Types and etiquette of estekhara

Estekhara has been reported in different ways: with slips of paper (riqa‘), with small balls (banadiq) and with prayer beads (subha). The most important of them is estekhara and seeking good guidance through the Glorious Quran. The person seeking estekhara should observe the following etiquette:

• To be in a state of purity, facing the qibla.
• To turn with his heart to Allah, Majestic is His Majesty, with a sincere intention.
• To seek forgiveness and repent at once.
• Not to speak with anyone else while taking the estekhara, nor busy himself with worldly matters.
• If the estekhara comes out against what he wanted, to meet it with thanks to Allah, Majestic is His Majesty, for making him worthy of consulting Him.