{{Short description|Islamic prayer offered in the interest of seeking guidance on life issues}} {{multiple issues| {{more citations needed|date=September 2013}} {{Expand Arabic|date=July 2024|article=صلاة الاستخارة}} }} {{Islam}} '''Salat al-Istikhaara''' ({{langx|ar|صلاة الاستخارة }}), which translates as Prayer of Seeking Counsel, is a prayer recited by Muslims who seek guidance from God when facing a decision in their life. The prayer, known as salah in Arabic, is performed in two units of prayer or ''raka'ah'' followed by the supplication of ''Salat al-Istikhaara''. It was revealed as a permissible substitute of belomancy and augury, which is haram in Islam, and was common in pre-Islamic Arabia.
== In Quran == {{Quote|Your Lord creates and chooses whatever He wills—the choice is not theirs. Glorified and Exalted is Allah above what they associate ˹with Him˺!|Quran 28:68<ref name=mrm/>}}
==Historical example== After the death of Muhammad, the method of digging his grave was selected through istikhara.<ref> Ibn Majah 1557, Ahmad 12007</ref> During the reign of Yazid ibn Muawiyah, Ibn Jubayr decided to rebuild the Kaaba after three days of istikhara.<ref>Sahih Muslim 3115 (Islamic Foundation Bangladesh)</ref>
==Description of the prayer== The description of Salat al-Istikhaara which translates to "Prayer of Seeking Counsel" was narrated by the well known disciple of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Jabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah al-Salami, who said:<ref>Sahih Bukhari, Book 19, Chapter 25, Hadith 1162</ref>
<blockquote> The Messenger of Allah used to teach his companions to seek counsel from Allah (Istikhaara) in all things, just as he used to teach them chapters from the Qur'an. He said:
'If any one of you is concerned about a decision he has to make or wants to take an action then let him pray two units ''raka'ah'' of voluntary salah prayer and say:
"O Allah, I seek Your counsel through Your knowledge and I seek Your assistance through Your might and I ask You from Your immense favour, for verily You alone decree our fate while I do not, and You know while I do not, and You alone possess all knowledge of the Unseen. O Allah, if You know this matter ( mention matter here ) to be good for me in relation to my religion, my life and livelihood and the end of my affairs, my present and future, then decree it for me and facilitate it for me, and then place blessing for me within it, and if You know this affair to be harmful for me concerning my religion, my life and livelihood and the end of my affairs, then remove it from me and remove me from it, and decree for me what is good, wherever it may be, and make me content with it."' </blockquote>
Another translation is as follows:<ref>Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa'i, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, and Ahmad</ref> <blockquote> O Allah, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] 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. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me both in this world and the hereafter, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next), then turn me away from it, [and turn it away from me], and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it. </blockquote> {{ quote|Muhammad ibn Bashar (may Allah be pleased with him).{{nbs}}... Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) intended to do something, he would say: (O Allah, make my action good and choose for me a good action). |Tirmidhi 3516, Grade: Weak (Darus Salam: Zubair Ali Zai) Da’eef, Da’eefah 1515 Grade: Very weak (Albani)<ref group=note>The hadith is weak. We do not know anything about this hadith except from the narration of Janfal (may Allah be pleased with him). According to the hadith scholars, he is Da’eef. He is called Janfal ibn Abdullah al-Arafi. He used to live in Arafa. He narrated this hadith alone, and he has no supporters. /Abu ‘Eesa said: This hadith is weak. We only know this hadith from the narration of Janfal. He is weak according to the scholars of hadith. He is also called Janfal ibn Abdullah al-Arafi because he lived in the area of `Arafat. He narrated this hadith alone and he has no supporters in his narration of this hadith. Shaykh Zubair Ali Za'i concluded that the hadith is weak due to the presence of a specific narrator who is considered unreliable in transmitting hadith. The Weak Narrator: The primary reason for the weakness is the presence of Zanfal ibn 'Abdullah (زنفل بن عبد الله) in the chain. Scholarly Assessment: Zanfal is considered weak or rejected in narration (ḍa'īf or matrūk) by most classical scholars of Jarḥ wa al-Ta'dīl (disparagement and validation of narrators). Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy upon him) graded this particular narration as Da'if (Weak). Specific References: * Primary Grading Source: * Book Title: Silsilat al-Ahādīth aḍ-Ḍa‘īfah wal-Mawḍū‘ah (Chain of Weak and Fabricated Hadith). * Hadith Number: No. 3591 (Note: Numbering can vary slightly by edition). * Commentary: Shaykh Al-Albani mentioned the hadith and graded it as Da'if Jiddan (Very Weak), primarily due to the weakness of one of the narrators in the chain named Zanfal ibn Abdullah al-'Arafi. * Compilation Source (Where the hadith is found): * Book Title: Jami' at-Tirmidhi * Hadith Number: No. 3516 * Cross-Reference in other Al-Albani works: * Book Title: Da'if al-Jāmi' aṣ-Ṣaghīr wa Ziyādatih * Hadith Number: No. 5430, according to Shaykh Al-Albani's comprehensive methodology, this specific wording is not authenticated to be relied upon due to issues in its chain of narration (sanad). </ref>}} Umar told this quote as supplication of Istikhara, {{Quote|اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ عَلِمْتَ فِيهِ خَيْرًا فَأَمْضِهِ, (allahumma in alimta feehi khairan fa-'amdih(i)) O Allah, if you know good in it, then make it done.<ref name=Khalid/><ref name=qsa>{{cite web |title=القرآن الكريم - تفسير ابن كثير - تفسير سورة النساء - الآية 176 |url=https://quran.ksu.edu.sa/tafseer/katheer/sura4-aya176.html |website=quran.ksu.edu.sa |access-date=7 August 2025}}</ref>}}
==Conditions of the prayer== Istikhara salat is prayed in case of seeking counsel about a matter, whereas either the action is worthy for oneself or the person is worthy of the action, as Zaynab bint Jahsh prayed istikhara at the marriage proposal from prophet Muhammad, to ascertain whether she herself was worthy for the prophet, as scholars explain.
One must wash themselves ahead of the ''Salat al-Istikharah'', in the same manner as one would do when entering into any salah.
Ibn Hajr said, commenting on this hadith: "Istikharah is a word which means asking Allah to help one make a choice, meaning choosing the best of two things where one needs to choose one of them."
With the salaa completed one should immediately say the supplication of ''Istikhaara''.
Istikhaara is done when a decision is to be made in matters which are neither obligatory nor prohibited. So one does not need to seek counsel from Allah for deciding whether he should go for hajj or not. Because if he is financially and physically able to do it then hajj is obligatory and he does not have a choice. But seeking counsel from Allah (''Istikhaara'') can be done in all kind of other permissible matters where a choice needs to be made such as buying something, taking a job, or choosing a spouse etc.
It is recorded in hadith that Muhammad used to teach his disciples to seek counsel from Allah (''Istikhaara'') for every matter just as he used to teach them the Sürah from the Qur'an.<ref>Sahih Al Bukhari, Book 97, Chapter 10, Hadith no. 7390</ref> Scholars said that istikhara salat is any of two rakah prayers outside fard salat (The obligatory prayer), either it is sunnah or nafl, and during menstruation,<ref>{{cite book |title=Can we pray Istikhara without praying the 2 rakat Nafl? What if a woman is on Menses? {{!}}AssimAlHakeem |date=30 January 2021 |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=4TLJMluLh5-ofG7J&v=3lZiav-9ztk&feature=youtu.be |access-date=11 December 2025}}</ref> women can pray the supplication without prayer and also one can perform this salat in forbidden time in case of emergency.
