ISTIKHAARA and SALATUL HAJAAT

[ummtaalib]

Istikhara

 

It is narrated from Hazrat Jaabir (Radhiyallaho anho ) that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) used to teach us the dua of istikharah for important matters in the same manner as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Qur’aan. He (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) used to say, ”When you intend doing any important work, then read two rakaats nafl salaat and thereafter read this dua.” (which is mentioned below)

(Bukhariıpg. 944)

 

 

Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam ) once remarked to Anas (Radhiyallaho anho)

 

“O Anas! When you are undecided with regards to any matter,then seek counsel from your Rabb and do this seven times. Thereafter, whatever decision prevails in your heart regard it to be beneficial.” (Shaami Vol.1,pg. 507)

 

Note: It is not necessary that one sees a dream or hears a voice. Asking another person to make Istikhaarah on one’s behalf is not substantiated from any hadith. To make Mashwarah (consultation) with someone else is Sunnah.

 

It has been mentioned in the hadith that whomsoever makes Mashwarah will never regret and whomsoever makes Istikhaarah will never be unsuccessful.

 

 

 

Salatu Haajah

 

It is reported from Abdullah bin Abi Aufa (Radhiyallaho anho ) that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam ) is reported to have said that whomsoever has any need from Allah Ta’ala or any person then he should make wudhu thoroughly. Thereafter he should perform two rakaats of salaah, recite praises on Allah Ta’ala and recite a durood sharief. Then he should recite this dua:

(Tirmidhi‐Vol.1,pg.108 Shaami‐Vol.1) 

 

 

 

 

 

Hajat_Istikhaara.pdf

 

*Note: the Du'a of Istikhara and Haajah are in the pdf above

[ummtaalib]

The Reality of Istikhaara

 

 

PREFACE

All praises are due to Allah, the Creator, Nourisher and Sustainer of both the worlds. Through Allah’s infinite mercy on mankind. He selected Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) as a mentor and filled his heart with love and affection towards His creation. May Allah’s choicest blessings and salutations be showered on His beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), who undertook great pains in fulfilling the task of conveying His message, and may Allah shower His blessings on the noble companions of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) whose hearts inherited the pain and burn for the guidance of humanity that was instilled in the heart of their beloved Master, the Leader of both the worlds.

 

INTRODUCTION

Whosoever adopts the way of life brought by Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) to mankind, he will find that even his life in this world will become one of pleasure, tranquility, contentment, peace and freedom from all worries. Due to the fact that this way of life that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) brought was meant for the whole of mankind, Allah made it very easy and simple to follow.

 

CONFUSION AND PERPLEXITY

Among the many difficulties that man undergoes is ‘confusion’ and ‘perplexity’. Almost everyday in his life, man is faced with the task of making a decision between two or more choices. Generally the decisions are not major but occasionally they do become quite serious. Even in these circumstances, our beloved mentor, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) taught us what to do, and clearly outlined the solution. This solution is called Istikharah.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF ISTIKHARAH

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: “And it is very possible that you dislike something whereas it is good for you; and (similarly) it is very possible that you like something whereas it is bad for you”. (Baqarah 16)

 

From the above ayah, we learn that man has limited knowledge and deficient intellect. Therefore, many a times, he may desire something, which may prove harmful to him, and on the other hand, he may dislike something, while it is good for him. The sole possessor of perfect knowledge, and the only knower of the unseen is Allah, the Creator of man and the Controller of the system of the entire universe. Therefore if man desires good, he can only find it in the hands of Allah. According to one Hadith: “It is from the good fortune of man that he makes Istikharah (seeks good) from Allah, and it is from his misfortune that he discards Istikharah.”

 

‘Allamah Aini (RA) writes: “Man should never overlook any matter due to its insignificance and discard Istikharah. How many matters are regarded as insignificant and Istikharah is not made for them, due to which great harm is suffered when carrying them out or abandoning them. It is for this reason that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said: “(Every) one of you should ask his need from his sustainer to the extent that he should ask Him for salt, and for a shoelace when it breaks.”

 

“Allamah Ibnul Qayyim (RA) has written: “The person who makes Istikharah (seek good) from his Creator and makes ‘mashwarah’ (consults) the creation never regrets, since Allah said to (His Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)): “Consult them in matters. Thus, when You make a decision, place your trust in Allah”.

