Reviewed By: Ustadha Nadeen Salouma
Istikhara or prayer of seeking guidance. Does this ever happen to you that you prayed Istikhaara but did not see the istikhaara dream? Well, the answer is it is not necessary to see a dream after Istikhara Dua.
You don’t need to get an istakhaara dream or a “feeling.” Instead, in Istikhaara Prayer, Allah guides you towards what is best (Khayr) for you; If you do the prayer of seeking guidance (Istikhaara) with the proper manners.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Istikharah is done when a decision is made in matters that are neither obligatory nor prohibited.
- Istikharaah can be done in all permissible matters where a choice needs to be made, such as buying something permissible, taking a job, choosing a spouse, etc.
- It is not necessary for one sees a dream or hears a voice.
- Asking another person to make Istikhaarah on one’s behalf is not substantiated by any hadith. So do istikhara by yourself. Keep in mind; that no one else can be interested in your matters more than you!
The most important is to consign the matter to Allah and suspend your inclinations. Allah will make events unfold in the best direction for your worldly and next-worldly affairs. First of all, let’s see what Istikhaara and Istikhara Dua are.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) once remarked.
“O Anas! When you are undecided with regards to any matter, then seek counsel from your Rabb and do this seven times. after that, whatever decision prevails in your heart regard it to be beneficial.” (Shaami-Vol. 1, pg. 507)
How to pray Istikhara Step by Step
- Intention for Istikhaara
The intention for Istikhaara is a compulsory element. Make a clear intention of why and for what purpose you are doing Istikhara.
- State in Wudu
Be in the state of wudu (Ablution) and purity before Performing Prayer and Dua.
- Perform Istikhara Prayer
Offer two rakahs as the intention of Istikhaara prayer. It is preferable to read surah Al-Kafiroon in the first rak’ah after surah Al-Fatiha and surah Al-Ikhlas in the second rak’ah after surah Al-Fatiha. After saying salam, one raises their hands and starts praying. Starting by pronouncing the Names and Attributes of Allah the Merciful is preferable.
After remembering Allah the Merciful, one sends salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ.
- Istikhara Dua
After offering two Rakah’s, one should recite the dua of Istikhaara, which is mentioned in the Hadith,
اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلامُ الْغُيُوبِ..
اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (هنا تسمي حاجتك) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ..
اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ (هنا تسمي حاجتك) شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ. (وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ)
Allaahumma inni astakheeruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’aluka min fadlika. Fa innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdir, wa ta’lamu wa laa a’lam, wa anta ‘allaam al-ghuyoob.
Allaahumma fa in kunta ta’lamu haadha’l-amra (then the matter should be mentioned by name) khayran li fi ‘aajil amri wa aajilihi (or: fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri) faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma baarik li fihi. Allaahumma wa in kunta ta’lamu annahu sharrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri (or: fi ‘aajili amri wa aajilihi) fasrifni ‘anhu [wasrafhu ‘anni] waqdur li al-khayr haythu kaana thumma radini bihi
Translation of Istikhara Dua in English:
“O Allaah, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] by Your knowledge. And I seek ability under Your power. And I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, and I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allaah, if in Your knowledge.
This matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, livelihood, and affairs). Then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me.
And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and my religion. My livelihood and my affairs (for me both in this world and the next). Then turn me away from it, [and turn it away from me]. And ordain the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.”
[Reported by al-Bukhaari, 6841; al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa’i, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah and Ahmad]
When one reaches the part اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ, they should name the matter they are seeking Istikhara for. Naming the matter should be repeated twice, once while mentioning the Khair and the second while mentioning the Shar.
- Salutation upon Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
After completing the Istikhara Dua, one reads the salutation upon the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
- Trust Allah
After the Istikhaara dua ends, one should leave the matter entirely in Allah’s hand for better guidance without fear or regret.
Concept of Istikhara Dream:
Many people think that after Praying Istikhaara, there has to be a dream or feeling of ease in their heart. But that is not the case. Even if no such thing happens when a person has prayed Istikhara and done his best to find out what is best for him. Such as consulting people, examining the issue, and asking those with experience.
And then he goes ahead and does it; then it is hoped that this will be best for him, even if he does not initially feel at ease in his heart. Even if we assume he fails in this matter, he goes ahead with praying istikhaara. It may be suitable for him because he does not know it, and Allah, the Most Knowledgeable, knows.
Some of us pray Istikhara and wait till we see a dream. But this is not what has been told by Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) told us to pray Istikhara and consult others, not to rely on what is seen in dreams.
