Evie Summers
Istikhara is a prayer in Islam that seeks guidance from Allah when faced with a difficult decision. It is a powerful tool that allows individuals to seek guidance directly from the Almighty and find clarity in their choices. Istikhara can be performed for life's small and big decisions and even for general guidance. It is a natural process that does not require any special preparations or times of day. While it is often associated with sleeping and dreams, it is important to note that sleeping is not a necessary step of Istikhara. The main steps are the nawaafil and the dua, and the inclination of your heart matters more than any dreams or visions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is Istikhara? | A prayer in Islam that seeks guidance from Allah when faced with a particular decision. |
| When to perform Istikhara? | Whenever you like, whenever nawafil are allowed. |
| How to perform Istikhara? | 1. Perform Ablution or Wudu. 2. Recite two rak'ah (prayer cycles), starting with the Surah Fatiha. 3. Recite the Istikhara supplication. |
| What is the significance of Istikhara? | Istikhara is a powerful tool that allows individuals to seek guidance directly from the Almighty and find clarity in their choices. |
| What is the process of Istikhara? | 1. Do your own research. 2. Istishāra (seek advice) - Ask someone experienced and knowledgeable about the topic. 3. Pray two rakaʿāt of voluntary prayer and recite any Surahs you like after Fatiha in each rak'ah. 4. Recite the duʿāʾ (prayer) of istikhāra in Arabic and then explicitly state your need in any language. |
| What is the translation of the Istikhara supplication? | O Allah! I ask You for goodness through Your Knowledge, and ability through Your Power, and beg (Your favour) out of Your infinite Bounty. You have power, and I do not. You know, and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter, then decree 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, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be and make me content with it. |
| Is sleeping a necessary step of Istikhara? | No, it is not a necessary step. The inclination of your heart matters in the end, and that may depend on how the situation unfolds naturally. |
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What You'll Learn
Recite the Istikhara dua
Reciting the Istikhara dua is a prayer of guidance during times of indecision. It is a way to seek that which is good and to invite blessings into your life. There are no other requirements for performing Istikhara, such as a special bath or time of day.
Before reciting the dua, it is essential to find a calm and peaceful environment and ensure you are in a state of purity, having performed ablution (wudu). Begin by centering your thoughts, then wash and rinse the following areas three times: your hands, mouth, face, nose, and lower forearms. Wash your head and ears once, then wash your feet three times, starting with the right foot.
After performing wudu, you are ready to open your prayer and recite two rak'ah (prayer cycles), starting with the Surah Fatiha. Remember to begin each Surah by saying, "Bismillah hir-Rahma nir-Raheem." The Surah Fatiha is recited in each rak'ah and can be translated to English as:
> Praise is only for Allah, Lord of the Universe. The most Kind, the most Merciful. The master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship and to you alone we pray for help. Show us the straight way, the way of those whom you have blessed. Who have not deserved your anger, nor gone astray. Ameen.
Once you have finished praying, you can recite the Istikhara dua in Arabic as recommended by the Prophet:
> Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika wa astaqdiruka biqudratika wa as'aluka min fadlikal-azim. Fainnaka taqdiru, wala aqdiru.
This can be translated to English as:
> O Allah! Behold I ask You the good through Your Knowledge, and ability through Your Power, and beg (Your favour) out of Your infinite Bounty.
After reciting the dua, you may explicitly state your need in any language you prefer. Remember, Allah understands your prayers, no matter the language. It is important to pray from your heart, with sincerity and humility.
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Recite Surah Fatiha
Reciting Surah Fatiha is an important part of Salat-al-Istikhara, a prayer of guidance recited during times of indecision. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to recite Surah Fatiha as part of the Istikhara prayer:
Before beginning the Istikhara prayer, it is essential to perform Wudu to ensure cleanliness. This involves centring your thoughts and washing specific body parts in a specific sequence.