 

Shaikh Tahir bin Husain bin Abdullah bin Tahir wrote in a letter to his son after he had become an amir or governor: “Whenever any matter of importance comes upon you, seek assistance in it by making Istikharah to Allah and fearing him”. He also advised him thus: “and perform Istikharah abundantly in all your matters”. (Al-Istikharah by M.T. Hakeem)

 

A GREAT BENEFIT OF ISTIKHARAH

Hadrat Shah Waliyyullah (RA) writes: “From amongst the greatest benefits of Istikharah is that man becomes detached from his carnal desires, his animalistic characteristics become subject to his angelic nature and he hands himself over to Allah. When he does this, he reaches the stages of the angels whose quality is that they await the command of Allah. When Allah’s command is received, they exert themselves through divine motivation and not carnal motivation. I believe that excessive Istikharah is a proven tonic for the inculcation of angelic qualities.”

 

A MISCONCEPTION

But alas, today, Istikharah has become as equally difficult as making a decision. People hesitate so much to perform this great act of worship, that only at the last alternative, when no other way can be perceived, they would turn to some innovated act that has no basis in the Hadith, such as the taking of a good omen by opening the Qur’an and counting lines and letters, etc.; or asking someone else to perform Istikharah on their behalf. Shaikh Nuruddin Itr says: As far as the common practice today which people aspire to uphold, that Istikharah will only be correct if it is carried out by certain persons, and that a dream is necessary, this is extremism and obstanance, and is not the command of Allah nor His Rasul (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). This all stems from such constraint among the Muslims that does not behove of them. This led them to abandoning one great Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), thus they deprived themselves of the merits of this great Sunnah and it’s blessings, and from blemishing it’s purity. Similarly Hadrat Moulana Shah Hakim Muhammad Akhtar (RA) states in his book “Sunnats” on page 49, that “asking another person to make Istikharah on one’s behalf is not substantiated from any Hadith. To make mashwarah’ (consult) with someone else is Sunnah.’ Sometimes Istikharah becomes a means of greater confusion. A person who does not generally see dreams, nor perceives an inclination towards or away from the object of his Istikharah, now finds himself in a greater predicament. As for the person who does see a dream, he is put through the inconvenience of finding someone to interpret it for him. And if he saw a clear dream, or received an interpretation indicating to one particular option, and thereafter was not able to overcome the obstacles obstructing his path to achieving his aim, this person is left in sheer perplexity.

 

THE REALITY OF ISTIKHARAH

Moulana Badr-e-”alam Mirthi (RA), the former Shaikhul Hadith of the famous Darul Ulum of Dabhel, India, writes in his footnotes of the popular commentary of Bukhari – Faidul Bari, by Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri (RA) regarding the reality of Istikharah. He states: “… in other words, it is sometimes misunderstood from the statements of ‘Ulama that it is promised in the Hadith of Istikharah that the heart of a person who performs Istikharah will incline towards one option, whereas many a time the person who performs Istikharah does not perceive such an inclination. In that case, what, then, will be the meaning of the Hadith. This was an ambiguity for which I could find no explanation.” Moulana continues: “Until one day, whilst sitting in the presence of the great ‘Mufassir’, ‘Muhaddith and Allamah of his era, Moulana Shabbir Ahmed Uthmani (RA).

 

I noticed oceans of knowledge gushing forth from him to the “Ulama who were sitting in his noble company. This was his practice after every Jumu’ah. On that day, he was discussing this very mas’alah (matter) and elaborated on it in much detail. It was here that I quenched my thirst, and found a remedy for my malady, and a healing for my heart… He explained that the Hadith of Istikharah does not contain anything pertaining to the inclination or satisfaction of the heart. Had it been such, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) would have taught us, in the du’a, to ask Allah to incline the heart towards the most appropriate decision, whereas the Hadith does not say that. The du’a only contains this much, that Allah He should protect him from harm, and He should determine a good fate for him, whatever it may be. And the words (of the du’a): “wa srif anniy” “and turn me away from it” refers to the situation when the heart desires and inclines towards it. (This means that when the heart is desirous to go ahead with the matter regarding which Istikharah is being made, then Allah should turn the heart away from it by removing this desire and inclination from the heart). And the words: “fas rif anniy” “And turn it away from me” is when that inclination is not found, (then Allah should save him from being forced into it.)