When Allah makes something easy for us, after having decreed it and accepting our Du’a, this is a sign that it is good to go ahead and do it. The existence of obstacles and difficulties indicates that Allah is pushing His slave away from doing it. This meaning will be obvious when one ponders the importance of the Hadeeth of Jaabir concerning al-istikhaara.
Prophet (PBUH) said:
“O Allah, if You know this affair – [and here he should mention it] – is good for me about my religion, my life, and end, then decree and facilitate it for me, and bless me with it. And if You know this affair to be ill for me towards my religion, my life, and end, then remove it from me and remove me from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it be and make me satisfied with such.”
Mashallah may allah bless u thanku for this x
AoA
This is really informative and helpful. I face the same issue whenever i do istikhara. My heart is satisfied or not over the matter, but i dont get a single clue in dream. I was so uneasy that i never see a dream about it. Now it has relived my stress a lot. Thanks a lot!
I did istikhara but saw something like sunrise/sumset pic.blackish n orangeish sky.d sum was dark orange in color but no light yet from it.I’m confused wethr it was sunrise or sunset.wat does it mean .plz guide asap
Hello
I m here in a confused stage of life ,my life had got struck in a very bad stage .i was not a good person .
Later i started praying to Allah and decided to change my life , i always pray to Allah and suddenly now i started dreaming about some one whom i know just like a friend .
She is divorced and overall she is elder to me .I really dn’t mind about these things .
After seeing this i asked Allah again ,and i see her continuously in my dream .As she is trying to reform me to be a good person .
I called her and i tried to say her ,in short story.
But the response is negative ,i have got no idea what to do .
And i m sure this not an attraction or anything ,i dint see her from past one year .
Please guide me ,is she the right person i have to approach her again or this is just my misconception .
JazakAllah
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JazakAllah Brother.
I’m Maria from Saudi Arabia I did istikhara but in my dream their is blue colour plzzzzzzzz guide me what is the meaning of blue colour in istikhara
Assalam O Alaikum Maria. 🙂
You should consult some Aalim for that. So that you can Discuss your case with them in full details and get the best answer 🙂
Assalamualaikum last nite i offered salathul isthikara I am confused cz i had a dream which i don’t remember wen i woke up but I am sure i had a dream it was not bad neither it was good it was just normal dream so i dint got my answer should i pray again till i get the any sign from Allah SWT pls guide me pls
wa alikum salaam Shaz …
JAZKALLAH for reading and commenting 🙂
istekhara is not some thing fard, under stand the concept behind this ibadah. you are just getting the concet of ALLAH in your matter, just including HIS wills in your matter, so even if you donot see any clear sign or donot remember your dream, its not compulsory to do istekhara again. And even if you do istekhara again, there is no harm 🙂 have a look at the link below, may be it further clears the issue 🙂
https://www.alquranclasses.com/istikhara/?ap_id=af
keep visiting our website 🙂
Note: these articles or comment replies are not written by any islamic scholar.
Salam. I did performed istakhsra to ask Allah why I was being punished for wjat is happening in my life. I needed to know what I had done wrong. However I was very frightened by seeing my mum as deceased. I sm so frightened now. I got a different answerto what I wished Could somsomeone explain this. I hsve been worried all day snd feel like crying. Jazakallah
Assalam O Alaikum Sister Sakina. First let me explain to you again when and why to do Istekhara. Sis we ESSENTIALLY do Istekhara when we are about to take some decision in life and we need the guidance and consent of Allah SWT for that. We do not ask Allah about why something happend? or how something will occour? or when something is bound to be? because all this Knowledge is the Knowledge of UNKNOWN AND UNSEEN and it belongs solely to ALLAH and Allah Alone. so we must principally NOT do Istekhara for such matters and consequently not belive in the dreams seen as a result.
jaza’ak Allah 🙂
Assalamoualaikoum
I am going through a difficult phase in my life. There are many big decisions to be taken. These decisions will affect many around me. I have prayed Istikharah. I had the same dream thrice where I was being told not to go in a certain direction and I also saw the colour green. I went against what I heard in my dream and when I was in that particular place my heart was very heavy and I felt like running away from there. I need advice about how to understand these signs.
Thank you
wa alikum salam Ayesha
First of all, i would like to tell you, we over here, are not scholars. So i can not give you the authentic explanation, how ever i can tell you my personal opinion. i think, you should go for avoiding that thing, as we can see more negative signs in your explained dream. As i think you should consider the sign which is more stronger, and that is of “I had the same dream thrice where I was being told not to go in a certain direction”.
More over, if you have acted against what you have been pointed towards in dream, still there is a chance 🙂 doors of prayers are always open 🙂 Ask for blessings and help of ALLAH subhana hu wa tala… 🙂
keep visiting our website. JAZAKALLAH.
