HOW TO PRAY SALATUL ISTIKHARA ( SEEKING HELP FROM ALLAH IN A DECISION / MATTER )

WHAT IS ISTIKHARA ?

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THIS ARTICLE IS IN URDU AS WELL: http://the-finalrevelation.blogspot.com/2013/10/urdu-article-what-is-istikhara-and.html

Istikhara in arabic means taking Allahs help. Whenever one wants to undertake a decision or a matter or anything regarding his life whether it be an important matter or a casual matter, he can (should) pray two raka'ats nawafil prayer and supplicate the below mentioned dua of istikhara after it to seek the help of Allah in his matter/decision.Istikhara cannot be done for haraam or disliked matters in Islam (working in a bank operating on interest, going to a club, having illegal sexual intercourse and etc). Istikhara is only and only allowed for matters which are mubah (allowed) or mustahab (recommended) in Islam concerning either an individual's personal life (property etc) or religious life (marriage, help in Islamic issues).


Always remember : {Does He Who created not know, while He is The Subtle, The Acquainted?} [Quran 67:14]

For E.g - One can do Istikhara to seek Allah's help to assist him decide :

• which college should he get admission into,
• or if he should open this business or not ,
• or if he should undertake this journey or not ,
• or if one should marry him/her or not,
• or if one should invest in this or not,
• and so and so forth.

WHAT DO THE HADEETH HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ISTIKHARA

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Quran. 

"Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) used to teach us to seek Allah's Counsel in all matters, as he used to teach us a Surah from the Qur'an. He would say: When anyone of you has an important matter to decide, let him pray two Rak'ahs other than the obligatory prayer, and then say:  

"اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمَكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ، وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْر(*) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي(*) فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي (*) فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ".

(*) = This is where we should mention the task for which istikhara is being done. If in case you are not able to speak or find the right words then your intention in the heart will in sha allah be counted . This will be understood better by reading the translation below 

 

Transliteration of the dua :

Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa asaluka min fadlika al-'azim 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 li wa yas-sirhu li summa 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 summa ardini bihi.

Translation of the dua :

'O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, You are Capable and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [then mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, - [or say: in this life and the afterlife] - then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, - [or say: in this life and the afterlife] - then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and help me to be content with it.'

[Ref: Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 21, Number 263 ]

Whoever seeks the counsel of the Creator will not regret it and whoever seeks the advice of the believers will feel confident about his decisions . Allah said in the Qur'an :

"And consult them in the affair. Then when you have taken a decision , put your trust in Allah. [Aal-'Imran 3:159]


كَانَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ مَا رَأَيْتُ أَحَدًا قَطُّ كَانَ أَكْثَرَ مَشُورَةً لِأَصْحَابِهِ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ


Abu Huraira reported: I never saw anyone consult his companions more often than the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.

[Ref: Musnad Ahmad 18449. Though this hadeeth has weaknesses, yet the seerah of the prophet is filled with incidents proving the wordings of this hadeeth ]



Al-Hasan Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “By Allah, people are never consulted except that the best option is made available to them,” and then he recited the verse, “Those who conduct their affairs with consultation between themselves.” (42:39)


[Ref: Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 258]

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE DON'T DO ISTIKHARA? 

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said " The happiness of the son of Adam depends on his being content with what Allah has decreed for him, and the misery of the son of Adam results from his failure to pray istikhaarah, and the misery of the son of Adam results from in his discontent with what Allah has decreed for him."

[ al-Tirmidhi # 2151. Classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, 1/699, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. It was classed as hasan by al-Haafiz ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari, 11/184 but due to the presence of Muhammad bin Abi Humayd – who is considered as a Munkarul Hadeeth, the chain of this hadeeth is weak as affirmed by Tirmidhi himself and by Al Busayri, Al Albaani, Ahmad Shakeer, Muhammad al Manaawi, Shaikh Zubayr Ali Za’ee and etc] ]

Importance of Istikhara by Salafus Saaliheen (righteous predecessors - the Imams of Muslims)  

Link : http://www.abdurrahman.org/knowledge/Abbas-Abu-Yahya/166_-_Istikhaarah_www.AbdurRahman.org.pdf



Here's a real Video, wherein a woman possessed by a Jinn, is admonishing and advicing all Muslims to do Istikhara before All matters so you don't end up being into trouble like how she is