Once you have performed Wudu, you can begin the Istikhara prayer by reciting two rak'ah (prayer cycles). Each rak'ah should start with the recitation of Surah Fatiha. Remember to commence each Surah by saying, "Bismillah hir-Rahma nir-Raheem."
The Surah Fatiha is a powerful verse that is recited in each rak'ah. Its transliteration is:
> "Alhamdul lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen Ar rahma nir-raheem Maliki yawmid-deen Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem Siratal Lazeena an'amta 'alayhim Ghai-ril maghdubi 'alayhim Walad dal-leen. Ameen."
The English translation of this verse is:
> "Praise is only for Allah, Lord of the Universe. The most Kind, the most Merciful. The master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship and to You alone we pray for help. Show us the straight way, The way of those whom You have blessed. Who have not deserved Your anger, Nor gone astray."
After reciting the two rak'ah, including Surah Fatiha, you are now ready to recite the Istikhara supplication. This is a prayer in which you seek guidance and ask for goodness and strength from Allah.
It is important to note that Istikhara is a natural process, and one should not expect anything otherworldly. It is a way to seek blessings and guidance from Allah when facing indecision in life, whether in small or big decisions.
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Seek advice from the wise
Istikhara is a prayer of guidance for those facing indecision. It is a natural process that does not require any special preparation or time of day. It is a three-step decision-making process: preparation, istishāra (seeking advice), and istikhāra (seeking goodness).
Istikhāra is the final step of the process, where you seek confidence and clarity in making your final decision. Before this, it is important to seek advice from those with knowledge and wisdom. This is known as istishāra.
Imam al-Nawawi mentions that before the istikhara prayer, one should seek advice from those whose knowledge, wisdom, and concern one is confident in. This is to further distance oneself from one's egotistic inclinations. Ibn Hajar al-Haytami and others agree that this is a benefit of performing istikhara.
When performing istikhara, you should also seek advice from those you believe are wise and knowledgeable. For example, if you are deciding whether to take a new job, you should consult a knowledgeable elder, such as a relative or mentor. Ask them for help in understanding how this new job might affect your life and faith and whether they think it is a good decision.
It is important to remember that istikhara is not a magical incantation or a search for signs. It is a sincere and humble prayer for divine wisdom and clarity, asking Allah to pave the way for what is beneficial and to divert us from what is detrimental.
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Trust in Allah's guidance
Istikhara is a prayer for guidance that helps Muslims navigate life's uncertainties with trust in Allah's infinite knowledge and wisdom. It is a gift from Allah to help us make decisions, big or small, and is not a way to predict the future.
The word Istikhara comes from the root word "khayr", which means goodness or what is best. When performing the prayer, one is asking Allah for the best outcome in a matter that is uncertain. It is a practical way to seek Allah's help and guidance, and it can be performed at any time of the day.
The process of Istikhara involves praying two non-obligatory rak'ahs, or prayer cycles, followed by a specific supplication or du'a, seeking Allah's guidance. These rak'ahs can be integrated into one's daily routine, such as the two rak'ahs before Fajr or after Maghrib, or they can be additional rak'ahs, preferably at night after Isha, to benefit from the tranquility of the latter part of the night.
After performing ablution or Wudu to ensure cleanliness, one should open their prayer, recite two rak'ahs, and then offer their Istikhara supplication. The Istikhara supplication can be recited in Arabic as:
> "Allahumma innee astakheeruka bi ilmika wa-astaqdiruka biqudratika wa-as'aluka min fadhlika al-adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru walaa aqdiru. Wa ta'lamu walaa a'alamu wa anta allaamul ghuroob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal-amr khayrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma'aashiy wa-'aaqibat amriy, faqdur hu liy wa- liy thumma baarik liy feehi. Wa in-kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal amr sharrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma'aashiy wa-'aaqibat amriy. Fa asrifhu 'annee wa-srifni 'anhu. Wa aqdur lial khayra haythu kaana thumma a-rdhiniy bihee."
