Dua e Istikhara is the supplication of seeking guidance from Allah before any important decision — marriage, a job offer, moving abroad, choosing a school, or any matter where the heart hesitates. The Prophet ﷺ taught this dua to his companions "as he would teach them a surah of the Quran" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1162) — showing how central it is to a Muslim's life.

Quick answer: Istikhara means "seeking the best (khayr) from Allah." You pray 2 rakats of voluntary prayer, then recite the Istikhara dua, mentioning your specific need. The answer comes as ease or difficulty in the matter — not necessarily a dream. The full dua with Arabic, transliteration and English is below. Want to learn duas and Salah with a live tutor? Book a free trial class.

What is Istikhara?

Istikhara (استخارة) comes from the Arabic root khayr (goodness) and literally means "to seek what is best." Salat al-Istikhara is a two-rakat voluntary prayer followed by a specific dua in which you hand your decision over to Allah — asking Him to make the matter easy if it is good for you, and to turn it away if it is bad for you.

Jabir ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us Istikhara for every matter, just as he would teach us a surah of the Quran." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1162)

The complete Dua e Istikhara

DUA E ISTIKHARA · Sahih al-Bukhari 1162
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ

Allaahumma innee astakheeruka bi 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'azeem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa laa a'lamu, wa anta 'allaamul-ghuyoob. Allaahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal-amra khayrun lee fee deenee wa ma'aashee wa 'aaqibati amree, faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee thumma baarik lee feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal-amra sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma'aashee wa 'aaqibati amree, fasrifhu 'annee wasrifnee 'anhu, waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kaana thumma ardinee bih.

English: O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek strength through Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. For You are able and I am not, and 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 me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affair, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affair, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, then make me content with it.

When you reach the words "haadhal-amra" (this matter), mention your specific need — or simply think of it clearly in your heart.

How to pray Salat al-Istikhara — step by step

  1. Make wudu as you would for any prayer.
  2. Pray 2 rakats of voluntary (nafl) prayer with the intention of Istikhara. It is common to recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the first rakat and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second, though any surahs are valid.
  3. After the salam, raise your hands and recite the Istikhara dua above.
  4. Name your matter when you reach "haadhal-amra" — for example, "this marriage" or "this job."
  5. Then proceed with the decision you are inclined towards, trusting that Allah will open or close the doors.
Common misconception: Many people believe Istikhara's answer must come as a dream, or as seeing the colours green or white. This has no basis in authentic hadith. The answer of Istikhara is that Allah makes the good matter easy and the harmful matter difficult — through circumstances, your heart settling, or doors opening and closing. A dream may happen, but it is not required and not the standard.

When should you pray Istikhara?

  • Marriage proposals — accepting or declining a rishta.
  • Career decisions — a new job, business venture, or resignation.
  • Moving or travel — relocating your family, hijrah, big journeys.
  • Education — choosing a school, university, or course.
  • Any permissible matter where you genuinely hesitate. Istikhara is not for things already obligatory (like praying Salah) or forbidden.

You may repeat Istikhara up to seven days if the matter remains unclear — some scholars cite the narration of Anas (رضي الله عنه) encouraging repetition.

Etiquettes for the best result

  • Pray with full conviction that Allah will choose what is best.
  • Empty your heart of a pre-decided outcome — go in genuinely open.
  • Choose a calm time; the last third of the night before Tahajjud is ideal but any time outside the forbidden prayer times is valid.
  • Combine it with consultation (istishara) of trustworthy, knowledgeable people.
  • Begin and end the dua with praise of Allah and Darood Sharif.

Teaching Istikhara to your children

Teenagers especially benefit from learning Istikhara early — it trains them to include Allah in every decision. Start by teaching the shortened concept ("we ask Allah to choose for us"), then help them memorise the dua in parts, and let them see you praying Istikhara for family decisions.

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