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How to pray Istikharah step-by step

Perform Wudu (the ablution) if you do not have it already.

Pray 2 raka'at either with the intention of praying Istikhara.

Please make sure that you are not praying during the three times when it is undesirable to pray in a hadith reported in Muslim 1040, it is narrated: "Three were the times at while Allah's Messenger () forbade us from praying or burying our dead (ie. funeral prayer): when the sun begins to rise until it is fully up; when the sun is at its height until it passes the meridian; and when the sun begins to set until it is completely set.In matters that are immediate and cannot be delayed.

Istikhara can be prayed even during these three times.

Immediately after you have completed the 2 rakats, recite the Istikhara Dua below:

اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك وأستقدرك بقدرتك وأسألك من فضلك العظيم. فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلا أَعْلَمُ وأنت علام الغيوب اللهم إن كنتَ تَعْلَمُ أنَّ (هذا الأمر ) غير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري فاصرفه لي و يسره لي ثم بارك لي فيه. وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شر لي في ديني ومعاشي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِى فَاصْرِفْهُ عَلَى وَ اصْرِفَني عَنْهُ، وَاقْدِرْ لِي الْخَيْرُ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنَي بِهِ

Transliteration :
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa asaluka min fadlika al-'azim Fa- innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta'lamu Wala a'lamu, Wa anta 'allamu l-çhuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta'lam anra hadha-l-amra (then mention the matter for which you are seeking Allah's Guidance) Khairun li ti dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati amri Faqdirhu li wa yas-sirhu i thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha- lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati amri Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.

Translation :
"O Allah, I consult You as You are All-Knowing and I appeal to You to give me power as You are Omnipotent, I ask You for Your great favor, for You have power and I do not, and You know all of the hidden matters. O Allah! If you know that this matter (then mention the matter for which you are seeking Allah's Guidance) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and for my life in the Hereafter, then make t (easy) for me. And if you know that this matter is not good for me in my religion, my livelihood and my life in the Hereafter, then keep it away from me and take me away from it and choose what is good for me wherever it is and please me with it."

While reciting the above du'a, please mention the matter for which you are seeking Alah's Guidance you have at the appropriate point indicated in red in the du'a above.