Life, in the Islamic perspective, is a sort of test and trial for the believers. Even in the contemporary world, it is believed that life in this world is marked by continuous struggle. Everyone has to undergo multiple tests and trials during this worldly life. We frequently come across complex and tough situations, where we have multiple choices, which is often a difficult task to select which way to go. Decision making is always a tough ask for the vast majority of people. Even the mentally strongest of persons may find it hard to make the right decision in various difficult situations.
Islam, a practical religion, a complete code of life, provides solutions to all worldly affairs; decision making being one of them. Islam teaches us to seek Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ guidance and mercy in all routine and special matters, including making the right decision in difficult situations. Whether it is a personal matter or related to family, Islam guides us to seek guidance from Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. At times, we have to make critical decisions in matters such as marriage, education, business, work, and relocation of residence, and so on. On any of these occasions, Muslims are encouraged to reach out to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ by reciting a specific Dua for making a decision. This specific Dua is known as “Dua e Istikhara”, in Islamic terminology.
Seeking Allah's guidance in all permissible affairs is supported; rather, emphasized in the Quran in many places, such as the 216th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, which narrates that only Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ knows what is good for you and what is bad.
Translation - You may dislike a thing, yet it may be good for you; or a thing may haply please you but may be bad for you. Only God has knowledge, and you do not know.
Similarly, the 3rd verse of Surah At-Talaq narrates that "God is sufficient for him who places his trust in Him". These verses and many others in the Quran repeatedly encourage believers to keep firm belief in Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, as only He has the knowledge of what is good and what is bad for us. So, performing Istikhara while making a decision in tough and confusing situations is the only reliable and trusted source for believers, as per the Islamic perspective.
Istikhara (استخارہ), an Arabic word, can be translated as “seeking goodness”. It can also be translated as “seeking the best choice”. Hence, it is also referred to as “Dua for guidance in decision making” or “Dua for seeking guidance”. By reciting this Dua, the believers place unconditional trust in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, seeking His guidance for what is the best among the available options, believing that Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is “All Knowing”. In simple words, Istikharah refers to seeking Allah's سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ guidance when a believer is faced with a permissible decision. Through this Dua for guidance from Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, the believers request Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ to guide them toward an option that is best and protect them from what may be harmful.
Dua for choosing the right decision has to be made after a special two Raka’ak prayer, separately from the regular obligatory prayers, which is known as “Salat al-Istikhara” in the Islamic terminology.
The dua for seeking guidance in forming a decision is the perfect way of asking for the counsel of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) while conflicted over a decision. To have Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) on your side is by far the biggest benefit that one could desire for oneself, and this dua is one of the easiest yet effective ways to do that. By reciting this dua, the intention is that Allah will guide you towards the decision that is better for you. The dua for seeking guidance in forming a decision or the dua e Istikhara. This dua is a practical manifestation of a believer yielding to the authority and magnificence of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and acknowledging His limitless knowledge. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to teach this dua to his companions while educating them about the proper method of performing Istikhara. Jabir bin `Abdullah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) narrated this dua and the instance of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) teaching the method of Istikhara in (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166). The same has been reported in (Sunan an-Nasa'i 3253)
Praising Allah Duas
Allaahumma 'innee 'astakheeruka bi'ilmika, wa 'astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa 'as'aluka min fadhtikal-'Adheemi, fa'innaka taqdiru wa laa 'aqdiru, wa ta'lamu, wa laa 'a'lamu, wa 'Anta 'Allaamul-Ghuyoobi, Allaahumma 'in kunta ta'lamu 'anna haathal-'amra-(then mention the thing to be decided) Khayrun lee fee deenee wa ma'aashee wa 'aaqibati 'amree, faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee thumma baarik lee feehi, wa 'in kunta ta'lamu 'anna haathal-'amra sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma'aashee wa 'aaqibati 'amree, fasrifhu 'annee wasrifnee 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kaana thumma 'ardhinee bihi.
O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, You are Capable and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (mention the matter) is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come in both the short term and the long term, then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come in both the short term and the long term, then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and help me to be content with it.
