Volume 8, Book 75, Number 391:

Narrated Jabir:

The Prophet used to teach us the Istikhara for each and every matter as he used to teach us the Suras from the Holy Qur’an. (He used

to say), “If anyone of you intends to do something, he should offer a two-Rak’at prayer other than the obligatory prayer, and then say:

‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as’aluka min fadlika-l-‘azim, fa innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wala a’lamu, wa anta’allamu-l-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha-lamra khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri (or said, fi ‘ajili amri wa ajilihi) fa-qdurhu li, Wa in junta ta’lamu anna ha-dha-l-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri (or said, fi ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu ‘anni was-rifni ‘anhu wa aqdur li alkhaira haithu kana, thumma Raddani bihi,” Then he should mention his matter (need).

Why is it so? Because the essence of their belief is one’s inability and total dependency on their lord. There is a saying by the wife of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (who for Muslims is called as mother of believers), what she has said is : “Ask Allah for everything, even the shasa’ [lace (of a shoe) or a reign of an animal] for verily if Allah (does not grant it), it will not be facilitated”, you see by this, in Islam Muslims’ beliefs are to this extent that even for shoe lace they depend on their lord, so imagine when in matters of making big decision why wouldn’t they seek guidance when they’re confused.

We all know, we are limited in knowledge and in strength but the God – the creator of everything for him everything is infinite, his strength, his knowledge, his wisdom, his mercy and everything one can imagine is infinite. Hence it is understood when a person is in confusion s/he should go to the one who has vast knowledge.

Now let us see, what this supplication is and what Muslims mean when they say it.

 “O Allah, verily I seek the better [of either choice] from you, by your knowledge, and I seek ability from you, by your power, and I ask you from your immense bounty. For indeed you have power, and I am powerless; you have knowledge and I know not; you are the Knower of the unseen realms. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood and the end of my affair then decree it for me, facilitate it for me, and grant me blessing in it. And if you know that this matter is not good for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood and the end of my affair then turn it away from me and me from it; and decree for me better than it, wherever it may be, and make me content with it”

The Arabic term for guidance prayer is “Istikhaarah” seeking sound counsel from ALLAH to help you choose the better of two things and to divert the worse of them. Istikhara gives the best answer, for not just one’s worldly life but religious life.

The istikhaarah that the Prophet (pbuh) taught includes praying two rak’ahs then reciting the du’aa’ after that. 

Hence Muslims read this Dua (supplication) after praying two units (rak’ahs). This is prescribed to make one’s need, more likely to receive a response.

How muslims pray this: (ref: islamqa.info)

1. Performs your ablution for this prayer (Ablution: thoroughly washing specific parts of body) –If one is impure they 1^st do the Ghusl – take shower with intention of purifying oneself from the impurities.
2. Makes the intention for this prayer and prays two units
3. Sunnah way of this is to recite: In first rakat after Surah al-Fatiha, then Surah al-Kafirun, and in the second rakat after the Fatiha, Surah al-Ikhlas.
4. After ending the Prayer, raise hands and recite the supplication of Istikhara , it is recommended before starting the istikhara supplication, one praise ALLAH and then send blessings on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

Then you should read the supplication of the Istikhara which is as follows: 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 لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي “O Allah, verily I seek the better [of either choice] from You, by Your knowledge, and I seek ability from You, by Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. For indeed You have power, and I am powerless; You have knowledge and I know not; You are the Knower of the unseen realms. O Allah, if You know that this matter [mention your issue here] is good for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood and the end of my affair then decree it for me, facilitate it for me, and grant me blessing in it. And if You know that this matter [mention your issue here] is bad for me with regards to my religion, my livelihood and the end of my affair then turn it away from me and me from it; and decree for me better than it, wherever it may be, and make me content with it.”

5. While supplicating, when you reach the words “if you know this matter”, you should mention your issue. You can also say this supplication from a paper if you dont remember it by heart, it is also recommended that one face the qibla.
6. Then you should close your supplication by sending blessings on the Prophet (peace be upon him) just as you commenced it in the beginning.

