Is it valid to perform the prayer for guidance (istikharah) regarding remaining alive if that is good, or dying if that is bad?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Excuse me. It is established in the authentic narrations regarding the prayer for guidance (istikharah) from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). If one were to perform the prayer for guidance: “O Allah, if You know that life is better for me…” Is it permissible to perform the prayer for guidance with this specific supplication?
The Shaykh : Is it permissible, what?
The questioner : I mean: “O Allah, if You know that life is better for me in my religion, then let me remain alive, decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that life is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, decree good for me wherever it may be, and make me content with it.” Is this prayer for guidance valid?
The Shaykh : It is not authentic.
The questioner : It is not valid. You supplicate to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to remain in life if life is good, and if it is not good…
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. Why are you repeating it?
The questioner : Yes, may Allah bless you. May Allah reward you with every good.
Another questioner : Perhaps, Shaykh, he is asking about the hadith.
The Shaykh : Similar to the hadith?
The questioner : The hadith.
The Shaykh : Similar, similar?
The questioner : Perhaps he is asking about this hadith.
The Shaykh : No, he is asking about the prayer for guidance (istikharah).
The Shaykh : Is it permissible, what?
The questioner : I mean: “O Allah, if You know that life is better for me in my religion, then let me remain alive, decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that life is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, decree good for me wherever it may be, and make me content with it.” Is this prayer for guidance valid?
The Shaykh : It is not authentic.
The questioner : It is not valid. You supplicate to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to remain in life if life is good, and if it is not good…
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. Why are you repeating it?
The questioner : Yes, may Allah bless you. May Allah reward you with every good.
Another questioner : Perhaps, Shaykh, he is asking about the hadith
O Allah, keep me alive as long as You know that life is better for me, and cause me to die if You know that death is better for me.
اللهم أحيني ما علمت الحياة خيرا لي وأمتني إن علمت الوفاة خير ليThe Shaykh : Similar to the hadith?
The questioner : The hadith
O Allah…
اللهم . .The Shaykh : Similar, similar?
The questioner : Perhaps he is asking about this hadith.
The Shaykh : No, he is asking about the prayer for guidance (istikharah).
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.