istikhara means A prayer seeking guidance in making a decision. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
Why “istikhara” is a great word
ISTIKHARA — [Noun] A formal prayer in Islam through which a believer seeks divine guidance when confronted with a consequential choice. From Arabic اِسْتِخَارَة (istiḵāra), from the root خ ي ر (ḵ-y-r) meaning 'goodness' or 'best', thus literally 'seeking the best'. Unlike a general *dua* (any personal supplication) or mere *consultation* (seeking human counsel), istikhara is a structured ritual of spiritual surrender. It is the cool pressure of a forehead on the prayer rug at night, the patient waiting for a leaning of the heart, and the conscious release of a cherished plan into hands unseen—a solemn transaction of uncertainty for a peace that arranges events in an order the petitioner cannot yet see.
noun
- A prayer seeking guidance in making a decision.