How to Perform the Prayer of Istikharah
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Question:
What is the prayer of istikharah? And is it true that if you perform it, you will know how to choose between two things?
Answer:
The prayer of istikharah is prescribed for one who intends to do something and is uncertain whether it is in his best interest or not, such as intending to travel to a certain place or to marry a woman from a certain family, or something similar. He has hesitation about whether this travel is appropriate or this marriage is appropriate. He seeks the choice of Allah.
It is prescribed for him to pray two rak'ahs, and then after praying the two rak'ahs, he supplicates to his Lord with the supplication of istikharah, which is to say: and he names it by its name—meaning: this marriage to so-and-so, or this travel to Makkah, or to al-Madinah, or to such-and-such, or to such-and-such—Sahih al-Bukhari 1166.
This is how this supplication came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). A person says it after praying the two rak'ahs; when he has prayed them, he supplicates with this supplication. If he raises his hands, that is good, because raising the hands is among the causes of the supplication being answered. If his chest opens up afterward to what he intended, let him proceed. If he hesitates, let him consult someone he sees as qualified for consultation among his loved ones and friends. If his chest does not open up, there is no harm in repeating the istikharah a second or third time until his chest opens up to doing it or leaving it.
It is also prescribed for him to consult people of goodness, people of truthfulness, people who love him, and those who are known for trustworthiness, experience, and truthfulness. He should consult them. If his chest opens up to the matter after the istikharah and after the consultation, he should proceed with what his chest opened up to. If his chest does not open up, he should leave it, and there is no harm, and praise be to Allah. Yes.
What is the prayer of istikharah? And is it true that if you perform it, you will know how to choose between two things?
Answer:
The prayer of istikharah is prescribed for one who intends to do something and is uncertain whether it is in his best interest or not, such as intending to travel to a certain place or to marry a woman from a certain family, or something similar. He has hesitation about whether this travel is appropriate or this marriage is appropriate. He seeks the choice of Allah.
It is prescribed for him to pray two rak'ahs, and then after praying the two rak'ahs, he supplicates to his Lord with the supplication of istikharah, which is to say:
O Allah, I seek Your choice by Your knowledge, and I seek Your power by Your ability, and I ask You of Your great 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 الأمرKhairun 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
خير لي في ديني ودنياي ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري فيسره لي ثم بارك لي فيه، وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شر لي في ديني ودنياي ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري فاصرفه عني واصرفني عنه وقدر لي الخير حيث كان، ثم رضني بهThis is how this supplication came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). A person says it after praying the two rak'ahs; when he has prayed them, he supplicates with this supplication. If he raises his hands, that is good, because raising the hands is among the causes of the supplication being answered. If his chest opens up afterward to what he intended, let him proceed. If he hesitates, let him consult someone he sees as qualified for consultation among his loved ones and friends. If his chest does not open up, there is no harm in repeating the istikharah a second or third time until his chest opens up to doing it or leaving it.
It is also prescribed for him to consult people of goodness, people of truthfulness, people who love him, and those who are known for trustworthiness, experience, and truthfulness. He should consult them. If his chest opens up to the matter after the istikharah and after the consultation, he should proceed with what his chest opened up to. If his chest does not open up, he should leave it, and there is no harm, and praise be to Allah. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.