In what matters is the prayer for guidance prescribed?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
A listener (A. K.) from Sudan sent a question, saying: If I desire to marry a woman, am I to seek guidance from Allah regarding her immediately?
Knowing that I will delay this marriage for several years because I am currently unable to afford it, as I wish to present them with some gifts before I propose to marry her? Also, what is the nature of the "expansion of the chest" mentioned in the explanation of the supplication for guidance?
Answer:
If you wish to marry a woman and you are reassured about her, knowing her virtue, her religion, and her character, and you have no doubt about her, then there is no need for the prayer for guidance. The prayer for guidance is for a matter in which you have doubt. If you doubt her suitability for you, you seek guidance from Allah. If you pray the two rak'ahs, raise your hands, and ask Allah with the supplication for guidance, and then your chest expands, proceed and hasten to propose to her. Even if the consummation is delayed, propose to her and agree with her family, even if the contract or consummation is delayed.
However, if your chest is already expanded, and you know her fully with no doubt about her matter, then there appears to be no need for the prayer for guidance, because the prayer for guidance is only done for matters in which there may be confusion or fear of the outcome.
As for a clear matter in which there is no confusion, there is no prayer for guidance. You do not seek guidance from Allah by praying the Dhuha prayer for two rak'ahs. No, pray, but you do not need the prayer for guidance. Visiting your good relatives and maintaining family ties does not require the prayer for guidance, if there is no harm in it. Being dutiful to your parents does not require the prayer for guidance. Praying the Dhuhr prayer does not require it, nor the Asr, nor the Maghrib, nor the Isha, nor the Fajr, nor the Jumu'ah. All of these do not require the prayer for guidance. Performing Hajj when the road is safe and you are able does not require the prayer for guidance. But if the road is not safe and you are afraid, you seek guidance from Allah: Should I perform Hajj this year because of the fear of the road? It is not for the sake of Hajj.
So the point is: the prayer for guidance is for a matter in which there is the slightest confusion. As for a clear matter in which there is no confusion, and you are able to do it, and it is pure good, there is no prayer for guidance. Just as you do not seek guidance on whether to have lunch or not, or whether to have dinner or not, or whether to have intercourse with your wife? There is no prayer for guidance for these, because they are known matters whose benefit is clear. May Allah guide them all.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.
A listener (A. K.) from Sudan sent a question, saying: If I desire to marry a woman, am I to seek guidance from Allah regarding her immediately?
Knowing that I will delay this marriage for several years because I am currently unable to afford it, as I wish to present them with some gifts before I propose to marry her? Also, what is the nature of the "expansion of the chest" mentioned in the explanation of the supplication for guidance?
Answer:
If you wish to marry a woman and you are reassured about her, knowing her virtue, her religion, and her character, and you have no doubt about her, then there is no need for the prayer for guidance. The prayer for guidance is for a matter in which you have doubt. If you doubt her suitability for you, you seek guidance from Allah. If you pray the two rak'ahs, raise your hands, and ask Allah with the supplication for guidance, and then your chest expands, proceed and hasten to propose to her. Even if the consummation is delayed, propose to her and agree with her family, even if the contract or consummation is delayed.
However, if your chest is already expanded, and you know her fully with no doubt about her matter, then there appears to be no need for the prayer for guidance, because the prayer for guidance is only done for matters in which there may be confusion or fear of the outcome.
As for a clear matter in which there is no confusion, there is no prayer for guidance. You do not seek guidance from Allah by praying the Dhuha prayer for two rak'ahs. No, pray, but you do not need the prayer for guidance. Visiting your good relatives and maintaining family ties does not require the prayer for guidance, if there is no harm in it. Being dutiful to your parents does not require the prayer for guidance. Praying the Dhuhr prayer does not require it, nor the Asr, nor the Maghrib, nor the Isha, nor the Fajr, nor the Jumu'ah. All of these do not require the prayer for guidance. Performing Hajj when the road is safe and you are able does not require the prayer for guidance. But if the road is not safe and you are afraid, you seek guidance from Allah: Should I perform Hajj this year because of the fear of the road? It is not for the sake of Hajj.
So the point is: the prayer for guidance is for a matter in which there is the slightest confusion. As for a clear matter in which there is no confusion, and you are able to do it, and it is pure good, there is no prayer for guidance. Just as you do not seek guidance on whether to have lunch or not, or whether to have dinner or not, or whether to have intercourse with your wife? There is no prayer for guidance for these, because they are known matters whose benefit is clear. May Allah guide them all.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.