Question:
What do the scholars and experts of shari’ah say regarding salat al-Istikhara? Are there specific verses which should be read? If so, what are they?
Answer:
A person can read any surah whilst praying salat al-istikhara. It is mustahab to read surah al-kafirun in the first raka’at and surah al-ikhlas in the second. Reciting these surahs are more appropriate in order to instil humility and sincerity in one’s intention in the presence of Allah the Almighty.
Some scholars have stated that it is better to recite the following verse after Fatiha in the first raka’at (Surah al-Qasas: v.68-69):
﴿وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيَخْتَارُ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ وَرَبُّكَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُكِنُّ صُدُورُهُمْ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ﴾
In the second raka’at recite (Surah al-Ahzab: v.36):
﴿وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُبِينًا﴾
Imam Tahawi has also mentioned both of these opinions in his ‘Hashiya ‘ala Maraqi al-Falah Sharh Nur ul-Idah’.
And Allah ﷻ knows the best
This fatwa is written by Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al-Azhari
