Who Should Perform Istikharah?

The blessed Hadiths tell us that the person who has a need should perform Istikharah themselves.

The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم taught the Companions رضي الله عنهم the method of Istikharah with the same care as He taught them a Surah or a verse of the Holy Quran.

The lives of the Companions رضي الله عنهم also show that they sought advice from the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in their matters, but they did not ask Him to perform Istikharah for them.

Although no human being could be more blessed and honored than the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, and revelation was also being sent at that time through which good and bad could be known with certainty, the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم trained the Companions, and through them the entire Ummah, in such a way that every Muslim should establish a direct relationship with Allah تعالیٰ and personally ask the Most Merciful Lord for goodness along with presenting their own needs.

The Sunnah Method of Performing Istikharah

For your convenience, the method of Istikharah is given below. According to this method, you can perform Istikharah yourself for your own need.

The Sunnah method of Istikharah is to offer two Rak'ahs of voluntary Salah with the intention of Istikharah at any time during the day or night, provided it is not a disliked time for offering voluntary prayers.

The intention should be that you have a certain matter or issue before you, and you ask Allah تعالیٰ to decide whatever is best for you.

After completing the Salah and saying Salam, recite the Sunnah Dua of Istikharah that was taught by the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.

The Sunnah Dua of Istikharah

اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّیْ أَسْتَخِیْرُکَ بِعِلْمِکَ ، وَ أَسْتَقْدِرُکَ بِقُدْرَتِکَ، وَ أَسْأَلُکَ مِنْ فَضْلِکَ الْعَظِیْمِ ، فَاِنَّکَ تَقْدِرُ وَ لاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَ تَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ ، وَ أَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُیُوْبِ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنْ کُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ خَیْرٌ لِّیْ فِیْ دِیْنِیْ وَ مَعَاشِیْ وَ عَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِیْ وَ عَاجِلِهٖ وَ اٰجِلِهٖ ، فَاقْدِرْهُ لِیْ ، وَ یَسِّرْهُ لِیْ ، ثُمَّ بَارِکْ لِیْ فِیْهِ وَ اِنْ کُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ ہٰذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌ لِّیْ فِیْ دِیْنِیْ وَمَعَاشِیْ وَ عَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِیْ وَ عَاجِلِهٖ وَ اٰجِلِهٖ ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّیْ وَاصْرِفْنِیْ عَنْهُ ، وَاقْدِرْ لِیَ الْخَیْرَ حَیْثُ کَانَ ثُمَّ اَرْضِنِیْ بِهٖ ۔

Mentioning Your Need During the Dua

While making the Dua, when you reach the words "هذا الأمر", if you know Arabic, mention your need at that place.

Instead of "هذا الأمر", say the name of your matter, such as:

هذا السفر (this journey)
هذا النکاح (this marriage)
هذه التجارة (this trade)
هذا البیع (this sale)

If you do not know Arabic, simply say "هذا الأمر" and think in your heart about the matter for which you are performing Istikharah.

What to Do After Performing Istikharah

After performing Istikharah, do the thing towards which your heart feels inclined.

If you do not feel satisfied after performing it once, repeat the same process for seven days. In shā' Allāh, there will be goodness.

There is no specific time for performing Istikharah. However, it is better to perform it at night before going to sleep, when the environment is peaceful, and then go to sleep after performing Istikharah.

It is not necessary to see a dream. The important thing is the inclination and satisfaction of the heart.

And Allah knows best.