5 Essential Islamic Guidelines on Istikharah – In Light of Hadith and Scholarly Opinions
Source: Fatāwā al-ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Duʿāʾ, Page 486
How many days should one perform Istikharah? What is the correct Sharʿī guidance regarding this practice?
There is no Sharʿī condition or time limit for how many days one must perform Istikharah.
Whenever a person faces confusion or hesitation regarding any permissible and important matter, they may perform Istikharah immediately, as established by authentic Hadith.
➤ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: Ḥadīth 1162, 6382
◈ Istikharah is a recommended Sunnah, not an obligation.
◈ This is proven by the Hadith wording "من غير فريضة" (not a compulsory act), indicating it is not obligatory.
Refer to: Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 11, Pg. 185, under Ḥadīth 6382
◈ Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله classified this Hadith under voluntary prayers (Tatawwuʿ), affirming its status as a non-obligatory act of worship.
The narration:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Anas ibn Mālik RA: When you intend to do something, perform Istikharah seven times, then choose the option upon which your heart feels at ease. That is where goodness lies.”
◈ Quoted by Ibn al-Qayyim in Adhkār al-Masnūnah, referencing Ibn al-Sunnī’s ʿAmal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah
ʿUbaydullāh ibn al-Ḥimyarī → Ibrāhīm ibn al-Barāʾ ibn al-Naḍr ibn Anas ibn Mālik → his father → his grandfather
Critique of the Chain:
◈ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله:
"Its chain is extremely weak."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 11, Pg. 187)
◈ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله, in Al-Kalim al-Ṭayyib, introduced the narration with:
“ويُذكر عن أنس...”
– indicating it is a weak report
(Al-Kalim al-Ṭayyib, Pg. 71, Ḥadīth 116)
◈ Some scholars reportedly advise performing Istikharah for one full month, but
– There is no authentic Hadith or reliable report from the Companions to support this.
◈ A questioner mentioned a narration attributed to a Companion regarding Istikharah for three days, but
– No authentic source or reference for it is known.
Therefore, insisting on a specific time frame (like 30 days) is unjustified and unproven in Shariah.
◈ Whenever a person faces difficulty in deciding about a permissible (mubāḥ) matter, Istikharah may be performed.
◈ The matter should be important and non-obligatory — since in obligations and prohibitions, clear Sharʿī rulings already apply.
◈ One may perform Istikharah once or multiple times, depending on personal need and comfort — there is no fixed number.
① Istikharah has no specified number of days
② It is a Sunnah and not an obligation
③ The narration about performing it seven times is extremely weak and unactionable
④ There is no authentic report specifying a fixed duration
⑤ It is valid to perform Istikharah whenever there is confusion in permissible matters
Hādhā mā ʿindī wa-Allāhu Aʿlam bi-ṣ-Ṣawāb
Source: Fatāwā al-ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Duʿāʾ, Page 486❖ Inquiry:
How many days should one perform Istikharah? What is the correct Sharʿī guidance regarding this practice?
1. No Fixed Number of Days for Istikharah
There is no Sharʿī condition or time limit for how many days one must perform Istikharah.
Whenever a person faces confusion or hesitation regarding any permissible and important matter, they may perform Istikharah immediately, as established by authentic Hadith.
➤ Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: Ḥadīth 1162, 6382
2. Istikharah is Recommended (Mustaḥabb), Not Obligatory (Wājib)
◈ Istikharah is a recommended Sunnah, not an obligation.
◈ This is proven by the Hadith wording "من غير فريضة" (not a compulsory act), indicating it is not obligatory.
Refer to: Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 11, Pg. 185, under Ḥadīth 6382
◈ Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله classified this Hadith under voluntary prayers (Tatawwuʿ), affirming its status as a non-obligatory act of worship.
3. Analysis of the “Seven Times Istikharah” Narration
The narration:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Anas ibn Mālik RA: When you intend to do something, perform Istikharah seven times, then choose the option upon which your heart feels at ease. That is where goodness lies.”
◈ Quoted by Ibn al-Qayyim in Adhkār al-Masnūnah, referencing Ibn al-Sunnī’s ʿAmal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah
Chain of Transmission:
ʿUbaydullāh ibn al-Ḥimyarī → Ibrāhīm ibn al-Barāʾ ibn al-Naḍr ibn Anas ibn Mālik → his father → his grandfather
Critique of the Chain:
- Al-Naḍr ibn Ḥafṣ ibn Anas ibn Mālik is unknown (majhūl)
(Lisān al-Mīzān, Vol. 6, Pg. 191; Alt. Vol. 7, Pg. 192) - Ibrāhīm ibn al-ʿAlāʾ and ʿUbaydullāh ibn al-Ḥimyarī are also unidentified narrators
Verdict of the Hadith Scholars:
◈ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله:
"Its chain is extremely weak."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 11, Pg. 187)
◈ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله, in Al-Kalim al-Ṭayyib, introduced the narration with:
“ويُذكر عن أنس...”
– indicating it is a weak report
(Al-Kalim al-Ṭayyib, Pg. 71, Ḥadīth 116)
4. No Basis for a Month-Long Istikharah
◈ Some scholars reportedly advise performing Istikharah for one full month, but
– There is no authentic Hadith or reliable report from the Companions to support this.
◈ A questioner mentioned a narration attributed to a Companion regarding Istikharah for three days, but
– No authentic source or reference for it is known.
Therefore, insisting on a specific time frame (like 30 days) is unjustified and unproven in Shariah. 5. When to Perform Istikharah and For What
◈ Whenever a person faces difficulty in deciding about a permissible (mubāḥ) matter, Istikharah may be performed.
◈ The matter should be important and non-obligatory — since in obligations and prohibitions, clear Sharʿī rulings already apply.
◈ One may perform Istikharah once or multiple times, depending on personal need and comfort — there is no fixed number.
✦ Summary ✦
① Istikharah has no specified number of days
② It is a Sunnah and not an obligation
③ The narration about performing it seven times is extremely weak and unactionable
④ There is no authentic report specifying a fixed duration
⑤ It is valid to perform Istikharah whenever there is confusion in permissible matters
Hādhā mā ʿindī wa-Allāhu Aʿlam bi-ṣ-Ṣawāb