   Watch "Jinn Interrupts A Phone Conversation Between A Shaykh And A Sister (2012)" on YouTube  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1K6bndKj_8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

See more about Jinns, their types, the defense from them and etc here : http://the-finalrevelation.blogspot.in/search?q=jINN&x=0&y=0 

 

 

Method for doing Istikhara : 

1. In accordance to the hadith mentioned above one has to pray two rakats of nafil salah. You may recite any surahs in those 2 rakat's as u wish , However certain scholars having considered the virtue of surah Ikhlas and Surah Al kafiroon suggested that one may recite Surah Al kafiroon (chapter 109) after surah al fatiha in the first raka' and recite Surah al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112) after Al fatiha in the second rakat but this is merely a suggestion only and not a sunnah. After having completed the salah one has to recite the above mentioned dua of istikhara .Please note that salah is a way of communicating with our Lord, so be focused during the salah as well as during the dua after it. Also it is highly recommended that the person first praises Allah, then sends blessings upon the prophet (s.a.w) , then recite the dua for istikhara and then if you wish make more dua (you may make it in your language as well). The importance of sending blessings upon the messenger of Allah (s.a.w) is taken from the ahadeeth : 

• It is narrated from Faddaalah ibn ‘Ubayd (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) heard a man making du’aa’ in his prayer without glorifying Allaah or sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘This man is in a hurry.’ He called him and said to him or to someone else, ‘When anyone of you makes du’aa’, let him start by glorifying his Lord and praising Him, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), then let him pray for whatever he wants.’” [Ref: Abu Dawood (1481) and al-Tirmidhi (3477) ] 

• Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Du’aa’ is detained (stopped) between the heavens and the earth and no part of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).”

[Ref: Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 486, Weak]

• There is no specific timing one has to follow to perform salatul istikhara i.e. you can pray this salah anytime of the day or night apart from the hours (time) when salah cannot be offered (during the sunrise ,sunset and when the sun is right above ) or in other words when prostration (sujood) is haraam (during those times). To know more click on the below link : 

        The Ruling regarding the time when prayer is forbidden and when allowed   

• The above mentioned two Raka`ah prayer has to be made separately for doing al-Istikhaarah. It can be done with the Sunan Rawaatib (the 12 Sunnah prayers made throughout the day, 2 before Fajr, 2+2 (i.e 4 rak'ah) before Dhuhr and 2 after it, 2 after Maghrib and 2 after `Ishaa’). It cannot be done with (i.e joining it with) the obligatory prayer (example 2 Raka`aat of Fajr or the 4 of Dhuhr etc).

After praying salatul Istikhara it is recommended that we consult others (which could be our relatives, friends and etc) for advise or help because of the general evidence : 

"And consult them in affair. Then when you have taken a decision, put you trust in Allah" (3:159) وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ ”So wait patiently for the Decision of your Lord” [Surah At-Tur:48]

How many times should a person pray or do istikhara? 

The number of times for performing istikhara has not been specified by the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) hence we can do it as long as we aren't sure and convinced regarding our decision and this is the opinion of some scholars like Shaikh Ibn Baaz (r.h) and others.

How would we know the answer of our istikhara?

Since Istikhara is a method where we seek the Help of Allah, one cannot lay down protocols or fixed methods so as to how Allah would help him/her. but in regards to ahadith, scholarly opinions and other experiences from life we may say that the answer could be as  explained below : 1. One very famous yet highly misunderstood method is that sometimes a believer may get indications or signs or even a clear message in his dream from Allah. Apart from real life experiences we also have the below evidence :  Shaykh Saleh al-Munajjid explains the meaning of the hadeeth recorded in Al-Bukhaari, 6499; Muslim, 4200, Interpretation of the hadeeth wheren he explained

that since the Prophethood and its effects will be so far away in time, so the believers will be given some compensation in the form of dreams which will bring them some good news or will help them to be patient and steadfast in their faith.

