If a matter is unclear to a person, should he begin with consultation or with the prayer for guidance?
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The student: If a matter is unclear to a person, should he begin with the prayer for guidance or with consultation?
The Shaykh : A good question. It asks: if a matter is unclear to a person, should he begin with the prayer for guidance or with consultation? We say he should begin with the prayer for guidance, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Hamm" means that worry struck him regarding it, and he hesitated and was uncertain. It is not his intention that for every matter that concerns you, you should pray two rak'ahs. "If one of you intends a matter"—if a person intends to go out to eat, does he pray two rak'ahs and seek guidance? No. Sunan Abi Dawud 1538Sahih (Al-Albani) It means if a matter worries him and nothing becomes clear to him, let him pray two rak'ahs. So we say: begin first with the prayer for guidance for two reasons:
The first is that this is the apparent meaning of the hadith.
The second is that it is clear that turning to Allah is better than turning to the opinions of people. So we begin with the prayer for guidance before consultation.
The Shaykh : A good question. It asks: if a matter is unclear to a person, should he begin with the prayer for guidance or with consultation? We say he should begin with the prayer for guidance, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
If one of you intends a matter, let him pray two rak'ahs
إذ هم أحدكم بالأمر فليصل ركعتينWhen one of you intends to do a work
إذا هم أحدكم بالأمرThe first is that this is the apparent meaning of the hadith.
The second is that it is clear that turning to Allah is better than turning to the opinions of people. So we begin with the prayer for guidance before consultation.