The English translation of the above is:
> "O Allah! Behold I ask You for goodness through Your Knowledge, and ability through Your Power, and beg (Your favour) out of Your infinite Bounty. Because You are able while I am not, and You know while I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah! If in Your Knowledge this matter (then mention the matter) is good for my religion, my livelihood, and my life's outcome (or: for me in this life and the afterlife), then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, and bless me therein. But if in Your Knowledge it is bad for my religion, my livelihood, and my life's outcome (or: for me in this life and the afterlife), then turn me away from it, and turn it away from me, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it."
After the prayer, one should reflect within to find answers and seek advice from wise and knowledgeable people. It is important to trust Allah's plan and have patience, as the clarity we seek often comes with time and reflection. Istikhara is a reminder that Allah is always there for us, guiding us in every step, and that our limited knowledge cannot compare to His infinite wisdom.
Istikhara is not about receiving immediate answers or a guarantee of ease in life. Instead, it is a request for divine guidance, and sometimes Allah's guidance leads us through challenging paths to foster resilience and patience. It is a way to develop closeness to Allah and trust in His wisdom, affirming our devotion and reliance on Him.
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Istikhara is not a magical incantation
Istikhara is a prayer for guidance recited during times of indecision. It is not a magical incantation or a magic wish-fulfilling prayer. It is a sincere plea for divine wisdom, an active act of seeking clarity. It is a two-pronged approach: a voluntary prayer followed by a sincere supplication.
The word Istikhara translates to "seeking guidance" or "making a decision". It is a crucial part of decision-making and is not limited to big decisions. It can be performed for life's small decisions and even for general guidance. Prophet Muhammad taught Istikhara as a way to seek Allah's guidance in all matters of life.
The process of performing Istikhara involves praying two non-obligatory rak'ahs followed by a specific du'a. These rak'ahs can be woven into our natural daily sunnah, such as the two rak'ahs before Fajr or after Maghrib, or they can be additional rak'ahs at night. After the prayer, one remains in the sitting position (tashahhud) and recites the supplication of Istikhara. The supplication can be recited in any language, as Allah understands prayers in all languages.
It is important to approach Istikhara with a pure heart and a genuine desire for guidance. It offers clarity, not absolute certainty. It is a beautiful tool that provides comfort and guidance to believers, helping them align their choices with divine wisdom.
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Frequently asked questions
Istikhara is a prayer in Islam that seeks guidance from Allah when faced with a difficult decision. It is a powerful tool that allows individuals to seek guidance directly from the Almighty and find clarity in their choices.
Salat-al-Istikhara is a prayer of guidance recited during times of indecision. After performing Wudu (ablution) to ensure you are clean, you will open your prayer, recite two rak'ah, and then offer your Istikhara supplication.
No, sleeping is not a necessary step of Istikhara. While it is common to perform Istikhara before sleep, with the belief that Allah will reveal answers and grant clarity in a dream, it is not a requirement. The inclination of your heart is what matters, and that may depend on how the situation unfolds naturally.
The Istikhara supplication is a humble request to Allah to guide you towards what is good for you in this life and the hereafter. The supplication is as follows:
> "Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika wa astaqdiruka biqudratika wa as'aluka min fadlikal-azim. Fainnaka taqdiru, wala aqdiru. Wa ta'lamu wala a'lamu wa anta'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa ajili amri wa'ajilihi fam'kurhu li wa yasirhu li thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa ajili amri wa'ajilihi fasrifhu anni wasrifni anhu. Waqdur liyal-khaira haithu kana thumma ardini bihi."
After reciting the Istikhara dua, reflect within yourself to find answers and seek advice from those you find wise and knowledgeable. Remember, Istikhara is not about immediate clarity or guaranteed ease in life. It is a request for divine guidance, and sometimes Allah's guidance may lead you through challenging paths to foster resilience and patience.
