guidance in any other affairs as well.

However, the individual should not make istikhara for the things which are mandatory in general, for example, one should not make istikhara thinking that I should pray maghreeb salah or any other fardh salah, because Allah has made fardh salah obligatory upon every muslim, I should go for Hajj or not (If you are capable of performing Hajj)

2.    Istikhara results are interpret through dreams in the form of colors:

Istikhara does not mean that if one sees white or green color in dreams means goodness in the intended decision, black or red means badness in the task. It’s a guidance from Almighty Allah, So, whatever He guides to you will happen. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala will turn your heart towards it if it meant good for you, or away from it if it is not good for you. May be He will replace something with the more appropriate for you. He knows the Best.

3.    Should we sleep immediately after praying salat-al-istikhara after the isha’a salat?

Salat-al-Istikhara can be prayed at any time (Except between fajr salat and sunrise) and dua for istikhara can be recited at any time. One can pray salat-al-istikhara after isha’a salat and can recite the dua, but one should not make intentions not to talk with anyone and sleep immediately after salat and intended to interpret the colors in dreams.

Conclusion

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala mentioned in the Glorious Quran in Surah Al Ahzab, Verse No. 36 as

“It is not for the believing man and a believing woman that they should have any choice in their matter, when Allah and his Messenger have decided a matter, and whoever disobeys Allah and his Messenger, he will be surely in plain error.”

So, seek guidance from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala by utilizing the beautiful gift of dua for istikhara and salat al istikhara.

Hope this article helped you understand the meaning of Istikhara, Why to perform Salat-Al-Istikhara, how to perform Salat-Al-Istikhara and common questions and misconceptions regarding Salat-Al-Istikhara or dua for Istikhara.

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