2 Istikhara

After performing Wudu, face towards the Qibla and stand straight so that there is a gap of at least four fingers between your feet. Keep your eyes at the place of prostration. You do not need to say it out loud, but you should know the type and number of rakaat of the prayer you are going to offer. An example would be to think like

"I have presented myself in front of Allah to offer 2 Rakaat Istikhara of the Istikhara Prayer, for Allah, facing towards Kaaba"

Raise your hands’ palms facing towards Kaaba, up till your thumbs touch ear lobes at bottom and leave the rest of the fingers in their normal state, don't join them together or spread them apart. Say Allahu Akbar as your hands leave ears and fold your hands under the navel.

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

Eyes should be focused at the place of prostration

Tie your hands below the navel in the way that the right hand’s thumb and small finger form a circle in which they hold the wrist of the left hand so that the palm of the right hand stays on the back-side of the left hand. Then recite “thana”:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ اِلهَ غَيْرُك

Subhaana Kal-Laahumma wa Bi-Hamdika wa Tabaarakasmuka wa Ta’ala Jadduka Walaa Ilaaha Ghaie-ruk

All glory is due to YOU, O’ ALLAH! And all praise is due to YOU, and YOUR name is the most blessed, and YOUR majesty is highly exalted and there is none worthy of worship except You

Eyes should be focused at the place of prostration Then recite tawwuz;

اَعُوْذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمْ

a’auodu billaahi minash-shaytaanir rajeem

‘I seek Allah's protection from Satan who is accursed’

Then recite tasmiyah;

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

bis-millaahir rahmaanir raheem

‘In the name of Allah, the Most Kind and the Most Merciful’

Then recite Surah Fatiha;

الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهدِنَــــاالصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْغَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّين

al-hamdu lillaahi, rabbil’aalameen, arrahmaanir raheem maaliki yawmideen, iyyaaka na-budo wa-iyyaaka nasta’een, ihdinassiraatalmustaqeem, siraatalladheena an’amta alayhim, ghayril maghduobi’alayhim, waladduaaalleen

‘All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Most Kind, the Most Merciful. The Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship and to You alone we pray for help. Show us the straight path, the way of those whom You have favoured, and not of those who have deserved Your anger and gone astray’

Then recite Surah Ikhlas;

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Qul huwal-lahu ahad alluhus-samad Lam yalid wa lam yulad Wa lam yakul-lahu kuhuwan ahad

‘Say: He is Allah, the only one. Allah helps and does not need help. He does not produce a child and nor was He born of anyone. There is none equal to Him’

While bending, without raising arms and hands say:

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

Grasp the knees with the hands and spread your fingers over the knees. Bend your body so that your back is straight, not arching it (back and head should be in a 90 degree angle with your legs) and keep your sight at your feet. Ensure to bend your arms with your body.Once you are bent to the proper angle, say (three or more odd times):

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ

Subhanna Rabbeyal Azeem

Glorified is my Lord, the most great

Rise up from ruku, leaving the hands hanging at the side and recite (while standing up):

سَمِعَ اللَّهُلِمَنْ حَمِدَه

Samey - Allahu - leman – Hameda

Allah listens to him who praises Him

And then at standing position also say:

رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana Lakal Hamd

O’ our SUSTAINER! All Praise is due to YOU Alone

Whilst going down for sajdah, say: "Allahu Akbar” without raising your hands up.

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

i) First touch your knees to the ground followed by the hands. ii) Put your hands with fingers pointed towards Qibla, at the side of the place where you are going to put your head and keep your hands flat close to your ears. iii) Then place your head by first placing your nose on the ground and then your forehead. iv) Keep your arms away from your body and raise by not letting them rest on the ground. v) Leave a gap between your armpits and make sure that there is a gap between your thighs and your stomach. vi) Place all your toes so that their tips are pointing towards the Qibla and their bases are flat on the ground. When you are positioned fully, say (three or more odd times):

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ لْأَعْلَى

Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Alla

Glorified is my Lord, the most high

Rise from the sajdah, first lifting your forehead then your nose then your face and then your hands. Lay your left foot along the ground and sit on it and your left thigh, place your right foot upright erected (vertical) and point its toes towards the qibla. Place your hands with palms flat on thighs and the base of the fingertips laid flat at the end of your kneecaps, pointing towards qibla. Whilst doing this say;

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَارْحَمْنِيْ وَاهْدِنِيْ وَعَافِنِيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ وَاجْبُرْنِيْ وَارْفَعْنِي

Allahuma’ghfirlee warham’nee wahdee’nee wa’afinee warzuq’nee wajbur’nee warfaa’nee

O Allah Forgive me. Have mercy on me, grant me wellbeing, guide me, grant me subsistence, repair my losses, and grant me a high position.