==Range== It is recommended for all acts except the fard and the haram, and the scholars have forbidden any act to be considered unnecessary for Istikhara, because even a small matter can have important consequences, and even a small matter can cause harm. Because Muhammad said take the Lord's advice even in the matter of tying shoelaces.<ref>{{cite web |title=Praying Istikharah in all one's affairs - Islam Question & Answer |url=https://islamqa.info/en/answers/112151/praying-istikharah-in-all-ones-affairs |website=Islam-QA |access-date=12 April 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3604j - Chapters on Supplication - كتاب الدعوات عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) |url=https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3604j |website=sunnah.com |access-date=12 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mishkat al-Masabih 2251, 2252 - Supplications - كتاب الدعوات - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) |url=https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2251 |website=sunnah.com}}</ref> Istikhara is also prescribed for taking Islamic political decisions where the solution can not be found in Quran and hadith clearly.<ref>{{cite web |title=حكم الاستخارة في مسائل شرعية لا يُدرَى وجه الصواب فيها |url=https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/239518/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%8A%D9%8F%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%8E%D9%89-%D9%88%D8%AC%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%A7 |website=www.islamweb.net |access-date=3 August 2025 |language=ar}}</ref> Tahir ibn Husayn advised to his son Abdallah ibn Tahir after he had become a governor of Diyar Rabi'a: {{Quote|Whenever a matter of importance comes upon you, seek assistance in it by making istikharah to Allah and fearing him... and perform istikhara abundantly in all your matters.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ansa |first1=Muhammad |title=Istikhara - In The Light Of The Sunnah |date=1 January 2014 |publisher=Turath Publishing |isbn=978-1-906949-27-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uxCsEAAAQBAJ |access-date=8 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=كتاب : تاريخ الرسل والملوك 29 |url=https://www.islamicbook.ws/tarekh/tarikh-alrsl-029.html |website=www.islamicbook.ws |access-date=8 August 2025}}</ref>}}
==Language== The original Arabic text is below, followed by transliteration using Latin characters.
It is also essential is that the reader's heart is sincerely rendered humble to God in full reliance and trust: {{quote|text={{lang|ar| اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ}}}}
Allahumma innee astakheeruka bi ilmika wa-astaqdiruka biqudratika wa-as'aluka min fadhlika al-adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru walaa aqdiru. Wa ta'lamu walaa a'lamu wa anta 'alamul ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal-amra (mention your concern) khayrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma'aashiy wa-'aaqibati amriy, faqdur hu liy wa-'yassir hu- liy thumma baarik liy feehi. Wa in-kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal amra sharrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma'aashiy wa-'aaqibati amriy. Fa-srifhu 'annee wa-srifni 'anhu. Wa aqdur lial khayra haythu kaana thumma a-rdhiniy bihee<ref>Sahih Bukhari, Book 19, Chapter 25, Hadith 1162</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Istikhara |url=https://muslimato.com/istikhara/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Muslimato |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Istishara== Istishara (Arabic: الاستشارة) literally means seeking counsel or consultation. In Islamic practice, it refers to consulting a trustworthy and knowledgeable person before or after making a decision. Allah commands consultation in the Quran:
''"And consult them in the matter"'' — Quran 3:159
The Prophet Muhammad himself regularly consulted his companions in important matters, demonstrating that seeking human wisdom alongside divine guidance is encouraged in Islam
