Q&A for How to Do Istikhara

It is not required that you not speak after performing Istikhara, but you should be in a state of remembrance and trust in Allah that He will help you in your difficulties and guide you through them.

You can recite dua of istikhara after praying 2 rakat after any obligatory prayer. There is no time specification or specific surah for it.

Some people may have dreams; however, this is not always the case. For most people, the events that occur after the istikhara usually incline those to the path they should take.

Allah has so much mercy and loves his creations. Of course, you can perform for anything that you are worried about, big or small. Just remember Allah is always there for you.

Istikhara can be done for anything, regardless of how big or small you may think it is. You can ask Allah for guidance for anything - there's no requirement of what it can be about.

Yes, absolutely. Istakhara means receiving a suggestion from Allah. You will feel the answer in your heart.

Of course. There's no limit to how often you can do istikhara. In fact, it's good to ask Allah for support and guidance during times of hardship, so you're allowed to do it multiple times.

Istikhara can be done for many different reasons and in several situations. In this situation, you want help or guidance, so you may perform istikhara to ask Allah to guide you in this difficult situation. The Prophet said, "If any one of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer."

Yes. While salatul istikhara is a means of finding guidance for oneself, it is permissible for you to perform it on behalf of someone, or to help someone seek guidance for some sort of problem.

Definitely! Istikhara is a way to ask Allah for guidance on any issue, no matter how big or small.

If your parents are against but you both want to get married, ask for help of your brother (if you have one who is supportive of you); he can take role of wali on himself in this case for purpose of getting you married or in your masjid. If your relationship became haraam because your parents preventing you from marriage - the sins are also on their hands in this case - again masjid should help, because now is in your best interest make it halal - and you hardly can have halal marriage with another men while you love someone else. Istikhara may help you if you use it as help to get married and get blessings upon your marriage.

Of course you can. You should do Istakhara in situations like this, i.e. before exams.

Of course! There's no set criteria for Salat-al-Istikhara. If you would like guidance and support in this matter, then you can perform the Istikhara.

Just make dua to Allah. Talk to him in the best language you know and tell Him as many details as you can think of. Repeat this often.

It's preferably done before going to sleep, but you can do it whenever. Go with your regular life; if it is something you need to work on, work on it, and if it is good for you, Allah will Inshallah make it work for you.

It can be performed at any time during the day, except during times during which it is forbidden to pray.

Yes. When you recite the Istikhara prayer with a specific goal in your mind, then He will guide you.

You may find out eventually, but istikhara is way to get blessings for something you are planning to do.

Of course - reciting a surah after Al-Fatiha isn't even obligatory. Rather, it's sunnah. If you do not know any surahs, you can just recite Al-Fatiha in both rak'ahs, and then pray the Dua.

This would be against the sunnah, as the practice of the Prophet is recommended to follow. If you do not know the du'a, you can read it from a book or read the transliteration. However, du'a in another language is permissible and Allah always listens to du'a.

You can ask as many things as you want to, but it is better to be specific on the matter that you need guidance on from Allah.

You should ask your relatives first of their view of that person, if they are Muslim. Istakhara is good thing to do anyway, but it shouldn't be used as Q&A -- it's meaning is to get blessings for action you are determined to do.

Yes, after two rak'ah of naafil (supererogatory) prayers, you pray the Istikhara du'a.

No, but it's usually performed before going to sleep, so you wouldn't speak anyway.

As for the Salatul Istikhara, that is done for guidance and support in a difficult situation, which you seem to be in, so yes you can ask Allah for guidance in this matter.

You will get a strong feeling of whether you should or should not do what you asked about. It's spiritual, so you just need to have faith.

Yes, you can.

Two Rakats only. After the conclusion of the prayer, there is a certain duaa that must be recited.

Istikhara is not a Q&A prayer. It's mean to get blessing for action you are sure you going to do. If you need know if he loves you, you can simply ask him (after all, after being married, people have to be able talk with each other). If you're too shy ask in person, do it via message or ask your friend for help.

No, it is not.