بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Anytime we have a decision to make, we should seek Allah’s guidance and wisdom. Allah alone knows what is best for us, and there may be good in what we perceive as bad, and bad in what we perceive as good.
Salat al-Istikhara is a powerful tool that Allah has given us to ask His guidance in all matters. We should not hesitate to pray Istikhara before making any choice in our lives, big or small. It is highly recommended in our religion to perform do Istikhara before making a decision and you will be rewarded and find Divine assistance for it. If one follows the right sunnahs of decision making, one will also be facilitated towards the very best decision and find far greater success in performing the Istikhara.
Some misconceptions about Istikhara:
1. That it is a prayer of marriage
2. Answered by dreams
3. If you are a sinner, it is best to get done by someone pious
4. Pray Istikhara only for really big things ... marriage, buying a house, etc.
The Islamic understanding of Istikhara is asking Allah to make a choice on one's behalf, that one direct oneself to seeking what is best for one as Allah's chooses. We recognize that we don't know everything, that we may not have considered certain factors, that we don't see the bigger picture, and that we don't know the future. We take the means to make a decision but then before deciding we suspend our judgment and leave the matter to Allah.
Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara in all matters as he taught us a surah of the Qur’an.
He said, “If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two raka'a prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer):
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ
‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as’alaka min fadlika al-‘azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu Wala a’lamu, Wa anta ‘allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta’lam anna hadha-l-amra Khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or ‘ajili amri wa’ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or fi’ajili amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.’
O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter… (or said: If it is better for my present and later needs). Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter… (or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs). Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it). The Prophet added that then the person should name (mention) his need. [Bukhari]
* When making the du'a, the actual matter or decision should be mentioned instead of the words “hathal-amra” (“this matter”).
What needs to note that the answer to one’s Istikhara prayer does not come simply in the form of dreams and feelings but in how Allah facilitates and unfolds events for an individual after he or she genuinely strives to do what is best. Take the most effective means, which includes consulting those whose knowledge and wisdom one has confidence in, and place your trust in Allah.
It’s important to do this prayer with sincerity, knowing in our hearts that only Allah can give us the guidance we seek, and resolved to follow the guidance He gives us, even if it clashes with our own desires.
We should also say the du'a with firm conviction, not begging or pleading, but asking Allah clearly for guidance.
And we should not be impatient after our du'a. We do not put Allah on a timetable. And we should not expect some sort of miracle, or a dream full of signs and symbols. These things are not necessary. We say the prayers and trust that Allah has heard us and will answer us in the way that is best. Even if you are considering a bad choice and ask Allah to decide on it, Allah may choose to go ahead with the decision which may be better than other bad choices that you have made.
Lastly, one needs to be patient in terms of receiving the answer to their prayers. Remember the words of the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam, “The supplication of everyone is granted as long as he does not show haste and does not say that he made a supplication but it was not accepted.” [Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]
May Allah guide us in all our affairs and grant us success in this life and the next. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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