Istikhara in the most simplest of term is seeking guidance when you are standing at a cross road in life or when being indecisive. As a muslim we have heard many myths regarding istikhara that it should always be done by an expert, a scholar but not by you. Though this is 100% wrong. Every individual has a sacred bond with the Supreme Power- ALLAH ALMIGHTY, we get an opportunity to strengthen this bond specially when struck with hard luck, things not going our way, facing resistance here and now. You will find many methods of doing it the right way, there is no wrong way actually. No need to fall in the trap of making everything complex for it to yield results.

Here I am sharing the most simplest way to gain confidence in building & strengthening this bond. The way I have been doing since my late teens as far as I remember, truth was always revealed but yes I failed to choose right sadly. Throwing myself in karmic loops as this is how I learned my life lessons and the spiritual/authentic self cracked open. ALHAMDULILLAH for all the ugly, dark trials & tribulations. Following are the questions to ask yourself and steps to take:

1. What to do Istikhara for?

It can be done for the most simplest for things like choosing a venue for an event, booking a destination for travel to a more advanced, major and important things in life like selecting a spouse, a business partner, a home, big financial decisions. First you have to dp your mental exercise, looking at the pros & cons of a certain choice. You may incline towards one option then the other, or feel equal towards both.

2. How to do istikhara for Simple / Routine Decision Making?

For simple decision makings just do this supplication keeping an intention crisp and clear.

مِيظِعَلْا كَلِضْفَ نْمِ كَلْأَسْأَوَ ،كَتِرَدْقُبِ كَرَدْقُتَسْأَوَ ،كَمِلِعَبِ كَرُيخِتَسْأَ ينِّإِ مِهُلِلْا بِويغُلْا مُلَّاعَ تَنِّأَوَ ،مِلِعَأَ لَاوَ مِلِعَتِوَ ،رَدْقْأَ لَاوَ رَدْقُتِ كَنِّإِف

Translation: “O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and I seek ability from Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. Indeed You have power and I do not; You know and I do not; You are the Knower of the unseen.

After this, just go with the flow. Don’t resist to things seemingly not going your way. Just SURRENDER TO DIVINE WILL with immense faith, let nature unfold everything for you.

3. How to do istikhara for Major Life Events / Decisions?

For this I strongly recommend praying 2 rakah with a clear intention. At the time of dua recite this under mentioned prayer:

مِيظِعَلْا كَلِضْفَ نْمِ كَلْأَسْأَوَ ،كَتِرَدْقُبِ كَرَدْقُتَسْأَوَ ،كَمِلِعَبِ كَرُيخِتَسْأَ ينِّإِ مِهُ بِويغُلْا مُلَّاعَ تَنِّأَوَ ،مِلِعَأَ لَاوَ مِلِعَتِوَ ،رَدْقْأَ لَاوَ رَدْقُتِ كَنِّإِفَ يرُمِأَ ةِبَقْاعَوَ يشِاعَمِوَ ينِيدِ يفَ يلْ رُيخَ رُمِلْأَا اذَهَ نَّأَ مِلِعَتِ تَنِكُ نَّإِ مِهُلِلْا هِيفَ يلْ كَرَابِ مِثُ ،يلْ هُرُسِّيوَ ،يلْ هُرَدْقْافَ هِلِجِآوَ يرُمِأَ لِجِاعَ يفَ وَأَ يرُمِأَ ةِبَقْاعَوَ يشِاعَمِوَ ينِيدِ يفَ يلْ رُشِ رُمِلْأَا اذَهَ نَّأَ مِلِعَتِ تَنِكُ نَّإِوَ لِلْا هِبِ ينِضِرَأَ مِثُ ،نَّاكُ ثُيحَ رُيخِلْا يلْ رَدْقْاوَ ،هِنِعَ ينِفَرُصْاوَ ،ينِعَ هِفَرُصْافَ هِلِجِآوَ يرُمِأَ لِجِاعَ يفَ وَأ

Translation: “O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and I seek ability from Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. Indeed You have power and I do not; You know and I do not; You are the Knower of the unseen.

O Allah, if You know that this matter (then mention the matter) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, in the near and distant, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. But if You know that it is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, in the near and distant, then turn it away from me, turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be and make me content with it.”

Now leave the matter to ALLAH

4. What are the signs for a Yes or No?

You may receive a sign in a dream the same day or few days later. Keep praying for a sign before going to bed. Pay attention to how you felt in the dream or after waking up. You can take help of a dream interpreter/ an expert. Not everyone receive guidance through dreams. You will hear, see or feel good or bad about a certain situation you are seeking guidance for. Divine Inner Wisdom will speak to you, hear it out & follow through.

5. When confused, what to do?

You did it once and are left confused with the result/ outcome then repeat it twice or thrice. If still confused then treat your head first, learn to listen to the Universal screams & consult an expert.

6. Any other method to practice?

There is Tasbeeh method and Quran click here (add a link). I only relied on dua with strong & clear intention. In muslim spirital tradtions Pendulum Dosing is one popular quick Yes or No technique.

Take-Home Message

Dua is a powerful spell to cast, the energy that never dies but transforms. What I mean by this is that a prayer not accepted is rewarded in another form, the energy is never wasted but transmutes into other form that you might not see but is already in motion. Istikhara- seeking guidance, it will always shown to you in either dream, hearing some news, a song lyric, a poetry, literally anything. You have to sit in YIN energy, receptive mode to soak in the message by NOT BEING BIASED OR ATTACHED. Attachment creates a resistance for energy to flow freely. Just Surrender from a zone of neutrality. You will see magic everywhere.