The Meaning of the Phrase "If You Know" in the Supplication for Guidance (Istikhara)
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
He has one more question, but first let us take this call from Muhammad from Jeddah. Yes. Muhammad. Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Honorable Shaykh Salih, may Allah preserve you. I am asking you about the morning dhikr (remembrance of Allah). If I prayed the sunnah (recommended practice) of Fajr after the adhan (call to prayer) and started the dhikr after the sunnah, is it permissible for me to recite Surat al-Ikhlas and Surat al-Kahf before the dhikr, or is it obligatory to do so after the prayer, if Allah wills? Very well, thank you, Muhammad. May Allah bless you. We return to the question of our brother Abu Khalid from Riyadh, who asked about the hadith of istikhara (the prayer for guidance in a decision), which contains the phrase "if you know." He says: This phrase "if you know." Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says that He is All-Knowing, All-Aware of everything.
Answer:
He is not doubting Allah's knowledge; he is doubting whether this matter is suitable for him or not suitable for him.
The presenter:
Yes. May Allah reward you.
He has one more question, but first let us take this call from Muhammad from Jeddah. Yes. Muhammad. Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Honorable Shaykh Salih, may Allah preserve you. I am asking you about the morning dhikr (remembrance of Allah). If I prayed the sunnah (recommended practice) of Fajr after the adhan (call to prayer) and started the dhikr after the sunnah, is it permissible for me to recite Surat al-Ikhlas and Surat al-Kahf before the dhikr, or is it obligatory to do so after the prayer, if Allah wills? Very well, thank you, Muhammad. May Allah bless you. We return to the question of our brother Abu Khalid from Riyadh, who asked about the hadith of istikhara (the prayer for guidance in a decision), which contains the phrase "if you know." He says: This phrase "if you know." Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says that He is All-Knowing, All-Aware of everything.
Answer:
He is not doubting Allah's knowledge; he is doubting whether this matter is suitable for him or not suitable for him.
The presenter:
Yes. May Allah reward you.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، برنامج (فتاوى) (024) لمعالي الشيخ صالح الفوزان بتاريخ [1434-02-06] - كبار العلماء — youtube.com (45:33)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.