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If any one of you sees a dream that he likes, this is from Allaah, so let him praise Allaah for it and talk about it to others. If he sees other than that, a dream that he dislikes, this is from the Shaytaan, so let him seek refuge with Allaah from its evil and not mention it to anyone, for it will not harm him.” [Ref: Al-Bukhaari, 6584, and Muslim, 5862] 

Hence, it may be possible that the believer may get some indication through dreams regarding his matter. To know more regarding the ruling of dreams and different kinds of dreams visit : http://islamqa.info/en/ref/25768

2. However please note that It's not neccesary that one may always or even sometimes get a dream or etc. there could be many other ways or signs through which Allah could help us and dreams are not a condition or are not related to Istikhara as such in particular. Thus we should not depend on dreams and should not consider it to be an inevitable solution because we don't know of allah's different ways but here is something that might help you understand the signs : Before we begin enlisting some of the signs out of experience, please remember that these signs are not as such derived from quran and hadeeth in particular but from scholarly experiences, books of islamic history wherein some sahaabas got a dream and from real life experiences. So do not consider them to be an absolute authority , rather take them only as a suggestion or a mere chance of occurance. Also note that in the dua of istikhaara, we ask allah to facilitate and make easy what is good for us therefore the below signs are based on such. Continuing, :

Say for e.g, you want to buy a property and after doing istikhara, maybe the same day or tomrow or etc, you consult people and get a response which could either help you go forward in your decision or stop you from it. If suppose the people give a negative feedbacks or maybe you get a call or learn that the property you were interested in is a disputed land or has some other issues with it which could cause trouble or etc, then this could possibly (note : possibly) be a sign from Allah to aware you from buying it. Also a believer must have firm faith in Allah that after doing istikhara , the person whole heartily leaves this matter to Allah and whichever way or whatever sign Allah shows or facilitates then that should be his decision.

Another example could be that, You may want to marry a guy and after doing istikhara, things don't work out between the two due to genuine reasons, or between the families or maybe you learn some undesirable facts about the guy which you don't like or agree to ; then this could also be a strong sign from Allah. Again this example is out of experience only and not from any hadeeth.

3. Sometimes, we neither get dreams nor any strong sign. in this case one should continue to seek help from Allah and continue praying istikhara and supplicating to Allah with more and more sincerity. in this case the best that is known from scholars is that one should proceed with what his heart is content to doing and if there isn't any problem arising in his step or decision then he can or may as well go for it.  An e.g to explain this could be that, after thorough investigation, you cannot make up your mind in regards to which agent should you give your money to book the tickets and service for Hajj. In this case, do what your heart is content with and if there is no probelm during the booking procedure like (no delays, no arguments, no doubtful feelings) then go for it.  4. Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said concerning the matter of feeling happy about something: "If he makes istakhaarah, then whatever Allah makes him feel happy about and makes easy for him, this is what Allah has chosen for him." (Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa, 10/539)

What if the answer of our Istikhaara is against our former decision or against what we like?

And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.” (AI-Baqarah, 2:216) 

Does He Who created not know, while He is The Subtle, The Acquainted? [Quran 67:14]

The Prophet (s.a.w) said " ....Allah's decisions are the right ones and His conditions are the strong ones (firmer)... 

[Ref: Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 377] 

Abu Ad-Darda reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Your love of something might render you blind and deaf.” 

[Ref: Sunan Abu Dawud 5130, Da’eef according to jumhoor ,but has a saheeh (reasonable) matan , therefore some have graded it to be hassan on the basis of mutaabi’at wa shawaahid]

 وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ 

”So wait patiently for the Decision of your Lord” [Surah At-Tur:48]

 لَا يَقْضِي اللهُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ مِنْ قَضَاءٍ إِلَّا كَانَ خَيْرًا لَه 

The Prophet (s.a.w) said : "Allah does not decree anything for the believer except it is good for him. and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him". 

[Ref: Authenticated by Ibn Katheer in his Tafseer of Surah al Kahf, under verse 81; also by al Haythami in Majmoo' al-Zawa'id 7/213 al Fataawa al Kubra ibn Taymiyyah 1/262; Madaarij al-Saalikeen of Ibn Qayyim 1/80; and a similar hadeeth is found in Saheeh Muslim, Book 1 Hadeeth 27] 

Abu Darda r.a narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said

 لكل شيء حقيقة ، وما بلغ عبد حقيقة الإيمان حتى يعلم أن ما أصابه لم يكن ليخطئه ، وما أخطأه لم يكن ليصيبه 

Everything has a reality and the slave(of Allah) cannot reach the reality of Emaan(faith) until he knows what was meant for him will never miss him, and what misses me was never meant for him. 

