❀ Method of Salat al-Istikharah: Prophetic Guidance for Decision Making ❀
✦ Authored by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us Istikharah (seeking Allah’s guidance) in all matters just as he taught us a chapter from the Qur’an. He ﷺ would say:
"إذا هم أحدكم بالأمر فليركع ركعتين من غير الفريضة ثم ليقل..."
“When any of you is concerned about a matter, let him perform two rak‘ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones, then say...”
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ... (Arabic text continues unchanged as per guidelines)
[Bukhari: 1162, 6382; Book of Supplications: Chapter on Supplication in Istikharah; Abu Dawood: 1538; Tirmidhi: 480; Nasai: 6/80; Ibn Majah: 1383; Ibn Hibban: 887; Bayhaqi: 3/52]
✔ Imam Shawkani (رحمه الله):
There is no known disagreement regarding the legitimacy of offering the prayer of Istikharah and reciting the prescribed supplication afterward.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/298]
✔ Imam Nawawi (رحمه الله):
When a person performs Istikharah, he should proceed with the course of action towards which his heart feels at ease.
[Al-Adhkar by Nawawi: p.152]
If no such clarity is achieved, then the individual should proceed with whatever path becomes practically facilitated.
✔ Abdur Rahman Mubarakpuri (رحمه الله):
The prayer and supplication of Istikharah described in the Hadith is recommended only in those worldly matters where the correct path is unclear.
As for well-established righteous deeds like acts of worship, there is no need for Istikharah in such cases.
[Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 2/605]
✔ Imam Shawkani (رحمه الله):
The words "من غير الفريضة" (other than obligatory prayer) indicate that if someone recites the Istikharah supplication after any other prayer, such as Sunnah Rawatib, Tahiyyat al-Masjid, or any voluntary prayer not specifically intended for Istikharah, then the Sunnah of Istikharah will not be fulfilled.
A separate two rak‘ahs must be offered with the sole intention of Istikharah.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/297]
The assumption that Istikharah is only beneficial if done by certain pious elders or saints, or the belief that it must be followed by a dream during sleep, is nothing but unwarranted exaggeration and rigidity in religion.
Neither Allah nor the Messenger ﷺ has instructed this, nor does any authentic Sunnah support such views.
✔ A Muslim should personally turn to Allah in all his matters and perform Istikharah.
Surely, Allah will guide him.
The modern trend of seeking Istikharah from others, especially claiming it as a specialized service of select individuals, is completely baseless and should be avoided entirely.
[Al-Qawl al-Mubeen fi Akhta’ al-Musalleen: p. 394; Al-Madkhal: 3/90; Ad-Deen al-Khalis: 5/245]
❖ Should Istikharah be repeated if no clarity is achieved?
There is no authentic Hadith reported that instructs repeating the Istikharah prayer if one remains undecided after the first instance.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/297]
❖ Is it permissible to offer Istikharah as a service or profession?
Absolutely not.
Istikharah is a personal act of devotion legislated for every individual to seek guidance from their Lord—it is not a professional or commercial practice.
✦ Authored by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ The Teaching of Istikharah by the Prophet ﷺ
Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us Istikharah (seeking Allah’s guidance) in all matters just as he taught us a chapter from the Qur’an. He ﷺ would say:
"إذا هم أحدكم بالأمر فليركع ركعتين من غير الفريضة ثم ليقل..."
“When any of you is concerned about a matter, let him perform two rak‘ahs of prayer other than the obligatory ones, then say...”
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ... (Arabic text continues unchanged as per guidelines)
[Bukhari: 1162, 6382; Book of Supplications: Chapter on Supplication in Istikharah; Abu Dawood: 1538; Tirmidhi: 480; Nasai: 6/80; Ibn Majah: 1383; Ibn Hibban: 887; Bayhaqi: 3/52]
❖ Scholarly Commentary on the Legitimacy of Istikharah
✔ Imam Shawkani (رحمه الله):
There is no known disagreement regarding the legitimacy of offering the prayer of Istikharah and reciting the prescribed supplication afterward.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/298]
✔ Imam Nawawi (رحمه الله):
When a person performs Istikharah, he should proceed with the course of action towards which his heart feels at ease.
[Al-Adhkar by Nawawi: p.152]
If no such clarity is achieved, then the individual should proceed with whatever path becomes practically facilitated.
✔ Abdur Rahman Mubarakpuri (رحمه الله):
The prayer and supplication of Istikharah described in the Hadith is recommended only in those worldly matters where the correct path is unclear.
As for well-established righteous deeds like acts of worship, there is no need for Istikharah in such cases.
[Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 2/605]
✔ Imam Shawkani (رحمه الله):
The words "من غير الفريضة" (other than obligatory prayer) indicate that if someone recites the Istikharah supplication after any other prayer, such as Sunnah Rawatib, Tahiyyat al-Masjid, or any voluntary prayer not specifically intended for Istikharah, then the Sunnah of Istikharah will not be fulfilled.
A separate two rak‘ahs must be offered with the sole intention of Istikharah.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/297]
❖ Istikharah is Not Exclusive to Certain Saints
The assumption that Istikharah is only beneficial if done by certain pious elders or saints, or the belief that it must be followed by a dream during sleep, is nothing but unwarranted exaggeration and rigidity in religion.Neither Allah nor the Messenger ﷺ has instructed this, nor does any authentic Sunnah support such views.
✔ A Muslim should personally turn to Allah in all his matters and perform Istikharah.
Surely, Allah will guide him.
The modern trend of seeking Istikharah from others, especially claiming it as a specialized service of select individuals, is completely baseless and should be avoided entirely.
[Al-Qawl al-Mubeen fi Akhta’ al-Musalleen: p. 394; Al-Madkhal: 3/90; Ad-Deen al-Khalis: 5/245]
◈ Common Questions About Istikharah
❖ Should Istikharah be repeated if no clarity is achieved?
There is no authentic Hadith reported that instructs repeating the Istikharah prayer if one remains undecided after the first instance.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 2/297]
❖ Is it permissible to offer Istikharah as a service or profession?
Absolutely not.
Istikharah is a personal act of devotion legislated for every individual to seek guidance from their Lord—it is not a professional or commercial practice.
