How is the prayer for guidance (istikharah) performed, O honorable Shaykh, and how many units (rak'ahs) does it consist of? Please inform us. May Allah reward you with good.
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The questioner : How is the prayer for guidance (istikharah) performed, O honorable Shaykh, and how many units (rak'ahs) does it consist of? Please inform us. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The prayer for guidance (istikharah) is that when a person intends to do something and hesitates whether to proceed or leave it, he should in this state pray two units (rak'ahs) other than the obligatory prayer, and then say:Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 22:277 and he names it If he does this, and something becomes more prominent in his mind, then that is what is sought, so let him take it. If nothing becomes prominent, he repeats the prayer for guidance (istikharah) again until the matter becomes clear to him. If it remains confusing to him, he consults someone he trusts for their experience and honesty. When the matter becomes apparent, he seeks help from Allah and does it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The prayer for guidance (istikharah) is that when a person intends to do something and hesitates whether to proceed or leave it, he should in this state pray two units (rak'ahs) other than the obligatory prayer, and then say:
O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge and I seek Your power by Your might, for You are the One who has power and I do not, and You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if this matter
اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك وأستقدرك بقدرتك فإنك تقدر ولا أقدر، وتعلم ولا أعلم، وأنت علام الغيوب، اللهم إن كان هذا الأمرis good for me in my religion, my worldly life, and the immediate and deferred aspects of my affair, then decree it for me and make it easy for me. And if You know that this matter is evil for me in my religion, my worldly life, and the immediate and deferred aspects of my affair, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and then decree for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.
خيراً لي في ديني ودنياي وعاجل أمري وءاجله فاقدره لي ويسره لي، وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شرا لي في ديني ودنياي وعاجل أمري وءاجله فاصرفه عني واصرفني عنه، ثم اقدر لي الخير حيث كان، ورضني بهThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you.