[Musnad Ahmed Hadeeth 27490, Classed as Hasan by shyakh Zubair ali zai, Taken from Brother Abu Husna ]  Ibn Masud (رضي الله عنه) said: Indeed a person will embark upon an affair of business or a position of authority until it becomes easy for him and he is close to achieving it. Thus Allah will look at him and say to the angels:  ❝Turn that away from him, for surely if I facilitate this for him I will enter him into the Hell-fire (due to the arrogance/sins/evil deeds he falls into after attaining this business/thing in life).❞ So Allah will turn this affair away from him. The person will continue to see this as a bad thing and he will say: ❝So and so beat me to this, so and so outsmarted me.❞ But in reality it is a blessing from Allah the Exalted. [Ibn Rajab in Jaami' al-'Uloom w'al-Hukam; Translated By Ibn Estes Barbee]

For Details see : http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaDetails.aspx?

View=Page&PageID=12613&PageNo=1&BookID=2&languagename Question : 

Despite doing istikhara , why haven't i found an answer yet? Answer : 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PPp-cRDQLU&feature=share 

Tips regarding Istikhara : > (Click here) The times when prayers are answered the most (Hotline to contact Allah) > See why dua'as are not accepted

• When your doing Istikhara know that you are taking Allah's help and that is the best help one can ask for. this is a bonus method given to us by Allah so make best use of it.

• And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things. [Surah Al-Talq, Verse 2-3]

• Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allâh's Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers." [Surah Saba, Verse 39]
  
  
  Also see: http://www.abdurrahman.org/knowledge/Abbas-Abu-Yahya/166_-_Istikhaarah_www.AbdurRahman.org.pdf
  

SOME VIRTUES OF DOING ISTIKHARA FROM PROPHETIC AHADEETH AND SCHOLARLY FATAWA

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " مِنْ سَعَادَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ اسْتِخَارَتُهُ اللهَ، وَمِنْ سَعَادَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ رِضَاهُ بِمَا قَضَى اللهُ، وَمِنْ شِقْوَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ تَرْكُهُ اسْتِخَارَةَ اللهِ، وَمِنْ شِقْوَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ سَخَطُهُ بِمَا قَضَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ  Sa`ad ibn abi waqqas (r.a) reported that the Messenger of Allah sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam (is reported to have) said: For the son of Adam to do istikhara (i.e. seek help from allah) and be content with the decision of Allah (after doing istikhara) is from the source of his contentment whereas for the son of adam to abstain from doing istikhara and thereafter not being content with Allah's decree is a source of his misfortune/misery  [Ref: Musnad Ahmad 3/54 shamela ; A discussion by Imam Abdur rahman Mubarakfoori r.h on its chain and meaning in his Tuhfadh is here: http://library.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?idfrom=4095&idto=4106&bk_no=56&ID=1471. Ir respectively, the meaning of this hadeeth are saheeh due to corroborating matan-based evidences ]  A hadeeth in Saheeh al-Bukhaari via Jabir (r.a) states that " The Messenger of Allah sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam used to teach us the dua/method of Istikhara the way he had us learnt a surah of the qur'an"  Imam Mubarakfoori in his Tuhfadh al-Awadhi says quoting this hadeeth that ' the very similitude of istikhara with the glorious chapters of the qur'an shows its high significance and merit'  [Ref: Tuhfadh al-awadhi 2/506] Imam ibn taymiyyah (r.h) summarizing the various steps involved in the entire process of Istikhara said: One who seeks goodness/assistance from Allah , thereafter consults (pious, smart and reliable) people for their opinions (on his decision) and then stays firm in his path will never be humiliated  [Ref: Kalma at-tayyib page 71]  Doing Istikhara has been the practice of every pious and great scholar including the towering personality Muhammad ibn Isma`eel al-Bukhaari rahimahullah who when compiling his Saheeh did istikhara for every single hadeeth that he penned down in the book.  It is reported that Imam Bukhari himself said : "When i used to complete the research of a particular hadeeth that fulfiled the conditions of the principles of hadeeth, i then used to pray istikhara and then on moonlight nights sat near the grave of the Messenger of Allah sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam writing down each of these "  [Ref: Muqadammah Fath ul Bari lil Ibn Hajar asqalani] 

All Good is from Allah and all mistakes are mine. May Allah have mercy on the one who corrects me.