There is a great secret and reason to this, namely that sending blessings on the Prophet is the one prayer that is always answered (as the Quran tells us this, for Allah Himself sends His blessings on the Prophet), and it is hoped that if Allah answers us both the beginning and end of our supplication, then what is in between will always be granted the same status.

7. After you finish your dua, then with this comes to an end the prayer and supplication of Istikhara.

 Istikhara, in essence is a manner of displaying one’s slavehood and trusting in God for his /her matters.

So provided one does the prayer of guidance (istikhara) with the proper manners, most important of which is to truly consign the matter to Allah, in that case then whatever unfolds thereafter is itself the answer and one should trust that this is best for worldly and next-worldly affairs.

So rest assured, that even if the immediate manifestation thereafter is difficult, it is for your good, for how many a person disliked something that was actually to their ultimate benefit. And all benefit is weighed up by how matters come to an end that is in the hereafter.

Waiting for a sign /indication after Istikhara:

There are many wrong notions regarding Istikharah – the prayer of Guidance. Many Muslims offer the 2 Units of Salah at night, read the above said Supplication (dua), and go to bed expecting a dream with the answer from to the dua. This is totally a wrong approach.

The results of an istikharah can be ascertained from your feelings after you do the istekhara like do you feel more favorable towards the decision in which you were confused or not as in feeling lightness in your chest for one of the 2 decisions. Or the events around you change, like the situation becomes more favorable for you or turn against you.

Ultimately however, it is not necessary that you get even a “feeling”, or any great transcendent experience, rather, you should simply trust in Allah that having sought His aid, He will guide you to that which is best.

Note:

1. If things are unclear When one is not clear about the result of the Istikhara, some scholars mention that it is recommend to repeat it, up to 7 times if necessary (usually done on separate occasion)
2. Apart from Prayer of Guidance you should also seek advice from people who have knowledge, Experience & wisdom.

In Conclusion finally having done Istikhara, one should be pleased that we have sought the means Allah has tasked us with, and then be pleased with whatever Allah chooses for one. It is important that you do not seek to follow one’s whims after the answer to your supplication becomes clear. This is the key to our religion – that we move away from the ego, towards Allah. And to Him is the Return of all of our journeying. We ask Allah to give you and us beneficial knowledge, and the gifted success to act upon it in the way that is most beloved to Him, in the footsteps of His beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace).

If a Muslim cannot offer the prayer (two rak’ahs) for some reason, there is nothing wrong with calling upon Allaah and asking Him to make easy for him the better of the two options, without offering the prayer. 

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Adhkaar (p. 120): 

If he cannot offer the prayer then he may recite the du’aa’ of istikhaarah. End quote. 

If you are confused or unsure about making a decision, you can say this specific prayer for seeking guidance, you need not pray like how muslims do ie, offer 2 units of Salah and then read this supplication, instead you can simply read this prayer (need not be in Arabic too, you can use the translated version or read by heart) and admit you incapability in front of God – the one who is your creator, the one who is the creator of this world, the one who is the creator of everyone and everything that is in existence or will come into existence till the end of time. After admitting your incapability, admit your dependency upon him and acknowledge his vast knowledge and his power, which is what the Muslim’s Dua mean “Verily You are capable and I am not, and You Know and I don’t” – indicating thereby that all Power, Capability and Knowledge is Allah’s alone and a servant cannot possess any of that except with Allah destines for him.There after ask for his help in making your decision. The decision could be anything like marrying a certain person, joining a specific university? Considering this job offer or another? Moving into another country or staying back, Your creator knows what is best for you, and you’ll find it easier to make the decision after all you have consulted the best being who knows you in and out of you and everything else.

The ultimate answer to your istikhara is that which Allah brings into being.

More on istekhara can be read here: https://islamqa.info/en/categories/topics/95/prayer-asking-for-guidance