Istikhara means to see Goodwill and Wellbeing. I mean ahead of action, seeking kindness, and well-being regarding that effort in the court of Allah Almighty is called Istikhara. Provided that the effort is not haram, fard, or wajib because if it is haram, it is mandatory to avoid it. If it is Fard or Wajib, It is compulsory to perform it.
For example, offering salah, so every person owns to offer salah. Hence, Istikhara is not complete for these actions. In Istikhara, it is important to be concerned about one more thing when you have only made an achievement. The purpose is not even to compete, rather it is just a conclusion.
Istikhara prayer is a rehearsal in our Islam where one pursues Allah’s advice when overlooked with a decision. It includes a common dua and sometimes references Quranic verses. Here are below:
1. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:186)
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
Translation:
“And when My steward asks you are bothering Me, indeed I am close. I answer to the caller when he calls on Me. So let them answer to Me [by tractable] and accept in Me that they may be correctly guided.”
2. Surah Ash-Shuraa (42:10)Arabic:
وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبِّي عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ
Translation:
“And in any such thing over which you clash– its decision is [to be brought up] to Allah. [Say], ‘That is Allah, my Ruler; call on Him I have believed in , and to Him I turn back.’’
3. Surah Al-Imran (3:159)
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
Translation:
“So by kindness from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were compassionate with them. And if you had been rude [in talk] and cruel in heart, they would have dissolved from you. So forgive them, ask forgiveness for them, and discuss them in systems. When you have decided, believe in Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who believe in [upon Him].”
Why We Need to Pray Istikhara Prayer
Istikhara prayer is an appropriate prayer that is offered to Allah Almighty for counseling, goodness, well-being, and guidance in a matter. It is a two rakat Nafl Istikhara prayer and straight dua Allah is asked for counseling in making a decision. Here is the method of istikhara prayer given below:
Method of Istikhara prayer:
- Perform Ablution: Firstly perform ablution to purify the body and your soul.
- Pray two rakat nafl.
- Recite any Surah after reciting Surah Fatiha in the first Rakat.
- Recite any Surah after reciting Surah Fatiha in the second rak’ahs as well.
- Recite the specific dua after the Istikhara prayer.
Here are some hadiths related to Istikhara:
- The Hadith of Jabir ibn Abdullah:
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) guided his associates to achieve Istikhara in all stuff, just as he would guide them in a unit from the Quran. Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The mediator of Allah (ﷺ) used to guide us Istikhara in a few matters, as he would guide us through a Surah from the Quran. He said: When one of you is considering over necessary stuff, let him pray two rak’ahs of possible but not mandatory prayer, and say: O Allah, I pursue Your counseling [in making an option] by the honor of Your awareness, and I look up ability by the integrity of Your command, and I ask You of our amazing reward. You have command, I have nothing. And You know, I know I don’t. You are someone who covers things. O Allah, if You know a specific matter [name the specific matter] is good for me in my Islam, my living, and my dealings ( both in this world and the subsequent ), then order it for me, make it not complicated for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this stuff is not best for me in my Islam, my living, and my affairs (both in this world and the subsequent ), then divert it far from me, and divert me far from it. Order for me the best where it may be, and make me thankful for it.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, 1162)
- Trusting in Allah’s instruction:
The signature of Istikhara conveys dependence on Allah’s awareness and insight. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
“If you request, request of Allah; if you pursue help, pursue encouragement from Allah. Know that if the land were to choose together to advantage you with everything, it would advantage you simply with something that Allah has already calculated for you. And if they choose together to mischance you with whatever, they would mischance you only with something Allah has already calculated against you.”
(Sunan al–Tirmidhi, 2516)
How to Pray for Istikhara for Marriage?
The method of reciting the Istikhara prayer for marriage is as follows:
Method of Istikhara:
- Make an intention: Make an intention in your heart that you are seeking guidance from Allah Almighty whether this marriage is better for you or not.
- Pray two rakat nafl prayers:
- Recite Surah Al-Kafrun after Surah Fatiha in the first Rakat.
- Read Surah Al-Ikhlas after Surah Fatiha in the second Rakat.
- Dua after prayer: Recite the specific dua of Istikhara after completing the prayer.
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ. اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ (یہاں اپنی حاجت کا ذکر کریں، مثلاً فلاں شخص سے شادی کرنا) خَيْرٌ لِّي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِّي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ۔
- Rely on the state of your heart: After Istikhara, Allah Ta’ala will put peace in your heart or create an inclination towards it. If guidance is given in a dream, it can also be from Allah.
Prayer of Istikhara:
Read this dua:
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 (یہاں اپنی حاجت کا ذکر کریں) خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، أَوْ قَالَ عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي، أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي.
Benefits of Istikhara prayer:
- After Istikhara, feel calm in the heart and think about this matter.
- Istikhara does not mean that you will get any sign in the dream, but Allah will satisfy the heart.
- After Istikhara put your full trust in Allah.
Step by Step Istikhara Prayer Method
The method of performing Istikhara prayer is as follows step by step:
- Intend (Niyyah): Make the intention of Istikhara. The intention is from the heart, it is not necessary to say it with the tongue, but if you want, you can say:
“O Allah, I request You for advice for the best, through my awareness, and I ask for energy through Your strength.”
- After the intention, attempt two rak’ahs of Nafl prayer.
- Reciting any surah after Surah al-Fatihah in the second rak’ah as well.
- Read Dua Istikhara.
- End the prayer with complete calmness.
- After the prayer, put your trust in Allah and leave your heart to Allah’s will.
Conclusions:
Istikhara means requesting Allah for advice, it promotes decision-making, but basically, the choice is yours to make. Istikhara prayer is an appropriate prayer that is offered to Allah Almighty for counseling, goodness, well-being, and guidance in a matter. It is a two rakat Nafl Istikhara prayer and straight dua Allah is asked for counseling in making a decision.
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