What does Istikharah mean?
Two rak'ah and a du'a asking Allah to choose what is best in a decision.
Istikharah explained
The Prophet ﷺ taught istikharah as he taught a surah of the Quran. After two voluntary rak'ah the person names the matter and asks Allah to bring it about if it is good and to turn it away if it is not. The answer is in how things unfold, not in a dream.
Related terms
Questions about Istikharah
What does Istikharah mean?
Istikharah (اِسْتِخَارَة, Istikharah) means: Two rak'ah and a du'a asking Allah to choose what is best in a decision.
How is Istikharah written and pronounced in Arabic?
It is written اِسْتِخَارَة and pronounced Istikharah.
Where does Istikharah come from in the Quran or hadith?
The Prophet ﷺ taught istikharah as he taught a surah of the Quran. After two voluntary rak'ah the person names the matter and asks Allah to bring it about if it is good and to turn it away if it is not. The answer is in how things unfold, not in a dream. Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1162.
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