Assalamu alaikum,
I have a reltionship from last 2.5yrs…he lives in london,i did istekhara once 1st i didnt saw any dream,den 3rd tym when i pray salatul istikhara,i asked Allah before sleeping that if he will be my life partner show me his picture otherwise if not then show me that it will b not…so in my dream i saw one of his picture which is actually his orginal photo,when i was seeing dat i just told dt Allah Shokhor Alhamdullilah…i got answer,bt i was so exicited i said i understand i dnt need to see his face so i cnt see his face…i m sure dt was his photo cz in orginal photo he was wearing suit & dere is green background here is also same….bt nw still here is positive feeling,bt we r facing some family problem,all da tym i pray tahajjud,5 tyms prayer daily,i also read Surah Yaseen 41 tyms for get answered my prayers…i prayed istikhara also after dt istekhara cz in my 1st istekhara i didnt see his face,bt nw i dnt see any dream bt i have a feeling dt my dua is accepted by Allah….after some complication he will give me him as my life partner.nw tell me what is da indication??
@Nusratjabeen
wa alikum salaam. first of all, let me clear you sister, we are Quran teaching organization. This does not mean we qualify for any fatwa or any authentic islamic advice in any complicated matter. Secondly, (as far as my minimal knowledge is) you have your answer almost in your question.If you donot see a clear sign, go for the option you find your heart inclined towards. You have a feeling that ALLAH has accepted your dua,so stay hope full and wait for the good results 🙂
keep visiting our website 🙂
Can u suggest me any emam’s website here in online??so dat i can find any soloution???
@nusrat jabeen
i would be hard to trust any such source (online). Why do not you go and ask imaam of your local masjid 🙂 wouldn’t it be better to consult imaam in person rather than contacting online !
A man asked me to do istikhara and see if we are both blessed to be married, while I was doing the istikhara prayer the first time, I heard water dripping in my bathroom as if people upstairs to me has over filled their bath and it was coming down through the ceiling, but I did not stop praying the istikhara, when i finished, I went to my bathroom, at which time the water dripping had stopped and the shower was dry and no wet ceiling either… can someone explain to me if this was a positive indication or was it a distruction.. thank you
Salam alaykom
I did istikhara last night and dream color like
Green and a white paper were im writing something on the paper??
Salaam, I have been hoping to Marry someone but was advised to pray istikara so i did 2 days after I had a dream that this person would leave me. But I have felt confident that Allah has pushed me towards this marrying this person when contemplating and he has made it easy for me,so with rerefence to the above post does this mean i should not pay attention to my dream?
@anonoymous !
sister, if you saw he left you (in a dream after istikhara), i think he is not suitable. you must consult some authentic source too !
JAZAKALLAH, do visit us again !
is it necessary to sleep after doing istkhara??
@jaweria
salaam ! yes sister, you must sleep. but once i heard in a khutba, imaam told a short ayaah which we can recite any time instantly when ever we feel confused in making decision….obviously that ayah does not need one to sleep after reciting it !
But in case of this proper verses for istikhara, i have heard you must sleep.
NOTE: we are not mufti/ islamic scholar, you must consult from a proper authentic source !
I saw a golden star shaped badge in istkhara.there wr mlulticoloured lines on its upper portion.one of them was red.is it positive or negative
@ansa
im not an istekhara expert ! but it seems positive to me. try to follow your instinct, judge your self what you feel about it and you will get answer.
Salaam I have problem about my school and also my family I pray every time and make dua I want my dean or my professor to change his decision I want yo continue my study career so please tell me what should I do which dua should I read to change my situation Jazakalaah
November 1, 2016 at 11:21 pm
Salaam I have problem about my school and also my family I pray every time and make dua I want my dean or my professor to change his decision I want yo continue my study career so please tell me what should I do which dua should I read to change my situation Jazakalaah
@anish
for that purpose you should try to offer tahajjud and pray about your difficulties.
I did istikhara on three different men n I had the same which is each one of them loves another woman rather than me but recently I saw a guy I like but we don’t talk so I decided 2 do an istikhara b4 taking further actions but I haven’t dreamt plpls what do I do. Reply via email pls
@halima
try to do istkhara again.
assalamu alaikum
this website has really been useful.
I did istikhara three times, the first time I didn’t really get anything but I had a content feeling. however the third time I did it I got a dream showing someones engagement being broken off. I really do not know what that could mean. also the guy I seen did istikhara but he did not get any dream and therefore refused to go ahead with the proposal. I was upset but I guess this is from allah, he knows best.
wa salaam khatija
dream showing breaking of engagement clearly tells a no ! 🙂
donot get disheartened, best of luck.
