The Supplication of Istikhārah

Authored by: Fadhilat al-Shaykh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Hammad (may Allah preserve him)

✦ Teaching Istikhārah Like a Qur'anic Sūrah ✦​

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُعَلِّمُ أَصْحَابَهُ الِاسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا كَمَا يُعَلِّمُهُمُ السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 7390]

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach his Companions to seek guidance (Istikhārah) in all matters, just as he would teach them a sūrah from the Qur'an."

✦ Benefits ✦​

❖ Istikhārah refers to seeking goodness and well-being in any matter.
❖ Technically, it involves praying two rakʿāt followed by a specific supplication, asking Allah to guide toward what is best—whether choosing between two matters or deciding to proceed or withdraw from a decision.

✦ The Duʿāʾ of Istikhārah ✦​

The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When one of you intends to undertake a matter, let him perform two rakʿāt of prayer and then recite the following duʿāʾ:"

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ...
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, al-Tawḥīd: 7390]

(This duʿāʾ seeks Allah's knowledge, power, and bounty, requesting Him to facilitate what is best in religion, livelihood, and future outcomes, or to divert harm and replace it with goodness, followed by contentment with His decision.)

✦ When to Proceed ✦​

After performing istikhārah, if a sense of inner inclination or comfort develops toward a specific decision, then one should proceed with reliance upon Allah (tawakkul).