Intention (Niyyah):

Before beginning the prayer, have the sincere intention in your heart that you are praying for guidance on a specific matter or decision.

2. Perform Two Rak’ahs:

Pray two voluntary rak’ahs (units of prayer) outside of the obligatory prayers. These are prayed like any normal prayer.

3. Recite the Istikhara Dua:

After completing the two rak’ahs, recite the Istikhara supplication. The dua is as follows:

اللّهُمّ إِنّي استخيرُك بعلمِك، واستقدِرُك بقدرتِك، واسالك من فضلِك العظيم. فإنّك تَقْدِرُ ولا اقدِرُ، وتعلَمُ ولا اعلمُ، وانت علامُ الغيوب. اللّهُمّ إن كنت تعلمُ انّ هذا الامر خيرٌ لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة امري او قال عاجل امري وآجله فاقدره لي ويسّره لي ثم ارضني. وإن كنت تعلمُ انّ هذا الامر شرٌ لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة امري او قال في عاجل امري وآجله فاصرفه عني، واصرفني عنه، واقدر لي الخير حيث كان ثم ارضني.

Transliteration: Allahumma inni astakhiru-ka bi’ilmika wa astaqdiru-ka bi qudratika, wa as’alu-ka min fadhlika-l-azim. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wa la a’lamu, wa anta ‘allamu-l-ghuyub. Allahumma in kuntu ta’lamu anna hadha-l-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri aw qala fi ‘ajili amri wa ajilihi faqdirhu li wa yassirhu li thumma aridhlani. Wa in kuntu ta’lamu anna hadha-l-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri aw qala fi ‘ajili amri wa ajilihi fasrifhu ‘anni wa asrifni ‘anhu wa qdir li-l-khayra haythu kana thumma aridhlani.

Translation: O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge and seek Your assistance through Your power, and ask You from Your great favor. For You are capable, 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 relation to my religion, my livelihood, and my final outcome, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in relation to my religion, my livelihood, and my final outcome, then remove it from me, and remove me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.

4. Trust in Allah:

After completing the dua, trust that Allah will guide you. The outcome of the decision may come in the form of signs, feelings, or circumstances.

5. Make the Decision:

After praying and making Istikhara, proceed with your decision, and have confidence that Allah’s will is the best for you.