What is Istikhara? How to Perform Istikhara Prayer?
In Islam, istikhara is a method of seeking refuge in Allah and praying to learn whether a matter is good or bad. When a person does not know whether a desired action is beneficial or harmful, they perform two rak’ah prayers and then recite the istikhara prayer. This practice is discouraged (makruh), meaning there is no great harm in performing it, but it is considered virtuous.
When to Perform Istikhara Prayer?
Istikhara prayer or supplication is not appropriate when it is known for certain that an act of worship and earning reward is definitely good, or that it is clearly bad like a sin. Istikhara is performed in cases where a person cannot decide, does not know whether something is beneficial or harmful. This prayer is usually repeated seven times.
The purpose of the istikhara prayer is to bring clarity to the heart. It is believed that what first comes to mind after the prayer is good and should be acted upon accordingly. If it is not possible to perform the istikhara prayer, reciting the supplication alone is sufficient.
Istikhara Prayer in Arabic
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنّ۪ي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ ل۪۪ي ف۪ي دِين۪ي وَمَعِيشَت۪۪ي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَيَسِّرْهُ ل۪۪ي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ ل۪۪ي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ ل۪۪ي ف۪۪ي دِين۪ي وَمَعِيشَت۪۪ي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدِرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِه
Istikhara Prayer Pronunciation
“Allâhumme innî estehîruke bi-ilmike ve estakdiruke bi-kudretike ve es’eluke min fadlikel-azîm. Fe-inneke takdiru velâ akdiru wa ta’lemu welâ a’lemu wa ente allâmul-guyûb.
Allâhumme in kunte ta’lemu enne hâzel-emra hayrun lî fî dînî ve meâşî ve âkıbeti emrî -ev kâle- wa âcilihi wa âcilihi fakdurhu lî ve yessirhu lî summe bârik lî fîh. Wa in kunte ta’lemu enne hâzel-emra şerrun lî fî dînî ve meâşî ve âkıbeti emrî -ev kâle- fî âcili emrî wa âcilihi fasrifhu annî vasrifnî anhu vakdur liyel-hayra haysu kâne summe ardınî bih.”
Istikhara Prayer Meaning
O Allah! I seek refuge in You with Your knowledge and ask for power from Your ability, and I ask you for your great bounty. Indeed, You are the one who decides, and I cannot; You know, and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen.
O Allah! If (this matter) is good for me in my religion, livelihood, and afterlife, then make it easy for me and bless me with it. If (this matter) is bad for me in my religion, livelihood, and afterlife, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it. Grant me goodness wherever it may be and then satisfy me with it.
“In the place where ‘this matter’ is mentioned in the supplication, the person should specify and clearly state what relates to his own affair. For example, he can say, ‘O Lord, my decision to go on this journey’ or ‘my marriage to so-and-so.’ (Bukhari, Deavât 48, Tawhid 10; Tirmidhi, Vitr 18; Ibn Majah, Iqama 188)
As stated in another hadith:
“When a thought of something makes you waver and uncertain, seek goodness from your Lord, that is, perform istikhara. Repeat this seven times, then look at what weighs heaviest on your heart; the good lies therein.” (Suyuti, el-Jami’us-Saghir, no: 882)