Istikhara, Istikhara is an Islamic practice of seeking guidance from Allah (God) when faced with a decision or choice. The term “Istikhara” comes from the Arabic word “khayr,” which means “goodness” or “benefit.” Essentially, it is a prayer recited by Muslims to ask for divine help in making a decision that will be beneficial and good in the long run.
The practice involves performing a specific prayer, known as Salat al-Istikhara, followed by a supplication. Here is a brief outline of how Istikhara is typically performed:
- Perform Ablution (Wudu): Before starting the prayer, ensure you are in a state of cleanliness through the ritual of ablution.
- Pray Two Rak’ahs: These are units of prayer. You perform two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer, with the intention of seeking guidance.
- Recite the Istikhara Supplication: After completing the two rak’ahs, recite the specific supplication for Istikhara. The supplication asks Allah to guide you to what is best and to make it easy for you, while turning you away from what is not beneficial.
Here is a translation of the Istikhara supplication in English:
“O Allah, 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 (mention your decision) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it. And if in Your knowledge, this matter is bad for me, my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs, immediate and in the future, 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.”
The belief is that after performing Istikhara, you should trust that Allah will guide you towards what is best, whether through a feeling of ease and contentment about a particular choice or through other signs in your daily life.
Istikhara underscores the importance of reliance on divine wisdom and emphasizes seeking spiritual clarity and peace in making decisions.