How to pray Istikhara
Istikhara is the prayer Muslims make when weighing a decision. Two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer, followed by a specific dua the Prophet ﷺ taught. It is not an oracle, it is a request for guidance and alignment with what is best. After the dua, you trust Allah's arrangement and act on what feels right, watching how the matter unfolds.
Any valid time for voluntary prayer
Either aloud or silent.
2 voluntary
Not at the forbidden times (after Fajr until sunrise, at noon, or after Asr until sunset). Best just before sleeping, so that the dua is the last thing before rest.
Step by step
Every section below is one position in the prayer. Read top to bottom, then repeat for each rakaʿa.
Prayed before any major decision. Recite silently. After the closing salām, raise your hands and recite the dua of Istikhāra mentioning your matter.
- Intention before the prayerNiyyah
After performing wuḍū' (ablution), stand straight on your feet, turn to the qiblah, and make the following intention in your heart:
"For the sake of Allah, I intend to pray the farḍ of Istikhāra, the obligatory Istikhāra prayer, consisting of 2 rakaʿāt."
The intention is made silently in the heart. Voicing it is not required.
- The opening takbirTakbir
Raise your hands and say:
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
The prayer begins. After this, fold your hands.
- Dua Sana· 1st rakʿa onlyQiyām
Place your right hand over your left and say silently:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ ٱسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānak-Allāhumma wa biḥamdik, wa tabārak-asmuk, wa taʿālā jadduk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god worthy of worship besides You.
- Dua Isti'adhaQiyām
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم
Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.
- Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 1st rakʿaQiyām
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين
Māliki yawm-id-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.
آمِين
Āmīn
(Said softly) Amen.
- A short surah· 1st rakʿaQiyām
Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَد
Qul huwallāhu aḥad
Say: He is Allah, the One.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَد
Allāhuṣ-ṣamad
Allah, the Eternal, the Self-Sufficient.
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَد
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
He neither begets nor is born.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَد
Wa lam yakun lahū kufuwan aḥad
And there is none comparable to Him.
- Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ
Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
Repeat 3× - Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl
Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:
سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears those who praise Him.
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد
Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.
- First prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Sitting up between sajdasJalsa
Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Second prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Stand up for the 2nd rakʿaTakbir
Say takbir as you rise. Fold your hands and continue.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Dua Isti'adhaQiyām
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم
Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.
- Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 2nd rakʿaQiyām
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين
Māliki yawm-id-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.
آمِين
Āmīn
(Said softly) Amen.
- A short surah· 2nd rakʿaQiyām
Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَد
Qul huwallāhu aḥad
Say: He is Allah, the One.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَد
Allāhuṣ-ṣamad
Allah, the Eternal, the Self-Sufficient.
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَد
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
He neither begets nor is born.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَد
Wa lam yakun lahū kufuwan aḥad
And there is none comparable to Him.
- Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ
Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
Repeat 3× - Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl
Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:
سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears those who praise Him.
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد
Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.
- First prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Sitting up between sajdasJalsa
Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Second prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Final tashahhudTashahhud
Sit upright. Right index finger raised at the shahādah. Recite At-Taḥiyyāt:
ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّٰهِ، وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَات، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلصَّالِحِين، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰه، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُه
At-taḥiyyātu lillāh, was-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al-lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh.
All greetings, prayers, and pure deeds belong to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon all the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
- Ṣalāt al-Ibrāhīmiyyah· Durood on the Prophet ﷺTashahhud
ٱللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّد، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد. ٱللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّد، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.
- Final duaTashahhud
Make any sincere dua. A widely-recited one:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَة، وَفِي ٱلْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَة، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّار
Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanah, wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanah, wa qinā ʿadhāban-nār
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
- The closing salāmSalām
Turn your head to the right and say the salām, then to the left and say it again:
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰه
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.
The prayer is complete.
- Dua of Istikhāra· After the closing salāmTashahhud
Raise your hands and recite this dua. When you reach the words 'this matter,' name your specific decision (the job, the marriage, the move, etc.):
ٱللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِن فَضْلِكَ ٱلْعَظِيم، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِر، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَم، وَأَنتَ عَلَّامُ ٱلْغُيُوب
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.
O Allah, I ask You for guidance through Your knowledge, and I ask You for ability through Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. For You decree and I cannot, You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of all that is hidden.
ٱللَّهُمَّ إِن كُنتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَٰذَا ٱلْأَمْر [يُسَمِّى حَاجَتَه] خَيْرٌ لِّى فِى دِينِى وَمَعَاشِى وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِى، فَٱقْدُرْهُ لِى وَيَسِّرْهُ لِى ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِى فِيه. وَإِن كُنتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَٰذَا ٱلْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِّى فِى دِينِى وَمَعَاشِى وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِى، فَٱصْرِفْهُ عَنِّى وَٱصْرِفْنِى عَنْه، وَٱقْدُرْ لِىَ ٱلْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَان، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِى بِه
Allāhumma in kunta taʿlamu anna hādhal-amra [name your matter] khayrun lī fī dīnī wa maʿāshī wa ʿāqibati amrī, 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, faṣrifhu ʿannī waṣrifnī ʿanh, waqdur liyal-khayra ḥaythu kān, thumma arḍinī bih.
O Allah, if You know that this matter (name it) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the consequence of my affair, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the consequence of my affair, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.
Then watch for what unfolds. Allah may make the path forward feel easy, or steer you elsewhere. Repeat the istikhāra if you remain unsure.
A note on variants. Recitations follow the most widely shared Sunnah wording. Some madhabs use slightly different phrasing for Dua Sana, At-Taḥiyyāt, the closing dua, or hand placement during qiyām. All authentic variants are valid, pray in the way your local imam teaches.
What makes Istikhara distinct
- 1
Two rak'ahs, any two surahs of your choice after al-Fatihah.
- 2
Followed by a specific dua (below), in which you name the matter you are deciding.
- 3
Not a dream-request. Some people experience dreams or feelings of inclination, most do not. Either way, you act on what aligns with reason and shari'ah.
- 4
Can be repeated if the matter is still unclear. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged it.
Special steps for Istikhara
The Istikhara dua, said after the 2 rak'ahs
Where you see [this matter], pause and name the specific thing you are asking about (a marriage, a job, a move, etc.). The Prophet ﷺ taught Jabir this dua and said: 'If one of you is considering a matter, let him pray two rak'ahs other than the obligatory, then say...' (Sahih al-Bukhari 1162).
FAQs about Istikhara
Will I see a dream after istikhara?+
Maybe, usually not. Istikhara is a dua for guidance, not an oracle. Most people feel a settling toward one option or the other in the days after. Some see a dream. Either is valid. If you feel nothing clear, proceed with the most reasonable choice and watch how events unfold.
Can I pray istikhara multiple times?+
Yes. If you are still uncertain, pray it again. Scholars have recommended up to seven times for major decisions.
Do I have to name the matter out loud?+
No. Thinking it in your heart at the place marked [this matter] is enough. Allah knows your intention.
Should I consult people before or after istikhara?+
Both are good. Shura (consultation) and istikhara are complementary, not competing. The Prophet ﷺ consulted his companions frequently and made istikhara.
Can I do istikhara for someone else?+
Scholars differ. The safer position is that istikhara is personal because the decision is yours. If you want to help someone else, make general dua for them to be guided, and teach them the istikhara dua.
Learn the full prayer
Every daily prayer builds on the same 2-rak'ah pattern: wudu, the takbir, al-Fatihah, a surah, ruku, sujud, tashahhud, and salam. Learn the complete walkthrough once and every prayer makes sense.