SALAT-AL-ISTIKHARAH

ISTIKHARAH

It is a prayer recited by Muslims to seek guidance of Allah concerning any issue/affair in their life especially when one has to choose between two permissible alternatives.

• To seek that which is good.
• One of the greatest blessing of Allah.
• It is meant for any major decision.
• Perform two raka'at salat (nafil), at any time, then supplicate special dua of Istikharah (salat-al-Istikharah) in Arabic.
• Before Istikharah, must have conviction and level of iman and yakeen in Allah. 

According to Sahih Bukhari, Vol 2, Book 21, Number 263

Narrated Jabir Bin Abdullah: The Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam used to teach us the way of doing Istikharah, in all matters as he taught us the suras of the Quran. He said, "If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer):

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ

"Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, Wa as'alaka min falika Al -'azim Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta'lamu Wala a'lamu, Wa anta 'allamu l-ghuyub, Allahumma, in kuntu ta'lam anna hadha-l amra__________________ khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati 'Amri Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-l amra shar-run li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati 'Amri Fasrif-hu anni was-rifni anhu Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi"

"O Allah! I seek goodness from your knowledge and with your power (and might) I seek strength, and I ask from you your great blessings, because you have the power and I do not have the power.You know everything and I do not know, and you have knowledge of the unseen.Oh Allah! If in your knowledge this action_____________________(* Recall the issue*) is better for my religion and faith, for my life and end (death), for here (in this world) and the hereafter then make it destined for me and make it easy for me and then add blessings (baraka') in it, for me.O Allah! In your knowledge if this action is bad for me, bad for my religion and faith, for my life and end (death), for here (in this world) and the hereafter then turn it away from me  and turn me away from it and whatever is better for me, ordain (destine) that for me and then make me satisfied with it."

Note-*Recall the issue* (You can either think / conceptualise / verbalise the issue for which the Istikharah is being done.)

HOW DOES ONE 'DECIPHER' THE ISTIKHARAH

• The text of the dua tells up what to expect.
• Dreams are not the main source; sometimes they help.
• Not to pray Istikharah at three times-

                                                                             *When the sun is rising.

                                                                              *When the sun is at peak.

                                                                              *When the sun sets.

OUTCOME OF ISTIKHARAH

• Feel confidence while making the decision.
• If still you are not comfortable and don't feel confidence while making decision then do it again until you gain confidence.
• After the conclusion, coming to a decision confidently, begin that action or work (for which the Istikharah is being done) with Bismillah.
• If you feel confident while making the decision then don't think for Istikharah again as it show disrespect for it.

*A person should do Istikharah for him by himself only, not by someone else.
*It is not necessary to perform 2 raka't nafil prayer for Istikharah after Isha'a only.There is no specific time mentioned in any of the hadeeth for performing Istikharah.Istikharah can be performed at any time when there is a need. 

Note- If  anything stated above is incorrect, please let me know as I am not an islamic scholar.May allah forgive me for my mistakes.Aameen.