Istikhara Dua
Dua 1: Dua of Istikhara
Jabir ibn Abdullah I reported: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us Istikhara in all our affairs just as he would teach us a surah from the Qur’an. He said: ‘When any one of you intends to do something, he should perform two rakʿahs of voluntary salah, then say:’”
The Prophet ﷺ then instructed the person to mention their need.
| Reference | Al-Bukhari (1166), Abu Dawud (1538), At-Tirmidhi (480) |
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How to Perform Istikhara
Istikhara is performed when seeking Allah’s guidance in a matter. Jabir ibn Abdullah I reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught his Companions to perform Istikhara in all their affairs, just as he taught them a surah from the Qur’an.
To perform Istikhara, pray two rak’ahs of voluntary salah and then recite the Istikhara dua above, mentioning the matter for which you are seeking guidance.
According to Imam al-Nawawi, the two rak’ahs may be prayed specifically for Istikhara or as part of another voluntary prayer. He also recommends reciting Surah al-Kafirun in the first rak’ah and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second.
If a person is unable to perform salah, they may make the Istikhara dua on its own. It is also recommended to begin the dua by praising Allah and sending Salawat upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
After performing Istikhara, one should proceed with the matter towards which the heart inclines.
Dua 2: A Short Dua for Seeking Allah's Choice
Abu Bakr I reported that when the Prophet ﷺ wanted to undertake something, he would say:
| Reference | At-Tirmidhi (3516) |
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