Seeking Guidance from Allah: How to Perform Salat al-Istikharah

The prayer for guidance is a prayer that the Prophet Mohammed صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم taught to his companions.

The prayer for guidance is a Sunnah of the Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم and is therefore not obligatory but is recommended and praiseworthy (mandoob).

The word “istikhara” in Arabic means: “to ask Allah what is best.”

When believers pray this prayer, they are asking Allah عزّ وجلّ to guide them in the right direction regarding any circumstance in their lives.

The Quran raises this possibility: “consult them in the conduct of affairs. And when you make a decision, put your trust in Allah عزّ وجلّ, Allah عزّ وجلّ loves the trusting” (Quran 3:159).

When to Seek Guidance Through Istikhara

In some situations, Muslims have to make difficult decisions that can change the course of their lives. One of the most important decisions is whether or not to get married, whom to marry, etc. But the decision could also be about a career change, an important purchase, travel plans or any other option.

The prayer for guidance is thus a powerful way for Muslims to steer their lives under the protection and assistance of Allah  عزّ وج. It also serves to strengthen the bond and relationship between Muslims and their creator.

The prayer for guidance is a spiritual treasure that belongs to the Islamic Ummah.

Muslims can consult Allah عزّ وجلّ, their creator, for all types of situation, for example, before making a difficult and important choice. This prayer is essential and beneficial because it allows you to draw closer to Allah عزّ وجلّ while avoiding mistakes and guarding against evil.

Allah  عزّ وجلّ knows perfectly what is good for us and what is not and can guide us in a positive way when we have major questions or are going through a period of uncertainty.

Therefore, it is useful and necessary for each of us to talk to the Creator before making a decision about which we have some hesitation.

Preparing for the Prayer (Wudu & Intention)

Muslims are allowed to pray for guidance at almost any time. 

However, the four Islamic legal schools have forbidden the prayer for guidance at times when it is prohibited or blameworthy to pray.

For example, Islam prohibits prayer at sunrise and sunset.

There is no harm in repeating the prayer for guidance frequently. On the contrary, it is strongly encouraged.

The messenger of Allah صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم taught the prayer for guidance in a hadith given by Bukhari, who detailed the way in which believing Muslims should pray and the particular invocation they should use (Bukhari Hadith 1166).

Performing Two Rak’at Sunnah Prayer

Begin by praying two rakat of supererogatory prayer (prayers that are not part of the five obligatory prayers), then recite the Surah Al-Fatiha, then a second surah (chosen by the reciter, because the Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم did not specify any surah) in each raka.

At the end of the prayer, after the salam, recite the Istikhara invocation and, lastly, clearly express your request.

Reciting the Istikhara Supplication (Arabic, Phonetic, & English)

You can pray for guidance in whatever language you choose

Islamic Guidance Prayer In Arabic:

« اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك، وأستقدرك بقدرتك، وأسألك من فضلك العظيم، فإنك تقدر ولا أقدر، وتعلم ولا أعلم، وأنت علام الغيوب، اللهم إن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر (ويُسميه بعينه) خير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري فاقدره لي، ويسره لي، ثم بارك لي فيه، وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شرّ لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري فاصرفه عني، واصرفني عنه، واقدر لي الخير حيث كان، ثم أرضني به (رواه البخاري في « صحيحه ».

Islamic Guidance Prayer In phonetic Arabic:

“Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as-aluka min fadlika l’azimi. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wa la a’lamu, wa anta ‘allamu lghuyubi. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha l-amra – il mentionne la nature de cette affaire – khayrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi, wa ‘aqibati amri, fa qdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha l-amra – il mentionne la nature de cette affaire – sharrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri fa srifhu ‘anni, wa srifni ‘anhu, wa qdur li lkhayra haythu kana thumma ardini bihi.”

Islamic Guidance Prayer In English:

“Oh, Allah! I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power; I have none. And You know; I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things.

Oh, Allah! If in Your knowledge, (this matter) is good for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediately and in the future, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge, (this matter) is bad for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediately and in the future, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it. And ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.”

A lot of Muslims wonder how they will know if their prayer for guidance has been answered. Many maintain that the result of a prayer for guidance only appears in dreams. In reality, it can happen in a dream, but that is not a mandatory condition or a definitive sign.

A feeling of relief after a prayer for guidance can also be a sign that the prayer has been answered, but you should not let that be your only sign that the prayer has been answered.

To truly learn the result of your prayer for guidance, you should start doing what you want to do without waiting, while being sure that Allah عزّ وجلّ will be with you and guide you to make the right choice.

• If you see that the plan works out relatively simply (there may be problems, but normal, ordinary ones), that means it was the right choice. 
• On the other hand, if you encounter significant, repeated difficulties, it may be time to let go of your plan.

The prayer for guidance is a great blessing from Allah  عزّ وجلّ to the Muslim Ummah and it is strongly recommended that you use it whenever you need to make an important and difficult choice.

Learn more about Understanding Duas: The Muslim Prayer for Guidance.