Whilst going down for sajdah, say: "Allahu Akbar” without raising your hands up.

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

i) First touch your knees to the ground followed by the hands. ii) Put your hands with fingers pointed towards Qibla, at the side of the place where you are going to put your head and keep your hands flat close to your ears. iii) Then place your head by first placing your nose on the ground and then your forehead. iv) Keep your arms away from your body and raise by not letting them rest on the ground. v) Leave a gap between your armpits and make sure that there is a gap between your thighs and your stomach. vi) Place all your toes so that their tips are pointing towards the Qibla and their bases are flat on the ground. When you are positioned fully, say (three or more odd times):

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ لْأَعْلَى

Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Alla

Glorified is my Lord, the most high

Rise from the sajdah by placing your hands on your knees and stand upright (don't put your hands on the ground to assist you to stand up). While rising from 2nd sajdah, without raising hands say;

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

Eyes should be focused at the place of prostration image Tie your hands below the navel in the way that the right hand’s thumb and small finger form a circle in which they hold the wrist of the left hand so that the palm of the right hand stays on the back-side of the left hand. Then recite tasmiyah;

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

bis-millaahir rahmaanir raheem

‘In the name of Allah, the Most Kind and the Most Merciful’

Then recite Surah Fatiha;

الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهدِنَــــاالصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْغَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّين

al-hamdu lillaahi, rabbil’aalameen, arrahmaanir raheem maaliki yawmideen, iyyaaka na-budo wa-iyyaaka nasta’een, ihdinassiraatalmustaqeem, siraatalladheena an’amta alayhim, ghayril maghduobi’alayhim, waladduaaalleen

‘All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Most Kind, the Most Merciful. The Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship and to You alone we pray for help. Show us the straight path, the way of those whom You have favoured, and not of those who have deserved Your anger and gone astray’

Then recite Surah Ikhlas;

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Qul huwal-lahu ahad alluhus-samad Lam yalid wa lam yulad Wa lam yakul-lahu kuhuwan ahad

‘Say: He is Allah, the only one. Allah helps and does not need help. He does not produce a child and nor was He born of anyone. There is none equal to Him’

While bending, without raising arms and hands say:

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

Grasp the knees with the hands and spread your fingers over the knees. Bend your body so that your back is straight, not arching it (back and head should be in a 90 degree angle with your legs) and keep your sight at your feet. Ensure to bend your arms with your body.Once you are bent to the proper angle, say (three or more odd times):

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ

Subhanna Rabbeyal Azeem

Glorified is my Lord, the most great

Rise up from ruku, leaving the hands hanging at the side and recite (while standing up):

سَمِعَ اللَّهُلِمَنْ حَمِدَه

Samey - Allahu - leman – Hameda

Allah listens to him who praises Him

And then at standing position also say:

رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana Lakal Hamd

O’ our SUSTAINER! All Praise is due to YOU Alone

Whilst going down for sajdah, say: "Allahu Akbar” without raising your hands up.

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

i) First touch your knees to the ground followed by the hands. ii) Put your hands with fingers pointed towards Qibla, at the side of the place where you are going to put your head and keep your hands flat close to your ears. iii) Then place your head by first placing your nose on the ground and then your forehead. iv) Keep your arms away from your body and raise by not letting them rest on the ground. v) Leave a gap between your armpits and make sure that there is a gap between your thighs and your stomach. vi) Place all your toes so that their tips are pointing towards the Qibla and their bases are flat on the ground. When you are positioned fully, say (three or more odd times):

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ لْأَعْلَى

Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Alla

Glorified is my Lord, the most high

Rise from the sajdah, first lifting your forehead then your nose then your face and then your hands. Lay your left foot along the ground and sit on it and your left thigh, place your right foot upright erected (vertical) and point its toes towards the qibla. Place your hands with palms flat on thighs and the base of the fingertips laid flat at the end of your kneecaps, pointing towards qibla. Whilst doing this say;

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَارْحَمْنِيْ وَاهْدِنِيْ وَعَافِنِيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ وَاجْبُرْنِيْ وَارْفَعْنِي

Allahuma’ghfirlee warham’nee wahdee’nee wa’afinee warzuq’nee wajbur’nee warfaa’nee

O Allah Forgive me. Have mercy on me, grant me wellbeing, guide me, grant me subsistence, repair my losses, and grant me a high position.

Whilst going down for sajdah, say: "Allahu Akbar” without raising your hands up.

