The Prayer of Seeking Guidance (Istikhara)

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 84
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

Book 1, Chapter 84

The Prayer of Seeking Guidance (Istikhara)

وَ رَوَى مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ عَنْهُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «مَا اِسْتَخَارَ اَللَّهَ عَبْدٌ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً بِهَذِهِ اَلاِسْتِخَارَةِ إِلاَّ رَمَاهُ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِالْخِيَرَةِ يَقُولُ يَا أَبْصَرَ اَلنَّاظِرِينَ وَ يَا أَسْمَعَ اَلسَّامِعِينَ وَ يَا أَسْرَعَ اَلْحَاسِبِينَ وَ يَا أَرْحَمَ اَلرَّاحِمِينَ وَ يَا أَحْكَمَ اَلْحَاكِمِينَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ خِرْ لِي فِي كَذَا وَ كَذَا.
Mu'awiya ibn Maythara narrated that Imam عليه السلام said: "No servant who performs istikhara (seeks Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى guidance) seventy times with this istikhara will be left without Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, granting him guidance." The supplication is: "O’ the best of those who see, O’ the most hearing of the hearers, O’ the swiftest of reckoners, O’ the most merciful of the merciful, O’ the wisest of judges, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family and guide me in such and such matter."
  • Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh