How to Pray Istikhara: Steps and Istikhara Dua
How to pray istikhara: pray two voluntary rakats, then recite the istikhara dua and name the decision you're making. Istikhara means asking Allah to choose what is best for you. The Prophet ﷺ taught it to his companions "in all matters, as he would teach them a surah of the Quran" (Bukhari 6382).
Istikhara step by step
- 1
Make wudu. As for any prayer.
- 2
Pray two rakats. They can be any two rakats other than an obligatory prayer (Bukhari 1166).
- 3
Recite the istikhara dua. After the prayer, say the dua below. Where it says "this matter", name your decision (Bukhari 1166).
- 4
Go ahead with your decision. Put your trust in Allah.
The istikhara dua
اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك ، وأستقدرك بقدرتك ، وأسألك من فضلك العظيم فإنك تقدِرُ ولا أقدِرُ ، وتعلم ولا أعلم ، وأنت علام الغيوب ، اللهم إن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر (ويسمّي حاجته) خير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري (أَوْ قَالَ: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ) فاقدره لي ويسره لي ، ثم بارك لي فيه ، وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شر لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري (أَوْ قَالَ: فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ) فاصرفه عني واصرفني عنه ، واقدر لي الخير حيث كان ، ثم ارضني به
Allāhumma innī astakhīruka bi-ʿilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratik, wa as'aluka min faḍlikal-ʿaẓīm, fa-innaka taqdiru wa lā aqdir, wa taʿlamu wa lā aʿlam, wa anta ʿallāmul-ghuyūb. Allāhumma in kunta taʿlamu anna hādhal-amra [then name the matter] khayrun lī fī dīnī wa maʿāshī wa ʿāqibati amrī ([or say] ʿājili amrī wa ājilih), faqdurhu lī wa yassirhu lī, thumma bārik lī fīh. Wa in kunta taʿlamu anna hādhal-amra sharrun lī fī dīnī wa maʿāshī wa ʿāqibati amrī ([or say] fī ʿājili amrī wa ājilih), faṣrifhu ʿannī waṣrifnī ʿanh, waqdur liyal-khayra ḥaythu kān, thumma arḍinī bih.
O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, You are Capable and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [then name the matter] is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come [or say: in this life and the afterlife], then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come [or say: in this life and the afterlife], then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and help me to be content with it.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1166, 6382, 7390
The istikhara dua page has it as printed in Hisnul Muslim.
Istikhara questions
Do I have to see a dream after istikhara?
No. The hadith doesn't mention dreams. Act on your decision: the dua asks Allah to make it easy if it's good for you and to turn it away from you if it isn't (Bukhari 1166).
When can I pray istikhara?
At any time except when voluntary prayer is forbidden: after Fajr until the sun has risen, while the sun is at its zenith, and after Asr until sunset (Bukhari 586, Muslim 831).
Can I repeat istikhara?
Yes. Scholars allow you to repeat it if you're still unsure.
Can I say the istikhara dua without praying?
The hadith describes two rakats followed by the dua. Some scholars allow the dua on its own when you can't pray, for example during menstruation.
Checked against its sources on 2026-10-17. Where the schools of fiqh differ, follow the one you practise.