The Supplication for Seeking Guidance (Istikhara)
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Question:
In the second question of the letter from the questioner (F. S.) from Makkah al-Mukarramah, we addressed a question she had, and this question remains for her. She says: There is a supplication for choosing matters, so what is this supplication? And what are the etiquettes of supplication? O Shaykh.
Answer:
One should supplicate to Allah with whatever is easy for him, saying: “O Allah, make it easy for me to do such-and-such,” “O Allah, help me with such-and-such,” “O Allah, make it easy for me to find a righteous wife,” and a woman says: “O Allah, make it easy for me to find a righteous husband,” “and righteous offspring,” “O Allah, make it easy for me to have good wealth, lawful earnings,” and the like. He supplicates and asks Allah for his needs.
And if he seeks guidance in a matter where he is hesitating: Should he travel? Should he buy this thing, this house? Should he marry this woman? Should she marry this man? If she seeks guidance, seeking guidance is prescribed. He prays two rak'ahs, then raises his hands and says: He clarifies it, he puts in his name, “O Allah, if You know that my travel to such-and-such Jami` at-Tirmidhi 480Sahih (Darussalam) my travel, or my marriage to so-and-so, or my purchase of this wealth for trade Sahih Ibn Hibban 7:282.
This is what is prescribed. This is an authentic hadith. If a person does this—this supplication—in some difficult matters, such as traveling to a certain country for trade, or marrying so-and-so, or buying a certain house, or the like; he seeks guidance when he is hesitating. And a woman likewise seeks guidance if she hesitates about a husband, or about buying something; so seeking guidance is required. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
In the second question of the letter from the questioner (F. S.) from Makkah al-Mukarramah, we addressed a question she had, and this question remains for her. She says: There is a supplication for choosing matters, so what is this supplication? And what are the etiquettes of supplication? O Shaykh.
Answer:
One should supplicate to Allah with whatever is easy for him, saying: “O Allah, make it easy for me to do such-and-such,” “O Allah, help me with such-and-such,” “O Allah, make it easy for me to find a righteous wife,” and a woman says: “O Allah, make it easy for me to find a righteous husband,” “and righteous offspring,” “O Allah, make it easy for me to have good wealth, lawful earnings,” and the like. He supplicates and asks Allah for his needs.
And if he seeks guidance in a matter where he is hesitating: Should he travel? Should he buy this thing, this house? Should he marry this woman? Should she marry this man? If she seeks guidance, seeking guidance is prescribed. He prays two rak'ahs, then raises his hands and 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 thing
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 الشيءgood 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
خير لي في ديني، ومعاشي، وعاقبة أمري؛ فيسره لي، ثم بارك لي فيه، وإن كنت تعلم أنis bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affair; then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be, and then make me content with it.
شر لي في ديني، وفي معاشي، وعاقبة أمري؛ فاصرفه عني، واصرفني عنه، وقدر لي الخير حيث كان، ثم أرضني بهThis is what is prescribed. This is an authentic hadith. If a person does this—this supplication—in some difficult matters, such as traveling to a certain country for trade, or marrying so-and-so, or buying a certain house, or the like; he seeks guidance when he is hesitating. And a woman likewise seeks guidance if she hesitates about a husband, or about buying something; so seeking guidance is required. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.