 

Therefore ‘protection’ and ‘predestination’, both are the doings of the Almighty, as He alone does as He wills. As far as the slave of Allah is concerned, his responsibility is to make du’a, and then proceed in the direction of his choice, as that will be best for him. This means that he will be granted the ‘towfiq’ (ability) for the best only, and only the best will be made easy for him. Thus Istikharah is an ‘amal’ (act) that helps to determine the best for a person.

 

“In essence, once the ‘Mustakhir’ (i.e. the person who performs the ‘amal’ of ‘Istikharah’) submits himself before Allah, hands his matter over to Allah, asks Him for strength, becomes satisfied with His choice, and begs Him for protection from evil and harm, and to grant him good, Allah accepts it from him, destines good for him, protects him from harm and keeps him in His care. After that, whatever direction he takes, will be for his betterment, even though his heart may be disinclined to it.”

 

Allamah Murtada Zabidi RA states in his famous commentary on “Ihya Ulum: “Shaikhul Akbar (i-e.’ Allamah ibnul’ Arabi) stated: “… And he should recite the narrated du’a after making salam. This should be done before every important task he wishes to carry out or fulfil. He should then proceed with his task. Hence, if there is good for him in it, Allah will ease the way for him until it is accomplished, and its result will be praiseworthy. However, if the means were not available, and he was unable to accomplish his goal, he should realize that Allah had preferred this for him, and thus should not complain about it, as the outcome, whether it was that he accomplished his pursuit or not, will soon turn out to be praiseworthy.”

 

Hadrat Muhaddith Fadlullah Jilani (RA) says in his commentary on “Al Adabul Mufrad” of Imam Bukhari (RA): “Shaikh Zamlakani RA said: “When a person performs the two raka’at of Istikharah, he should then carry out whatever occurs to him, whether his heart is contented with it or not.” He also said: “The Hadith (of Istikharah) does not contain any limitation regarding the complacency and contentment of the heart.”

 

Shaikh Jilani also says regarding this complacency of the heart: “This happens by the grace of Allah, and is not necessary, nor does it always occur. Similarly, Salatul Istikharah is mustahabb, even if he has already made a firm decision before performing the Salah, as has already been mentioned that Istikharah is not a means of discovering the ‘ghaib’(unseen), but rather is a humble supplication unto the Knower of the unseen, the Most Powerful, to bestow the best.”

Source

[ummtaalib]

Question

One of my aunties says that she can find a suitable date for some important task to be done through istikhara. For example, she said that she will find a suitable date for her daughter's nikah and will not do nikah on any other date.

1. I would like to know if such detailed information can be determined by istikhara?

2. Is it right in the light of Islam to try finding about future in this manner?

3. If someone does it, what should we tell them?

I also know that she is in contact with some 'aalim', not 'aamil', who also lets her know such things about future.


Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

The word Istikharah literally means “to seek good”. Through Istikhara, a person seeks the assistance and blessings of Allah Ta’ala regarding some upcoming matter. Since Allah Ta’ala is the knower of the unseen and the scribe of destiny, we implore Him to decree that which is best for us whether it seems pleasing to us or not.

Istikharah is not a medium of foreseeing future events, acquiring knowledge of the unseen or determining detailed information of upcoming events.

When a person is planning to undertake some work in the near future and he is unsure about its outcome, whether it will be favorable or not, he should perform Istikharah. By doing so, one will find peace of heart and contentment in the end result of that affair. By performing Istikharah, a person will know that there will definitely be goodness in whatever Allah decreed to take place despite it not being according to his wishes and desires.

It is possible that at times, a person will feel a strong inclination or see a dream to carry out a certain act after performing Istikharah. However, this is not a general or necessary outcome and neither is it the main objective of Istikharah. If a person doesn’t experience such states, he shouldn’t feel as if the Istikharah wasn’t proper or that it is not working. After performing Istikharah, a person should have full conviction that whatever course of action he chooses to take, Allah Ta’ala will destine the best for him in that; whether his intention comes to fruition or not. Istikharah is a great bounty from the side of Allah Ta’ala. If a person implements it in his decision-making process, he will free himself from undue anxiety and depression. Furthermore, he will create a strong conviction in his heart that everything is in the control of Allah Ta’ala and that there will always be good, whether hidden or apparent, in the outcome.



