Assalamu Alaykum, Dear Brothers, and sisters, I hope You are well. If you have come to this site with an interest to know about Istekhara, then you have come right place. After reading the whole post you will better understand everything about Istekhara, InshaAllah.
What is istikhara?
Istikhara means to seek goodness from Allah Almighty, meaning when one intends to do an important task they do istikhara before the task.
Istikhara is the act of asking Allah for help in order to make the right decision for a task.
Why do Istikhara?
People at different times are confused about their task whether it is good or bad for them, Then right guidance is received through Istikhara.
Before Marriage, employment, business, travel, and any legal matters It is better to do Istikhara.
Narrated Jabir bin Abdillah: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara, in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Qur’an. He said, “If anyone of you thinks of doing any Task he should Perform two Rak’at Salah (prayer) other than the compulsory ones (Nafil Salah) and say (after the prayer) (I will discuss this Dua below)
How to do istikhara?
Finally, I am going to tell you how to do istikhara .
- Perform wudu.
- Perform two cycles (raka’) Salah.
- Like other duas, one face to the qibla.
- Praise Allah.
- Recite Darood upon the Prophet.
- Recite Dua of istikhara.
Darood is important to be accepted by Duas (why is Darood important?)
First Perform Two Cycles (raka’) of Salah (nafil) such that in the first raka’ after Surah Fatiha (Allhamd…..) recite Surah Al-Kafirun(Qul-ya-Ayuhal-kafirun..) and in the second raka’ after Fatiha (Allhamd…) recite Surah al-Ikhlas (Qul-Huwallahu Ahad..) Also, any surah you can recite as you wish. After finishing Salah (Prayer) recite this supplication/dua
If not possible to perform the Salah itself (such as when one is out on the road, or women in one’s menstrual period), then it is recommended to simply read the dua itself.
Istikhara Dua
Transliteration:
“Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as aluka min fadlikal Azim, Fa-innaka taqdiru wala Aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wala a’lamu, wa anta ‘Allamul guyub.
Allahumma, in kunta talamu anna hadhal-amra Khairun li fi dini wa maashi wa-aqibati Amri- ‘ajili Amri wa’ajilihi- Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi,
Wa in kunta talamu anna hadhal-amra sharrun li fi dini wa maashi wa-aqibati Amri-ajili-Amri wa ajilihi- Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bih”
Translation:
O, Allah, I ask guidance (help) from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings and mercy. You are able and I am not. You know and I don’t know and You know all the unseen.
O Allah If You know that, this task is good for my religion and my living life and in my Hereafter, it is better for my present and later needs Then You determine it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it,
and if You know that this task is harmful to me In my religion and living life and in the Hereafter-and If it is worse for my present and later needs-Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And determine for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it).
Reference:
- Sahi Bukhari-1093
- Tirmizi 480
- Ibn-e-Majah 1380
- Riadus-Saliheen-722
Important note
Wherever the word “hajal amara” (هَذَا الأَمْرَ) appears in this dua, remember in your mind that you want to decide on the task.
After the completion of istikhara
After finishing the dua, you will fall asleep facing the Qibla without talking to anyone. After waking up, the mind will feel the result wherever it will be, or where it will be interesting. It is good for you in that work. It is not necessary that you get a dream even If you get signs from the dreams then it’s very good.
Dream after istikhara:
It is not necessary to dream after doing istikhara, it can get hints in any way or it can create interest in the mind. Even then, some people dream. So I would like to explain it a little.
If in the dream one sees whiteness, for example, milk, white sky, white clothes, white light, white paper, etc., or greenness, for example, grass, plants, green clothes, greenhouse, green tree, etc. then understand that this task is better.
If in the dream one sees redness, for example, red water, red house, red clothing, blood, red light, etc., or blackness, for example, black water, black house, black clothing, black sky, etc. then understand it is bad and avoid it.
The istikhara is a Dua that, Allah guides you towards that which is best for you. If you do the istikhara of guidance with the proper manners, the most important of which is to truly consign the matter to Allah and suspend your own inclinations, then Allah will make events unfold in the direction that is the best for you in the world and hereafter.
if you don’t have time to sleep, if you want to make a decision very quickly, then after finishing the Dua, whichever way your mind is interested, the result would be. You will survive the danger and will succeed in that task. Inshallah.
If you are not able to memorize the Dua then you can recite it by looking. But memorization is better.
How many times does the istikhara?
This is an important thing to know that, sometimes it takes only once to get the answer and sometimes it takes longer.
It is better to do istikhara seven (7) times. With a little patience, you will get better results. If you have received an answer which I have explained above, then stop doing istikhara. You do not have received an answer to continue to do isitkhara for Seven (7) days.
If you do not remember any dream or do not see any colors then follow your heart. Whatever intention grows stronger in your heart regarding your targeted task/work follow it after seven days of istakhara.
Briefly again:
Take a brief look at what has been discussed so far. The main title of Article is “Istikhara how to pray”
- What is istikhara? – Istikhara is the act of asking Allah for help in order to make the right decision for a task.
- Why do istikhara? – People at different times are confused about their task whether it is good or bad for them, Then right guidance is received through Istikhara.
- How to do istikhara?– First Perform Two Cycles (raka’) of Salah (nafil) such that in the first raka’ after Surah Fatiha (Allhamd…..) recite Surah Al-Kafirun(Qul-ya-Ayuhal-kafirun..) and in the second raka’ after Fatiha (Allhamd…) recite Surah al-Ikhlas (Qul-Huwallahu Ahad..) Also any surah you can recite as you wish. After finishing Salah (Prayer) recite this supplication/dua. I have mentioned Dua of istikhara Above.
- Dream after istikhara: – It is not necessary to dream after doing istikhara, it can get hints in any way or it can create interest in the mind. Even then, some people dream.
- How many times does the istikhara?-sometimes it takes only once to get the answer and sometimes it takes longer.
Conclusion:
I have given you some important information about istikhara. Before Marriage, employment, business, travel, and any legal matters It is better to do Istakhara. I have explained above A step-by-step Guide. If you follow these correctly then you will get very good results inshallah.
FAQ
Q: How do you perform istikhara?
An:
(1) Perform wudu.
(2) Perform two cycles (raka’) Salah.
(3) Like other duas, one face to the qibla.
(4) Praise Allah.
(5) Recite Darood upon the Prophet.
(6) Recite Dua of Istikhara.
Q: When should you do istikhara?
An: Some scholars recommend performing a general istikhara prayer for all that is good every day.
Q: What is the concept of istikhara?
An: Ibn-e-Hajr (Rahmu-humullah) said, commenting on this hadith: “Istikharah is a word. meaning choosing the best of two things where one needs to choose one of them.” With the salah completed one should say the Istikhaara.
Q: When is it forbidden to do istikhara?
An: Istikhara does not allow for illegal work and death.
Q: How to pray istikhara for Marriage?
An: For any kind of task you can follow the same method.
Q: What are the signs of istikhara?
An: It is not necessary to get signs from dreams after doing istikhara, it can get hints in any way or it can create interest in the mind. Even then, some people dream. I have explained everything above.
Read More.
- Dua After Fajr & Maghrib Salah (Prayer)
- What kind of stocks are halal?
- What are the duties of husband and wife in Islam?
- Is Investing in Stocks Halal or Haram? Investment according to Islam
You have discussed in details, and did answer the many questions. This kind of article enough for understand.
Good way of explaining, and nice post to obtain information about my presentation subject, which i am going
to deliver in school.