==Repetition== One can perform this salat as many times as desired while his doubt about the action persists. Scholars suggest that the narration of praying seven times or seven days is weak, therefore the number of praying in case of doubt is not limited, as Caliph Omar did Istikhara for one month before requesting Abu Bakr for canonizing the Quran because he feared that it would be a Bidah as prophet Muhammad neither did it himself nor ordered to do it. But after doing istikhara for one month he became surely convinced to take decision to do it.<ref name=mrm>{{cite web |title=ইস্তিখারার সালাত (পর্ব - ১) Salat-l-Istikhara {{!}} শায়খ মতীউর রহমান মাদানী {{!}} Motiur Rahman Madani |publisher= YouTube|trans-title= |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=O8-7eLgtxDbSrtHP&v=VaqOEz-uwO8|access-date=14 July 2024 |date=10 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ইস্তিখারার সালাত পর্ব - 2 by শায়খ মতীউর রহমান মাদানী (37:40-39:08) |publisher= YouTube|trans-title= |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=QcyblkS2aSYgWc2x&v=1meh5Ymy2Xw |date=4 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ص112 - أرشيف ملتقى أهل الحديث - حكم تكرار الاستخارة - المكتبة الشاملة الحديثة |url=https://al-maktaba.org/book/31621/6614#p6 |website=al-maktaba.org |access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref> Omar bin Khattab sought to collect hadith and did istikhara for a month and cancelled the decision in fear of it being mixed with Quran.<ref>{{cite web |title=ص226 - كتاب بحوث في تاريخ السنة المشرفة - كتابة الحديث في جيل الصحابة - المكتبة الشاملة |url=https://shamela.ws/book/8674/243 |website=shamela.ws|publisher=Al-Maktaba Al-Shamela|access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref><ref name=Khalid>{{cite web |last1=al-Hayek |first1=Khalid |author1-link=:ur:خالد الحایک |title=«الإنارَة والاِسْتِنَارَة» فِي بيان الاختلاف بين الإِمامين أحمد والبخاريّ في «حَدِيثِ الِاسْتِخَارَة»! |url=https://addyaiya.com/content.php?page-id=492&v=01f7743c |website=addyaiya.com |access-date=6 August 2025 |quote=وما جاء في بعض الآثار أن بعض الصحابة كان يستخير لأمر ما كما فعل عمر في جمع القرآن استخار الله شهراً فهذا يعني الاستخارة بالمعنى اللغوي وهو طلب الخيرة، أي أنه دعا شهراً لذلك الأمر حتى شرح الله صدره له، وليس الاستخارة هنا ما جاء في هيئة الحديث من صلاة ركعتين والدعاء المخصوص فيه!!!... ما جاء في بعض الآثار أن بعض الصحابة كان يستخير لأمر ما كما فعل عمر في جمع القرآن استخار الله شهراً فهذا يعني الاستخارة بالمعنى اللغوي وهو طلب الخيرة، أي أنه دعا شهراً لذلك الأمر حتى شرح الله صدره له، وليس الاستخارة هنا ما جاء في هيئة الحديث من صلاة ركعتين والدعاء المخصوص فيه!!! ورُوي أنه كان يَسْتَخِيرُ اللَّهَ في الأمر ويَقُولُ: «اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ عَلِمْتَ فِيهِ خَيْرًا فَأَمْضِهِ». 29 استخدم أهل العلم عبارة "أستخير الله" في بعض الرواة ونحو ذلك أيضاً بالمعنى اللغوي بإمعان النظر حتى يصل لرأي فيه. (What is mentioned in some narrations that some of the companions used to seek guidance from Allah for a certain matter, as ‘Umar did in collecting the Quran, seeking guidance from Allah for a month. This means seeking guidance in the linguistic sense, which is asking for the best. That is, he supplicated for a month for that matter until Allah opened his heart to it. The istikhara here is not what is mentioned in the hadith form of praying two rak’ahs and the specific supplication for it!!! What is mentioned in some narrations that some of the companions used to seek guidance from Allah for a certain matter, as ‘Umar did in collecting the Quran, seeking guidance from Allah for a month. This means seeking guidance from Allah in the linguistic sense, which is asking for the best. That is, he supplicated for a month for that matter until Allah opened his heart to it. The istikhara here is not what is mentioned in the hadith form of praying two rak’ahs and the specific supplication for it!!! It was narrated that he used to seek guidance from Allah in the matter and say: "O Allah, if You know good in it, then carry it out." 29 Scholars used the phrase "I seek guidance from Allah" in some narrations and the like also in the linguistic sense with careful consideration until arriving at an opinion on it.) |trans-title="Enlightenment and Illumination" in explaining the difference between Imam Ahmad and Imam Bukhari regarding the “Hadith of Istikhara”!