Istekhara

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Often when we are faced with tough or important decisions in life, we may consult our family and friends. However as Muslims we have also been given the opportunity to ask Allah for guidance.

Salat-ul-Istikhara is a prayer that the Prophet Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the Companions alayhi wa sallamused to perform when they needed guidance with important decisions. It is encouraged that we also implement the practice of Salat-ul-Istikhara in our lives.

Istikharah means seeking good through putting one's COMPLETE TRUST in Allaah. A believer should perform istikharah before starting any important undertaking. Jabir Bin 'Abdillah reported that Allaah's Messenger sallaAllaahu 'alaihi wa sallam used to teach his companions to perform istikarah in all of their affairs- as though he was teaching them a surah from the Qur'an!

Today, many people reserve Salat-ul-Istikhara for decisions related to marriage and relationships but it can be applied to all aspects of life. As Muslims it’s recommended that we always seek the guidance and support of Allah in all the good that we do.

The prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam told them:

'When one of you is about to do something (important), let him pray two non-obligatory rak'at and then say:

Dua

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ،  فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي  عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ )ـ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ)  وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي  (فِي  أعَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ) ـ  فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ،  وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ

 Allahumma innee astakheeruka bi ilmika wa-astaqdiruka biqudratika wa-as'aluka min fadhlika al-adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru walaa aqdiru. Wa ta'lamu walaa a'alamu wa anta allaamul ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal-amr (mention your concern) khayrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma'aashiy wa-'aaqibati amriy, faqdur hu liy wa-'yassar hu- liy thumma baarik liy feehi. Wa in-kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal amr sharrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma'aashiy wa-'aaqibati amriy. Fa-srifhu 'annee wa-srifni 'anhu. Wa aqdur lial khayra haythu kaana thumma a-rdhiniy bihee

 (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 salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  added that then the person should name (mention) his need.

"Istikharah is a word which means asking Allah to help one make a choice, meaning choosing the best of two things where one needs to choose one of them." Istikharah is done when a decision is to be made in matters which are neither obligatory nor prohibited.

Istikhara is an Islamic method that is done to take consent of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala for any kind of task.You can say that Istikhara is the way to get suggestion from the side of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala  for any kind of your personal issue. It is advised that everyone should do Istikhara before doing something important in life.

Istikhara should be done when you want that work to be done, If you have two or three options which is confusing you than do Istikhara.

Before doing the Istikhara examime all the situation, consult with your elders in the family. When everyone consent is final then do wudhu and pray the Istikhara namaaz which is nafl and then read the above Istikhara dua. when reciting the dua where HAZAL AMRA  comes in that pace tell your desire and leave it to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala 

AND INDEED, NEVER WOULD HE REGRET WHO ASKS THE CREATOR TO CHOOSE FOR HIM, AND CONSULTS WITH THE CREATION, AND ASCERTAINS HIS ACTIONS.

If you made the Istikhaarah prayer properly, its answer will be made clear for you; not in dreams nor in the feelings of others. If what you decided on is good for you, Allah will make it easy of you and if it is not good for you, Allah will take it away from you and destine for you good elsewhere.