In Islam, the act of seeking guidance from Allah (God) through prayer is a practice known as Istikhara. It is a powerful tool for Muslims facing important decisions or dilemmas in their lives. It is also highly recommended to perform this prayer during difficult moments in our life, or before making any important decision. One common question asked by many Muslim brothers and sisters, is when is the best time to pray Istikhara? We will address this question carefully, in this article.
The Meaning and Purpose of Istikhara
Istikhara is an Arabic term that translates to “seeking goodness” or “seeking guidance.” In Islam, it is an act of supplication to seek Allah’s guidance when faced with a difficult choice or decision. Whether it’s about marriage, career choices, or any other significant life event, Muslims turn to Istikhara to help them make the right choice that aligns with Allah’s will.
The practice involves reciting a specific du’a (prayer) known as the Istikhara prayer. The prayer consists of seeking Allah’s help in making the right choice and surrendering one’s will to His divine wisdom. It is believed that through Istikhara, a person can receive signs, dreams, or inner convictions that help them make the most suitable decision in any given situation.
Although the act of istikhara itself is a simple du’a (supplication) which needs to be recited, it is also mentioned in several hadith that it should be preceded by 2 rakats of prayer (performed in the usual fashion).
Jabir said:
“The Prophet. may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to teach us the istikhara in matters just as if it was a sura of the Qur’an. He said, ‘When someone is concerned about something, he should pray two rak’ats and then say:
‘O Allah, I ask You for the good by Your knowledge and I ask You for strength by Your power and I ask You for some of Your immense abundant favour, You have the power and I do not. You know and I do not know. You are the Knower of the Unseen Worlds. O Allah, if You know that this affair is good for me in my deen, my livelihood and the end of my affair (or he said ‘in the beginning of my affair’) and its conclusion, then avert it from me and avert me from it. Decree for me the good wherever it is and then make me content.”
Then he should state what he needs.'”
~Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 703 (Sahih)
Here is the same Hadith from Sahih Bukhari with the Arabic (roman) version of the dua:
Narrated Jabir:
The Prophet (ﷺ) 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 kunta 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).
~Sahih al-Bukhari 6382
And here is the pure Arabic version:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمَكَ، 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- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ- فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ- فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
Best Time to Pray Istikhara
As you can see from the above hadith, and in others hadiths which discuss istikhara, there is no mention of a “suitable” time or a “best” time, or even a “prohibited” time for praying istikhara. Scholars have reasonably concluded that istikhara can be offered at any time, and any place.
However, by looking into other Hadith related to Prayer and Dua, we can infer that there are some prohibitions and restrictions around Istikhara. For example, Istikhara involves two rakats of prayer before the dua. From this, we can fairly conclude that it would not be permissible to perform istikhara during the 3 prohibited prayer times:
- Sunrise: Prayer is not allowed at the exact moment the sun rises.
- Sunset: Prayer is not permitted at the exact moment the sun sets.
- When the sun is at its zenith (midday): This is when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, and it is prohibited to pray during this time.
Likewise, we can also assume that the “recommended” times of prayer or dua also apply to istikhara. Here are some of the these moments which are highly recommended for normal prayers and dua, which likely include the istikhara prayer too (which is a combination of prayer and dua).
During the Last Third of the Night: The last third of the night is considered a spiritually potent time for prayer and supplication. It is believed that during this time, Allah’s mercy and attention are more accessible to those who seek it. There are several hadith from the prophet about the great reward of prayer during this period.
Between the Adhan (call to prayer) and Iqamah (establishing the prayer): Some scholars suggest that the period between the call to prayer and the commencement of the congregation prayer (Adhan and Iqamah) is a favorable time for making du’as, including Istikhara.
The Night Of ‘Qadr’ (Decree): The greatest night of the year. Any prayer or dua performed this night will be worth a 10000 months (as narrated by the Prophet). “The night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand months.” [Surah al-Qadr, 97: 3].
During Special Occasions: Some Muslims choose to perform Istikhara during special events, such as during their pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). These moments have great importance in Islam, and also great rewards. Such occasions are great moments to make important prayers and dua.
It is of utmost importance, that in search of finding the best time for istikhara, you do not forget the actual teachings of the Prophet, which are to make istikhara whenever, and wherever the opportunity presents itself. Do not delay your istikhara in search of the “better” time. You may repeat your istikhara later during these “special moments”. There is no limit to the number of istikhara you can perform. You may do so until you are satisfied with your efforts, devotion, and prayers.
Conclusion
While there is no fixed or universally agreed-upon best time to pray Istikhara, these moments mentioned above are often considered opportune for those seeking Allah’s guidance. Ultimately, the sincerity and devotion with which Istikhara is performed matter more than the specific time, as it is a deeply personal act of supplication and connection with the Divine.