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

i) First touch your knees to the ground followed by the hands. ii) Put your hands with fingers pointed towards Qibla, at the side of the place where you are going to put your head and keep your hands flat close to your ears. iii) Then place your head by first placing your nose on the ground and then your forehead. iv) Keep your arms away from your body and raise by not letting them rest on the ground. v) Leave a gap between your armpits and make sure that there is a gap between your thighs and your stomach. vi) Place all your toes so that their tips are pointing towards the Qibla and their bases are flat on the ground. When you are positioned fully, say (three or more odd times):

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ لْأَعْلَى

Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Alla

Glorified is my Lord, the most high

Say “Allahu Akbar” while rising up from 2nd sajdah of second rak'at. Sit properly in Jalsa posture described in Jalsa step and recite following;

اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ا لِلَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُه ط اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ ا لِلَّهِ الصّلِحِيْنَ ~ اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لاَّ اِلهَ اِلاَّ اللَّهُوَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Attta-hee-yaatu Lillaahi was-Salawaatu wat-Taie-yi-baatu As-Salaamu ‘Alaika Aie-yu-han Nabeeyu wa Rahmatul Laahi wa Barak'atu As-Salaamu ‘Alaienaa wa ‘Alaa ‘Ibaadil Laahis-Saaleheen Aashhadu Allaa Ilaaha Illal-Laahu wa Aashhadu Aanna Muhammadan ‘Abduhu wa Rasulu

O’ ALLAH! YOU Alone deserve all Veneration, Worship and Glory. O Prophet! Peace be on you and the Mercy of ALLAH and HIS Blessings. Peace be upon us and on righteous servants of ALLAH. I bear witness that none is worthy of Worship except ALLAH and I bear witness that Muhammad is HIS servant and Messenger.

At the time of the words Aashhadu, fold the little and ring finger (of the right hand) inwards and form a circle with the middle finger and thumb. Point the index finger towards qibla by lifting up when saying 'Lâ ilâha' and should be lowered back when saying 'ill Allah', then open the circle and keep your hand straight on thighs. OR Point the index finger towards qibla by lifting up when saying 'Lâ ilâha' and should be lowered back when saying 'ill Allah', without opening the circle and keeping fingers in folded form. Both options are correct either to open the circle or just drop the finger without opening the circle, so it can be performed in either ways. After Tashahud, Durood Shareef must be recited in the last rak'at of the Prayer:

اَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى اِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ اَللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى اِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ

Allahuumma Saalle ‘Alaa Muhammadin wa ‘Alaa Aale Muhammadin Kamaa Sallaietaa ‘Alaa Ibraaheema wa ‘Alaa Aale Ibraahema Innaka Hamee-dum Maajiid Allahumma Barek ‘Alaa Muhammadin wa ‘Alaa Aale Muhammadin Kamaa Baarak'ata ‘Alaa Ibraaheema wa ‘Alaa Aale Ibraaheema Innaka Hamee-dum Maajiid

O’ ALLAH, let YOUR Peace come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as YOU have brought Peace to Ibrahim and his family. Truly, YOU are PRAISEWORTHY and GLORIOUS. O’ ALLAH, Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as YOU have Blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, YOU are PRAISEWORTHY and GLORIOUS.

After Durood, recite this dua:

رَبِّ ٱجعَلنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّل دُعَآءِرَ‌بَّنَا اغْفِرْ‌ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

rabbi jaalni muqeemassalati wa min zurriyyati rabbana wataqabbal dua Rabbanaghfirli wali wali daiyya wa lil moominina youma yaqoomul hisaab

O Lord, Make me and my children steadfast in Salah, Our Lord accept the prayer Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day of Judgment.

After reciting dua, face towards the right direction,sight on shoulder and say:

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ا لِلَّهِ

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah’

Then facing towards the left direction, sight on shoulder and say:

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ا لِلَّهِ

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah’

After Salam, you have completed 2 nafal rakaats of Istakhara prayer. Now recite the following dua:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ

allaahumma innee astakheeruka bi-‛ilmik, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratik, wa as’aluka min faḍlik-al-‛aẓeem, fa innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdir, wa ta‛lamu wa laa a‛lam, wa anta ‛allaam-ul-ghuyoob, allaahumma in kunta ta‛lamu anna (haadhal-amra) khayrun lee fee deenee wa ma‛aashee wa ‛aaqibati amree, faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee, thumma baarik lee feeh, wa in kunta ta‛lamu anna (haadhal-amra) sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma‛aashee wa ‛aaqibati amree, faṣrifhu ‛annee waṣ-rifnee ‛anhu waqdur liyal-khayra ḥaythu kaana, thumma arḍinee bih