How To Pray Istikhara? Step By Step Detailed Guide

Salat ul-Istikhara is a divine gift from Allah, providing Muslims with guidance when faced with uncertainty.

When unsure about a decision, a Muslim can seek Allah’s help through the Istikhara prayer.

In this article will explore the meaning of Istikhara, its significance in Islam, and how to pray Istikhara step by step.

What Is Istikhara Prayer

Istikhara, in the context of the Istikhara prayer, linguistically means seeking the best outcome in a matter.

Essentially, it refers to asking for what is best. According to Ibn-e-Aseer, it is the act of requesting goodness from Allah, the Most Merciful.

In Islamic sharia, Istikhara involves seeking Allah’s boundless wisdom when faced with uncertainty, with the hope of being guided toward what is best.

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How To Pray Istikhara

Before we talk about how to pray Istikhara, the significance of performing the Istikhara prayer is emphasized through various hadiths.

For instance, a hadith narrated by Sa’d that the Messenger of Allah highlighted the importance of seeking divine guidance, stating: “A sign of a son of Adam’s prosperity is his contentment with what Allah has decreed for him. Conversely, a sign of his misery is neglecting to seek guidance from Allah and being displeased with Allah’s decrees” 

[At-Tirmidhi].

Now let’s talk about how to pray Istikhara.

Istikhara Prayer Steps

The Sunnah Istikhara prayer is performed in two Rak’ah, similar to other Sunnah prayers. The process begins with the intention (niat) as follows:

أُصَلِّي سُنَّةَ الاِستِخَارَةِ رَكعَتَينِ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

“Usolli sunnatal-Istikharati rak’ataini lillah ta’ala”

This means: “I intend to pray the Sunnah Istikhara prayer, two Rak’ah, for Allah s.w.t.”

After establishing the intention, give the Takbir (Takbiratul-Ihram) and perform the two Rak’ah prayer. Upon completing the prayer with the Salam, make Dua to Allah s.w.t. with the appropriate etiquette.

The next step is to recite the Istikhara Dua, as taught by Prophet Muhammad s.a.w:

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 ـ أَوْ قَالَ عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ ـ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي ـ أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ ـ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي ـ قَالَ ـ وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ

“O Allah! I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek strength through Your power, and I ask You for Your immense bounty. You are capable, and I am not; You know, and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen.

O Allah! If You know that this matter is good for my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs in the Hereafter—if it is better for my present and future—then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me.

And if You know that this matter is harmful to me in my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs in the Hereafter, or if it is bad for my present and future, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it. Decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.”

The Prophet further instructed that after reciting the Dua, the person should mention their specific need [Sahih Al-Bukhari].

This is simply how to pray Istikhara, here you the etiquettes of the Istikhara prayer, you can check our Islamic studies course.

Etiquettes Of Istikhara Prayer

To achieve the desired outcome from Istikhara after learning how to pray Istikhara, it is important to observe the following etiquettes:

• External Piety:

Cleanliness and proper hygiene are essential before performing the Istikhara prayer. One should be dressed in clean attire.

• Interior Devotion:

Internal purity is equally important. Istikhara should be performed after sincere repentance, clearing the mind and heart of worldly distractions and material attachments.

• Intention (Niyyah):

The intention for Istikhara is crucial, as no act of worship in Islam is accepted without a sincere niyyah. As Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Actions are but by intention.”

• Apology to Allah:

Genuine repentance is a fundamental aspect of Istikhara, reflecting sincere atonement.

• Praise of Allah and Blessings upon the Prophet:

The Dua-e-Istikhara should begin and end with praise for Allah and sending blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

• Genuine Trust and Conviction:

There must be sincere trust in Istikhara. One should wholeheartedly accept whatever Allah, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen, believing it to be the best outcome.

• Choosing the Appropriate Time:

The timing of Istikhara is also important. Morning is considered a favorable time as it is a period when Allah is particularly receptive to prayers.

As narrated by Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet ﷺ said that Allah descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night, inviting His creation to call upon Him.

During this time, He accepts prayers, fulfills needs, and grants forgiveness.

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When Should I Pray Istikhara

Any Muslim asks about how to pray Istikhara, he would like to know When Should I Pray Istikhara?

It is important to understand the best time to offer this prayer. While Istikhara is a Sunnah prayer that can be performed at any permissible time of the day or night according to one’s convenience, many Islamic scholars agree that the final third of the night is the most ideal time for supplications to be fulfilled.

This timing is supported by traditions passed down from the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends every night to the nearest Heaven when the last third of the night remains, saying: ‘Is there anyone who will invoke Me, so that I may respond to their invocation? Is there anyone who will ask Me, so that I may grant their request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive them?’”

[Sahih Al-Bukhari].

Benefits Of Istikhara

To get the full knowledge of how to pray Istikhara, here you the benefits of Istikhara:

The benefits of Istikhara prayer are profound, offering clarity in complex situations, gaining Allah’s support, and fostering a deeper connection with Him.

When someone wakes in the middle of the night to call upon Allah, He greatly values this act, listens to their supplication, and mentions their name before the angels.

Shah Waliyyullah (RA) highlighted the spiritual benefits of Istikhara, stating:

“Among the greatest benefits of Istikhara is that a person becomes detached from their worldly desires. Their lower, animalistic traits become subordinate to their higher, angelic nature, and they surrender themselves to Allah. In doing so, they reach the level of the angels, whose characteristic is to await Allah’s command and act upon divine inspiration rather than personal desires.

I believe that frequent Istikhara is a proven means to cultivate angelic qualities.”

If one is unable to perform the Istikhara prayer, such as during menstruation or while traveling, it is still possible to recite the Istikhara Dua and seek Allah’s guidance.

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Conclusion To How To Pray Istikhara

To wrap up how to pray Istikhara you should first learn Istikhara, meaning “to seek the best in affairs,” is a Sunnah prayer consisting of two Rak’ah, performed with the intention of seeking guidance from Allah.

It is a means to seek divine direction on whether to proceed or withdraw from a particular matter, such as marriage, career decisions, business ventures, and more.

Understanding how to pray Istikhara step by step is crucial. Pray with sincerity, act on the guidance you receive, and seek expert advice to make the best decision.

You can also reach out to the qualified professionals at Ulum Al-Azhar for assistance in learning how to pray Istikhara and interpreting its outcomes.

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Faqs On How To Pray Istikhara

How Do You Know If Your Istikhara Worked?

The correct understanding is that when Allah makes a matter easy for you after you have prayed and made du’a, it is a sign that it is favorable and you should proceed with it.

Conversely, if obstacles and difficulties arise, it indicates that Allah is guiding you away from pursuing that path.

How Is Istikhara Prayer Answered?

The response to an Istikhara may simply manifest as a heart’s inclination toward a particular option and does not necessarily need to come in the form of a dream or a clear sign.

Sometimes, one might initially lean towards a specific choice, but through the blessings of Istikhara, Allah may redirect that inclination and bring about something better, often by revealing new insights or opportunities.