Istikhara ki dua is a prayer that Muslims should recite before taking any decision. This dua is a prayer for the person to get an opinion from Allah about his future. If a person knows that any work that he wants to do is best for his religion, sustenance, and the days to come. In this case, he prays to Allah almighty for the blessing, ease, and success of this work.

Whereas if the person knows that this work is bad for his religion, sustenance, and the days to come. Then he prays to Allah to remove this work. In this supplication, a person consults Allah to show this work wherever it fits. In addition, dua e istikhara gives a hint to the person.

Istikhara Ki Dua

Praying dua e istikhara means that before you make a decision for yourself, turn to Allah and ask him for guidance. It shows the decision of Allah on what he advises you to do. Istikaara dua asks Allah to help you and tell you about the work you are going to do. He will determine the right path through his mercy, knowledge, wisdom, and grace.

After praying istikhara ki dua, you will realize Allah’s voluntary decision. After it, you will be able to do your hard work to work or stay away from it. Istikhaara dua is also very useful on those occasions when you are doubtful about something. Or going through a major decision, such as marriage, work choice, or religious decisions, etc.

Istikhara Meaning

Istikhara meaning is very important to understand the consequences of istikhara. The word “istikhara” is derived from the Arabic language which means “to seek opinion” or “to ask for opinion“. Istikhara dua seeks Allah’s opinion so that a person expresses his intention regarding a decision. Moreover, it helps one to seek guidance from Allah for the best solution for himself. Here is istikhara dua in English, Urdu, and Arabic. You can also read Dua e Qunoot to get his unlocking power, effects, and benefits.

Dua e Istikhara in Arabic

“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”

Transliteration

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika wa as’aluka min fadlika al-‘azimi, fa innaka taqdiru walaa aqdiru, wa ta’lamu walaa a’lamu, wa anta ‘allamu-l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta’lamu anna haadha-l-amra khayrun li fi deeni wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri (or ‘ajili amri wa’ajilihi) faqdurhu li wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li fihi, wa in kunta ta’lamu anna haadha-lamra sharrun li fi deeni wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri (or fi ‘ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu ‘anni was-rifni’anhu waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kaana thumma ardini bihi.

Istikhara Dua in English

O Allah, I ask You for the well-being of my circumstances, through Your knowledge and with Your power. I hope in a great deal of Your grace, for You are able to do all things, while I am unable. You know everything, while I don’t know. Allah, if you know that this is good for me, for my religion, livelihood, and for the Hereafter, then make it easy for me. And make it good for me, and bless me in it. And if you know that this work is bad for me, for my religion, livelihood, and for the Hereafter, turn me away from it. And show me the way of distance, and bless me wherever it is good for me.

How to Perform Istikhara?

Muslims do istikhara for several reasons like marriage, business, and other important decisions. Though the reasons are different, the method is the same for all. As a hadith narrated:

Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (R.A) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAWW) said: “When a person seeks the good of his Lord for something, he should pray and then recite the dua of istikhara”. (Sunan-Tirmidhi: 3245)

The method of istikhara is as follows:

1. First, make ablution and stand up for prayer with the intention of tahrima.
2. Pray two rak’ahs.
3. After the second rak’ah, recite Durood Sharif.
4. Think about your prayer and read well about the questions.
5. Then read istikhara ki dua that is mentioned above.
6. After your dua e istikhara, recite Surah Fatiha and any other Surah.
7. Now do whatever is in your heart and what you think is better with the command of Allah Almighty.
8. Remove the feeling within you and leave it in the hands of Allah.
9. After the intention, ask The Almighty to help you choose the best path through his decision.
10. Afterward, complete the prayer and recite salam.
11. Keep full faith in Allah’s will in your istikhara decision.

How to Find the Best Answer?

The answer to istikhara comes from the command of Allah almighty. Sometimes it shows hints very quickly, while sometimes it is late. When a person performs istikhara ki dua, he begs Allah for guidance and judgment. Allaah says in the Qur’an:

“And when one of you prays, we accept his supplication.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 186)

If he realizes that he feels a sign of a pleasant decision, this could be the answer. Similarly, if he realizes that a difficult or bad decision is going to happen for him, it is not good. It may be his answer that Allah has not approved his istikhara and he needs to repeat his prayer.

Conclusion

In short, doing istikhara is a very important and virtuous process that is necessary for every Muslim. This gives man the best way and guidance for himself. Istikhara ki dua is a prayer to Allah to save us from our misdirections. We should take advantage of His blessings in all matters of our lives by dua e istikhara.

Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (R.A) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAWW) said: “Istikhara is a great honor of a man. And Allah never ignores a person’s prayer for Istikhara. (Sunan-Tirmidhi: 3658)

It is also best to observe prayer and give charity before doing istikhara. The decision that comes after Istikhara is according to the command and intention of Allah. We should have full attention and confidence in it.