Salat al-Istikharah — The Prayer for Guidance

Definition

Salat al-Istikharah (صلاة الاستخارة) is a two-rak'ah prayer performed when a Muslim faces a significant decision and seeks Allah's guidance. The word istikharah means 'seeking the best outcome.' It is one of the most practical and beloved Sunnah practices, providing believers with a direct means of consulting their Creator on important life decisions.

How to Perform Istikharah

The procedure is straightforward. Perform wudu and pray two voluntary rak'ahs. After completing the prayer, recite the istikharah dua taught by the Prophet. In this dua, the supplicant says: 'O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, and I seek ability through Your power, and I ask You from Your immense favor. For You are able and I am not, You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it' (Bukhari).

Common Misconceptions

Many people believe istikharah requires seeing a dream or a specific sign. This is incorrect. The Sunnah simply involves making the dua and then proceeding with your decision. If Allah facilitates the matter, it is a sign of good. If obstacles repeatedly arise despite reasonable effort, it may indicate that the other option is better. Scholars emphasize that istikharah is not a substitute for rational thinking and consultation (shura) with knowledgeable people. It complements those processes by adding divine guidance to human effort.

When to Perform Istikharah

Istikharah is recommended for any permissible decision where one is uncertain: choosing between job offers, deciding on marriage, selecting a place to live, choosing a course of study, or any other significant choice. It is not performed for obligatory or prohibited matters (one does not need guidance on whether to pray or whether to steal). It can be repeated if one remains uncertain. Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that the Prophet taught them istikharah for all matters just as he taught them surahs from the Quran (Bukhari), indicating its importance in daily life.