The Method of Istikhaarah

1. Firstly, a person should recite two Rakaats of Salaah.

2. Thereafter, he should recite the Dua of Istikhaarah which has been mentioned in the Ahaadeeth. The Dua is as follows,

اللهُمَّ إِنّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وأسْألُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظيم، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ ولا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْت عَلّامُ الغُيوب، اللهم إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هذا الأمْرَ… خيرٌ لِي في دِيني وَمَعاشِي وَعاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْْدُرْهُ لِي، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هذا الأمر … شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِيْنِي وَمَعاشِيْ وَعاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنّي وَاصْرِفْني عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الخَيرَ حَيثُ كان، ثُمَّ أَرْضِني به

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as-aluka min fadlikal ‘adhim fa innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wala a’lamu wa anta ‘Allamul ghuyub, Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hadhal amra khayrulli fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri faqdurhu li. Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadhal amra sharrul li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri fasrifhu ‘anni wasrifni ‘anhu waqdur liyal khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bihi.

Translation: I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (the purpose for the istikharah should then be mentioned or brought to mind) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, then ordain it for me and make it easy for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.

N.B. In the above Dua, there are two places indicated with ellipses (…). On reaching these words one should pause and mention or bring to mind the particular work that one intends undertaking.

3. After completing the above, one should follow the inclination of the heart. If there isn’t any good in going ahead with the envisaged work, Allah Ta’aala sometimes places some obstacle to deter one from that work. That will be an indication that the proposed work should be avoided.