Istikhara according to Sunnah

Istikhara

What is Istikhara?

In shariah terminology, "Istikhara" is to seek guidance from Allah The Almighty, to make the right decision concerning any affair in one’s life, especially when one has to choose between two permissible alternatives, e.g. a career choice, getting married, business, travel, etc.

Why Istikhara is necessary?

Istikhara is a Sunnah.

According to Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith 1166:

Narrated Jabir bin ' Abdullah: The Prophet (SAWW) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara, in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Quran. He said, "If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two Rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say Istikhara Dua (after the prayer).

How to perform Istikhara?

One prays two non-obligatory (nafl) rakats at any time (other than the time that is not disliked/Makrooh Awoqat), immediately after completing two rakats one recites the supplication of istikhara.

The Supplication in Arabic:

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 لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي

* When making the dua, the actual matter or decision should be mentioned instead of the words “hathal-amra” (“this matter”).

Transliteration:

Allâhumma inni astakhiruka bi ilmika wa astaqdiruka biqudratika wa as’aluka min fadlikal-azimi, fa innaka taqdiru walâ aqdiru wa ta’lamu walâ a’lamu wa anta allamul ghuyubi. Allâhumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hâdhal amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma-ashi wa aqibati amri faqdir-hu li wa yassir-hu li thumma barik li fihi wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hâdhal amra sharrun li fi dini wa maâshi wa aqibati amri fasrifhu anni wasrifni anhu waqdir liyal-khayra haythu kâna thumma ardini.

Translation:

“O Allah, verily I seek the better [of either choice] from You, by Your knowledge, and I seek ability from You, by Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. For indeed You have power, and I am powerless; You have the knowledge and I know not; You are the Knower of the unseen realms. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood and the end of my affair then decree it for me, facilitate it for me, and grant me the blessing in it. And if You know that this matter is not good for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood and the end of my affair then turn it away from me and me from it; and decree for me better than it, wherever it may be, and make me content with it.” 

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One should suspend one’s own judgement or inclination about the particular matter, and wait for Allah to show one a sign or to make things happen in a way that indicates what to do. When one is not clear about the result of the istikhara or still found himself in confusion, the fuqaha recommend repeating the Istikhara, up to 7 times if necessary. (usually done on separate occasions). [cf: Radd al-Muhtar].The more one prays the istikhara prayer, the clearer its answer becomes to one.

l It is best to recite it before sleeping, though it is not compulsory.

l Like other duas, it is recommended that one face the qibla.

l It is recommended to open the dua of istikhara, with praise of Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet (SAWW) and to close it in this manner, too.

l It is important to do the Istikhara Dua with sincerity, believing in our hearts that only Allah Almighty can give us the guidance we seek, only He has a complete knowledge and all powers, He knows what is better for us and what is not, even if His decision clashes with our own desires. Allah says in the Quran:

“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(fully informed)? [Quran 67:14]

The Prophet (SAWW) 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]

l  It is disliked to ‘hasten’ in seeking the answer to one’s istikhara, like other duas, because the Prophet (SAWW) said, “Your prayers are answered, unless you hasten, saying, ‘I prayed, but no answer came.”Allah says in the Quran:

 وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ

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

 

Misconceptions about Istikhara:

l Some people think that the istikhârah prayer is prescribed only for certain actions, like marriage and travel and not for everyday decisions, or when a person has to decide between two options. None of these ideas is right. This misconception leads people to avoid praying the istikhârah prayer on many occasions where it would benefit them to do so. Istikhârah prayer is recommended for all of our daily life concerns and decisions, major and minor.

l  It is not necessary that one sees a dreamor light or hears a voice or experience a miracle or even a feel something. Rather, the istikhara is a prayer that Allah guides you towards that which is best (khayr) for you. If you do the istikhara with the proper manners, Allah will make events unfold in the direction that is the best for your worldly and next-worldly affairs.

l Similarly it’s not necessary to perform Istikhara only at night time and especially just before sleeping. The only time you can't perform the Istikhara Nawafil is forbidden(Makrooh) time. (forbidden times are given below;

a) From after performing Fajjar prayer until the sun has risen to the height of a spear,

b)  Midday, when the sun is directly overhead at noon until it passes its zenith.

c) From after performing Asr prayer until the sun has set completely .)

l Asking another person to make Istikhaarah on one’s behalf is not substantiated from any hadith. If someone is unable to offer the Istikhara salah and needs to make Istikhaarah urgently, (such as in menstrual periods or somewhere out where he can not pray ), it is recommended to simply read the dua itself. (It would be beneficial to memorize the Istikhara prayer.)  

Note: With regard to matters that are fard(obligatory), there is no need for istikhaarah to decide whether to do those, and with regard to matters that are haraam (forbidden) or makrooh (disliked), there is no need for istikhaarah to decide whether to avoid them. The issue of istikhaarah is confined to matters that are mubaah (allowed/ permissible), or in mustahabb (recomended) matters.

 Consulting others before praying istikhaarah:

To make Mashwarah (consultation) with someone else is Sunnat. Al-Nawawi said: It is mustahabb, before praying istikhaarah, to consult someone whom you knows is sincere, caring and experienced, and who is trustworthy with regard to his religious commitment and knowledge. Allah says in the Quran:

“they (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation between themselves” (Surah Shura 42: 38).

What will happen if one doesn't do Istikhara?

The Messenger of Allah (SAWW) 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).

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