}}</ref> Abd al-Razzaaq narrated in al-Musannaf (10/301) from Ibn al-Musayyib that, "‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab wrote a document about the grandfather and kalaalah (issues of inheritance when a grandfather of the deceased was still living, or if the deceased left behind no children), and he continued to pray istikhaarah, saying, "O Allaah, if You know that there is some good in it then let it be." Then when he was stabbed he called for the document, and erased it, and no one knew what was in it. He said: "I wrote something about the grandfather and kalaalah, and I prayed istikhaarah asking Allaah for guidance, then I decided to leave you as you are now."<ref name=g>{{cite web |title=Istikhaarah asking to be guided to the more correct of two scholarly opinions – Islam Question & Answer |url=https://islamqa.info/en/answers/112154/istikhaarah-asking-to-be-guided-to-the-more-correct-of-two-scholarly-opinions |website=Islam-QA |access-date=3 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=qsa /> Imam Bukhari before writing each Hadith in his Sahih Bukhari, performed ablution, prayed two rakats and made Istikhara. If there was any doubt in his heart about the hadith then he would not have written it in Sahih Bukhari even though the hadith is authentic according to the conditions. Thus sitting in Masjid an-Nabawi, he started writing it and worked on this work for 16 consecutive years.<ref>{{cite news |last1= উল্লাহ |first1=সাখাওয়াত |title=সহিহ বুখারিতে যেভাবে হাদিস সংকলন করা হয়েছে |trans-title= |url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/online/Islamic-lifestylie/2024/03/08/1369839 |access-date=3 February 2025 |work=www.kalerkantho.com}}</ref> Al-Shafii said in Kitab al-Umm that, "It was said that zakaah is due on jewellery for personal use, and this is what I pray istikhaarah about, asking Allaah for guidance. Al-Rabee’ said: He prayed istikhaarah, asking Allaah for guidance concerning it, and al-Shaafa’i said: There is no zakaah on jewellery for personal use."<ref name=g /> Muhaddith Ibn Hibban in al-Majrooheen says (1/194), "Bahz ibn Mu’aawiyah ibn Heedah al-Qushayri, one of the people of Basrah, who narrated from his father, from his grandfather; al-Thawri and Hammaad ibn Salamah narrated from him. He made many mistakes. As for Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem (may Allaah have mercy on him), they quoted him as evidence and narrated from him, but a number of our imams ignored him. Were it not for the hadeeth, "We will take them [the camels that are due as zakaah] and half of his camels as the due of our Lord", I would have included him among the thiqaat (trustworthy). He is one of those concerning whom I pray istikhaarah, asking Allaah for guidance."<ref name=g />
==Signs of acceptance== There are two sign of the result of istikhara * The heart will feel ease for the action, either negative or positive<ref name="Is">{{cite web |title=Istikharah Signs - Islam Question & Answer |url=https://islamqa.info/en/answers/5882/istikharah-signs |website=Islam-QA |access-date=3 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref> * if the circumstance become easy, then it will be the sign of positivity from Allah, and if the circumstance become difficult or hard, then it will be the sign of negativity from Allah Scholars say that there are some common superstitions that certain things should be done to obtain a result through istikhara, such as sleeping and seeking signs in dreams, which they reject as there are no trustworthy references in Quran or Hadith about that.<ref name="Is"/>
==Popular culture== * ''Tebyan Stories'' (2017) includes a short film named "Istikhara".<ref>{{cite news |title=اپیزودهای قصه های تبیان در حال ساخت است |url=https://snn.ir/fa/news/406531/%D8%A7%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA |access-date=4 May 2026 |work=fa |date=3 May 2015 |language=fa}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=الفيلم الإيراني ( استخارة ) - مترجم للعربية |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=00-hu7-FIspFR7d5&v=QSQBCXwcB68&feature=youtu.be |access-date=4 May 2026 |date=29 November 2025}}</ref> * 2015 Pakistani drama series ''Khuda Dekh Raha Hai'' is made based on the concept of Istikhara.
==See also== * Moderation in Islam * Shura * Maslaha
==Note== {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Wikiquote}} {{Islamic prayer}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Salah terminology Category:Decision-making