What is the method of the prayer for seeking guidance (istikharah) and its supplication?
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Question:
The questioner, who has used the initials (S. H.) for his name, is Egyptian and resides in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He asks: What is the method of the prayer for seeking guidance (istikharah), what is the prescribed supplication, and is this supplication made during the two rak'ahs or after finishing the prayer?
Answer:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained the prayer for seeking guidance (istikharah). It is that if a person intends to do something and is uncertain about it, he prays two rak'ahs. Then, after the prayer, he raises his hands and supplicates with the supplication the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Ummah: He names the matter, such as this journey, this marriage, or similar things, naming the specific matter. Jami` at-Tirmidhi 480Sahih (Darussalam) This is the lawful supplication for seeking guidance (istikharah).
He raises his hands and says this supplication after the two rak'ahs, whether in the morning, at midday, or at night. It can be done at any time, in the morning, at midday, or at night. There are no specific times... The time for seeking guidance (istikharah) is broad. He prays two rak'ahs, settles down in them, and then says this supplication after the taslim. He raises his hands, praises Allah, and sends blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
This is the Sunnah: he praises Allah first, and sends blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because this is among the causes for the acceptance of supplication. Then he says: He names the matter, such as traveling to such-and-such, my marriage to the daughter of so-and-so, or buying such-and-such land, the matter that is unclear to him and for which he wishes to seek guidance. Sahih al-Bukhari 1166 Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner, who has used the initials (S. H.) for his name, is Egyptian and resides in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He asks: What is the method of the prayer for seeking guidance (istikharah), what is the prescribed supplication, and is this supplication made during the two rak'ahs or after finishing the prayer?
Answer:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained the prayer for seeking guidance (istikharah). It is that if a person intends to do something and is uncertain about it, he prays two rak'ahs. Then, after the prayer, he raises his hands and supplicates with the supplication the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught his Ummah:
O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge, and I seek Your power by Your might, and I ask You of Your immense bounty. For You know and I do not know, and You have power and I do not have power, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter
اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك وأستقدرك بقدرتك وأسألك من فضلك العظيم، فإنك تعلم ولا أعلم وتقدر ولا أقدر وأنت علام الغيوب، اللهم إن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمرIf you know that this matter is good for me in my religion or my livelihood, and for my life in the Hereafter - or he said: for my present and future - then make it easy for me, then bless me in it. If You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and my livelihood and my life in the Hereafter - or he said: for my present and future - then divert it from me and divert me from it, enable me to find the good wherever it is, then make me pleased with it.
خير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري فيسره لي ثم بارك لي فيه، وإن كنت تعلم أنه شر لي، في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري فاصرفه عني واصرفني عنه وقدر لي الخير حيث كان ثم أرضني بهHe raises his hands and says this supplication after the two rak'ahs, whether in the morning, at midday, or at night. It can be done at any time, in the morning, at midday, or at night. There are no specific times... The time for seeking guidance (istikharah) is broad. He prays two rak'ahs, settles down in them, and then says this supplication after the taslim. He raises his hands, praises Allah, and sends blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
This is the Sunnah: he praises Allah first, and sends blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because this is among the causes for the acceptance of supplication. Then he says:
O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge, and I seek Your power by Your might, and I ask You of Your immense bounty. For You know and I do not know, and You have power and I do not have power, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter
اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك وأستقدرك بقدرتك وأسألك من فضلك العظيم، فإنك تعلم ولا أعلم وتقدر ولا أقدر وأنت علام الغيوب، اللهم إن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمرAllahumma, in kunta ta'lam anna hadha-lamra Khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati `Amri (or 'ajili `Amri wa'ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati `Amri (or fi'ajili `Amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.'
اللهم إن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر خير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري فيسره لي ثم بارك لي فيه، وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شر لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري فاصرفه عني واصرفني عنه وقدر لي الخير حيث كان ثم أرضني بهThe presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.