Assalamualaikum. I really like one guy and want to marry him. Through his mutual friends I have told that I like him. But I dint propose him directly as I dont want to have any haram relationship before marriage. I want nikah and love him after marriage. So for that for asking khair I prayed isthikhara
Last week 1 time I prayed. I had dream that. I saw his best friend signing white paper. There is one kid, am telling kid to ask his signature. He is signing and seeing me. Am taking that paper and kissing and feeling happy.
But here in this dream. His friend. Not the guy himself. It is indirect sign ? from Allah swt
Since one of my friend told me pray again. I offered this week again.
In first dream, myself and many people searching photo album. I found and saying I have found it.
In next day isthikhara, I dint had any clear dream
Then last night again I prayed isthikhara, in that dream. I saw gold necklace. Gold but coloured with purple n pink color. But its gold necklace. Am telling my mom and sister. Give it to me I will keep safe in locker.
But since I have offered many times earlier for alliances and nothing worked out, this time I feel that this one will also go. I have offered isthikhara namaz almost like more than 20 times for every alliance I get from elders. But nothing worked out.
So in this alliance, the guy I like, his friends are my friends. He knows I like him. But am confused whether will it work or not. Please help me.
@Nisa
i think you are getting positive signs . God knows the best !
ive done istikhara for a guy i wanna marry but i havent dreamt anything and its been the second day now, have i read it wrong because i wrote the dua on paper and read off it. plz tell me
are you suppose to know the dua from heart or can u write it on paper
i want to get dreams and signs ASAP coz i am so depressed without him
I want to know that I had saw green and blue color in istakhara what does it mean…
when we can not rely on what we see in dream then y isthekhara
y this process
Slmz do we have to know the dua for istekarah of by heart or can we read it of from somewhere
If you pray istakhara but get an answer after 10 days can that answer be counted as a yes or is it just your thoughrs before sleeping ?
@s.h.hamadani
if you believe that dream was related to istikhara, then yes.
there is no fix protocol about interpretation of istikahara. its getting consent of ALLAH, so even if you get no visible sign, just be sure that you have got consent of ALLAH.
Answer please
Salam.
I want to marry a girl, when I proposed her , she asked me to perform istekhara..
I did istekhara and had a dream…
In my dream I saw her … she was in hijab, I offered her some gifts and she take those gifts.
My question is…
Is this a positive sign?
Moreover she also performed istekhara , but she did not get clear signs… she performed 2 to 3 times…
At last she saw dream…
In her dream she saw some people from my family quarrelling with her…
Is this a negative sign???
I am very confused…
Plz guide me
@ali khan
its very clear brother. She is good for you. so istikhara went positive for you. and if she saw quarreling, it means may be your family can give her a hard time in accepting her. so if she is up for the challenge, is positive for her, if she cant handle such quarrels, its negative.
by the way, thats my assumption and im not a qualified dream interpretter.
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Answer plz
I had to make decision for study bt i did nt see any dream ..i saw a dream in a dream dat m not getting ny result of istikhara plz hlp me out
I have done 7 days istekhara and then I slept and had a dream i saw a positive dream but I didn’t remember the exact dream but when i woke up my heart is relaxed I continued for further 6 days and stop doing that and 8 day when I slept without doing istekhara I had a dream in which I saw a green leaves and one of my colleague was busy in either fixing r cutting that leave so I just want to knw I want to marry a guy he is good but he is divorced too nd i did istekhara for guidance plz guide me what does the above story means?
Assalam O Allaikum Sister, we are not able to answer as you may need to ask Mufti, it is not our domain. Jazak Allah Khairan
I have done istekhara for seven days n I saw dream but I was not clear when ever I woke up my heart was satisfed.. but I didn’t remember the exact dream on 8 day I slept and had a dream in which I saw clearly that my colleague was busy in some green leaves plant what does this mean ? I was doing istekhara for a guy who is divorced but he is perfect in all mean plz tell me
Aoa
Tariq bhai ap hi say milta khawab mein nay bhi dekha … pl bhai i want to talk to you
I did istikhara to see my future wife in my dream but when I slept I saw a lion in my dream rushing me in the bush.So what is the meaning of that dream.Is it good or bad dream?
hello there i saw a dream where i saw a dream where the person i love was wearing green n white and was looking at me expressionless firstly in my dream i was crying then suddenly i was happy with my fiends there were blue and yellow colours i think my dream was positive i asked about the time ll change for me the things messed up would be sorted and i got this answer please help me whether its positive or not
every time I Pray Istikhara for marriage I feel my chest heavy or tight, what does this mean? Usually when I feel that way I don’t like the proposal after three days and start to dislike things about the guy. My family is saying that it’s psychological…I feel like it’s inclination.