The Place of the Istikharah Supplication in Prayer

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Q: A questioner from Makkah al-Mukarramah asks: When is the istikharah supplication recited or said: outside the prayer—that is, after the prayer—or during the prayer? And at what point in it? Is there a difference between reciting the "istikharah" supplication from a book or a piece of paper, and making the supplication from memory? And is it prescribed to repeat the istikharah prayer for the same matter several times?

A: It is prescribed for the Muslim, when he prays the istikharah prayer, to make supplication after the taslim from it; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):

If anyone of you is deliberating about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two Rak’ah of non- obligatory prayer, then say: Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ‘ilmika

إذا همَّ أحدُكم بالأمر فليركع ركعتين من غير الفريضة، ثم ليقل: اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك..

Sunan Ibn Majah 1383Sahih (Darussalam)

the hadith.
And this indicates that the supplication is to be made after the taslim from the prayer, and it is better that he raise his hands; because raising them is among the causes of the acceptance of the supplication, and al-Bukhari narrated the hadith in his "Sahih" from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) and this is its text: Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach us istikharah in all matters, just as he would teach us a surah from the Qur'an, saying:

"When one of you contemplates entering upon an enterprise, let him perform two Rak'ah of optional prayer other than Fard prayers and then supplicate: "Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as-'aluka min fadlikal-'azim. Fainnaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa Anta 'allamul- ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-'amra (and name what you want to do) khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, (or he said) 'ajili amri ajilihi, faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal 'amra (and name what you want to do) sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, (or he said) wa 'ajili amri wa ajilihi, fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur liyal- khaira haithu kana, thumma ardini bihi." (O Allah, I consult You through Your Knowledge, and I seek strength through Your Power, and ask of Your Great Bounty; for You are Capable whereas I am not and, You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and name it) is good for me in respect of my Deen, my livelihood and the consequences of my affairs, (or he said), the sooner or the later of my affairs then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. But if You know this matter (and name it) to be bad for my Deen, my livelihood or the consequences of my affairs, (or he said) the sooner or the later of my affairs then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and grant me power to do good whatever it may be, and cause me to be contented with it).

إذا هَمَّ أحدُكم بالأمر فليركع ركعتين من غير الفريضة، ثم ليقل: اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك، وأستقدرك بقدرتك، وأسألك من فضلك العظيم، فإنك تقدر ولا أقدر، وتعلم ولا أعلم، وأنت علام الغيوب، اللهم إن كنتَ تعلم أن هذا الأمر خير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري -أو قال: عاجل أمري وآجله- فاقدره لي، ويسره لي، ثم بارك لي فيه، وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شر لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري -أو قال: عاجل أمري وآجله- فاصرفه عني، واصرفني عنه، واقدر لي الخير حيث كان، ثم رضني به

Riyad as-Salihin 717

, he said:

And he names his need.

ويُسَمِّي حاجته

narrated by al-Bukhari.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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