Dua e Istikhara, also referred to as “Dua for confusion and uncertainty," can be offered at any time, after praying two Raka’ah of Nafl prayer, without mixing it with regular daily prayer. Some scholars are of the view that the best time to perform Salat al-Istikhara and make Dua e Istikhara is after the Isha Prayer, before going to sleep. However, the majority consensus is that it can be done at any time. The step-by-step Sunnah procedure to perform Salat al-Istikhara and Dua e Istikhara is as follows:
The Arabic text of Istikhara Dua, as reported in Hadith 1166 of Sahih Al-Bukhari, is as follows:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيـرُكَ بِعِلْمَكَ، وَأسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الَأمْرَ (وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَه) 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 لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Allaahumma 'innee 'astakheeruka bi'ilmika, wa 'astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa 'as'aluka min fadhtikal-'Adheemi, fa'innaka taqdiru wa laa 'aqdiru, wa ta'lamu, wa laa 'a'lamu, wa 'Anta 'Allaamul-Ghuyoobi, Allaahumma 'in kunta ta'lamu 'anna haathal-'amra-(then mention the thing to be decided) Khayrun lee fee deenee wa ma'aashee wa 'aaqibati 'amree, faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee thumma baarik lee feehi, wa 'in kunta ta'lamu 'anna haathal-'amra sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma'aashee wa 'aaqibati 'amree, fasrifhu 'annee wasrifnee 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kaana thumma 'ardhinee bihi.
O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, you are Capable and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter (mention the matter) is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come in both the short term and the long term, then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come in both the short term and the long term, then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and help me to be content with it.
Like any other supplication, Istikhara Dua is also a form of worship, where the reciter formally declares complete trust, surrendering humbly before Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, trusting that He is All Knowing, Merciful, and All-Wise, so He will guide us to what is best for us and what is not. This specific Dua is a declaration of vulnerability, admitting that we are weak in making decisions, so Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ will guide us. Here, we pray that Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ knows what we don't know, Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ is capable, whereas we are not, and that Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ knows all the secrets. Admitting all these, we finally place full trust and confidence in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. If a door is closed after this prayer, it means that option was not feasible for us, and Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ has saved us from harm.
A Believer's cry for need in front of His Lord requires honesty. One should have pure intentions and a firm belief that Allah will guide them towards the correct decision. Moreover, one should accept the decision after performing the istikhara; one should not make the decision that was not chosen by Allah.
The best way to make the dua is by reciting the dua after praying two raka'ahs of non-obligatory prayer as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in the above-mentioned hadith. After reciting the salah, one should recite the istikhara dua and state your need or purpose for istikhara clearly. Allah will guide you toward the right decision; your heart will automatically be more inclined towards one option than the other.
The benefits of the dua are in emphasizing the basic belief of Tawheed. A believer, through the recitation of this dua, hands over his case to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). The believer seeks the guidance of the Almighty through the virtues of omnipotence, knowledge, power, and bounty of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). This carries excellent rewards within itself as performing the Dhikr of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Among the other benefits of this dua is a believer expressing his contentment in the will of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and one's fate. The person also acknowledges the limitless love that the Almighty has for His servants and thus gains peace of heart and mind in knowing that His Lord will choose whatever's best for him and that he will be rewarded in the best way possible.
Dua for Istikhara is specifically mentioned in Hadith 1166 of Sahih Al-Bukhari, as “Allaahumma 'innee 'astakheeruka bi'ilmika, wa 'astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa 'as'aluka min fadhtikal-'Adheemi, fa'innaka taqdiru wa laa 'aqdiru, wa ta'lamu, wa laa 'a'lamu, wa 'Anta 'Allaamul-Ghuyoobi, Allaahumma 'in kunta ta'lamu 'anna haathal-'amra-(then mention the thing to be decided) Khayrun lee fee deenee wa ma'aashee wa 'aaqibati 'amree, faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee thumma baarik lee feehi, wa 'in kunta ta'lamu 'anna haathal-'amra sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma'aashee wa 'aaqibati 'amree, fasrifhu 'annee wasrifnee 'anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kaana thumma 'ardhinee bihi.”
Yes, you can make Istikhara Dua for seeking guidance in making a decision in any permissible matter.
The sole purpose of making Dua Istikhara is to seek guidance and the Will of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, requesting to reach a decision, which is best for us.
No, there is no authentic Quranic or Hadith reference supporting this myth. Guidance will come through favorable circumstances and ease in proceeding with the decision you made after Istikhara.