islamic marriage guidance · 7 minutes · Last updated: 2026-08-24

Istikhara Dua: The Full Text, Transliteration and Meaning

The full istikhara dua in transliteration and English, what each line asks for, how to pray it, how many times to repeat it, and the three real signs of an answer. No sign-up needed.

The full istikhara dua

If you came here for the words, here they are first.

In transliteration:

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-'azim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamu al-ghuyub.

Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra — and here you name it: "marrying so-and-so" — khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fih.

Wa in kunta ta'lamu annahu sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur liya al-khayra haythu kana thumma ardini bih.

In English:

O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge, and I seek strength by Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. You are able and I am not. You know and I do not. You are the Knower of the unseen.

O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me.

And if You know that it is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, then make me content with it.

Name the person out loud where the placeholder sits. Istikhara is not a general request for a good life — it is a specific question about a specific decision.

How to pray it, step by step

Settle the intention. You are asking Allah to choose, not asking Him to confirm what you have already decided.
Pray two rak'ah of voluntary prayer. In the first, al-Fatihah then Surat al-Kafirun. In the second, al-Fatihah then Surat al-Ikhlas. These surahs are recommended, not obligatory.
After the tasleem, raise your hands and recite the du'a above, naming the matter.
Then act. Istikhara is followed by movement, not by waiting.

There is no special time of day required, and no requirement to be facing anything other than the qiblah you already face in prayer.

The three signs of an answer

This is where most people get stuck, so be clear about it: the answer usually arrives as a direction, not an announcement.

Your heart opens or tightens. After sincere istikhara, one option starts to feel settled and the other starts to feel heavy. That is the sign scholars mention most.
The path eases or blocks. Doors open — the families agree, the timing works, the practical obstacles fall away. Or they do not.
Your judgement settles after consultation. Istikhara pairs with *istisharah*: asking people of knowledge and experience. The Prophet ﷺ was commanded to consult, and consultation is part of how the answer reaches you.

A dream is not required. Many sincere people pray istikhara and never dream anything. That is normal, and it is not a rejection.

How many times should you repeat it?

Three to seven times, once a day, is the common advice — until your heart settles on something clear. If the first istikhara leaves you certain, you are done. Repeating it when the answer is already clear is usually anxiety, not worship.

What istikhara does not do

It does not replace investigating the person. Ask about his character, his prayer, how he treats his mother, whether he is honest in his work. Ask her family. Meet with the wali present. Istikhara asks Allah to guide a decision you have done your part to inform — it is not a substitute for doing that part.

If you want the practical checklist to go alongside it, read [How to Pray Istikhara: Step by Step](/blog/how-to-pray-istikhara).

And if you are wondering how long to wait between the engagement and the wedding once your istikhara has settled, read [How Long Should an Islamic Engagement Last?](/blog/how-long-should-an-islamic-engagement-last).

After the answer

If it opens: move, with your family, and keep the process modest — the engagement is not the marriage contract, and the two of you are still non-mahram until the nikah.

If it closes: accept it as protection. "And it may be that you dislike a thing and it is good for you" (al-Baqarah 2:216).

Looking for someone in the first place

Istikhara answers a question about a specific person. If you do not have one yet, that is a different problem — and it is the one [Wefaqna](/register) exists to solve: profiles reviewed before publication, no photos on public display, your family involved if you want them to be, and no subscription.

Create a free profile or browse profiles first without signing up.

May Allah choose what is best for you and make you content with it.