As previously mentioned, performing Istikharah will not unveil unforeseen events or information.
Performing Istikharah, in the correct method and understanding, is praiseworthy in Islam.
If someone has the incorrect understanding of Istikharah, you should educate him/her and present the proper understanding of it to them.
And Allah knows best

Wassalam

Ml. Yusuf bin Yaqub,

Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah

[ummtaalib]

Istikhara Du'a

 

 

(Click on picture to enlarge)

 

 

WAY TO PERFORM ISTIKHARA:

First pray Two Cycles (raka') of ritual Prayer (nafil). After finishing prayer recite this (supplication/dua') above.

 

TRANSLATION: "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 ------------------------------------------------ (which I intend to do) 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."

[ummtaalib]

Istikhārah - Its Method and Some Misconceptions

 

by Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

www.shaykh.org/

Istikhārah means to turn to Allāh ta'ālā and seek goodness from Him. This is because Allāh ta'ālā knows what we do not know. As Allāh ta'ālā is fully aware of the end result and consequence of every matter and we merely speculate, we should ask Allāh ta'ālā to guide us towards goodness in our endeavours or tasks that we are about to embark on. It should be understood that istikhārah is simply a du'ā like any other du'ā. However, it has more chance of acceptance in the Court of Allāh ta'ālā as it has been specifically taught by Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam to his Ummah. It is a prayer offered to Allāh ta'ālā before embarking on a particular course of action or choosing from a number of options, asking Him to guide us towards goodness and the correct and better choice, and to save us from that course of action or choice if goodness lies elsewhere.

A point of great importance in istikhārah is to free one's mind of all thoughts and inclinations before performing it. What would you expect from a person's istikhārah when he has already resolved to do something!

Method

The method of istikhārah is to perform two rak'āt at any time of the day, other than the times when nafl salāh is forbidden. It is preferable to recite Sūrah Al-Kāfirūn in the first rak'ah and Sūrah Al-Ikhlās in the second. Thereafter one should praise Allāh ta'ālā, send salāh upon the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam and then recite the following du'ā

O Allāh! I seek goodness from You, through Your Knowledge, and I seek strength through Your Power and ask for Your great Bounty, for You are able to do things while I am not, and You know while I do not; and You are the Knower of the Unseen. O Allāh, if You know that this matter [name your matter] is good for me, in respect to my Dīn, my worldly life and the consequence of my affairs, then decree it for me and make it easy for me, and then grant me barakah in it. And if You know that this matter [name your matter] is bad for me in respect to my Dīn, my worldly life and the consequence of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good, wherever it may be, and make me be pleased with it. (Al-Bukhārī)

If after the initial istikhārah you remain unsure about something, then perform istikhārah for 3, 5, or 7 days. Inshā'allāh within seven days the heart will feel at ease.

There is also another method of istikhārah in the form of a short du'ā. If a decision needs to be taken and there is no opportunity to perform two rak'āt and do istikhārah in the aforementioned way, the following du'ā should be recited:


O Allāh, grant me goodness, and choose for me. (At-Tirmidhī)

As mentioned earlier, istikhārah is a du'ā and Allāh ta'ālā will accept it and grant you goodness, as long as there are no factors that prevent its acceptance. Obstacles to Allāh ta'ālā accepting prayers include disobedience to Allāh ta'ālā, harām earnings, and praying without the conviction that Allāh ta'ālā will definitely accept the prayer. If there are such obstacles present in one's life, he should do tawbah in earnest, and then make istikhārah.

Results of Istikhārah

If, as a result of doing istikhārah, a person feels positive, he should proceed accordingly. If his du'ā has been accepted, he will acquire goodness and success. However, many people feel positive after istikhārah and proceed accordingly, but do not see success. This can be explained by the following:

1. In the du'ā of istikhārah, a person first asks Allāh ta'ālā for goodness in one's Dīn which is the main objective of a believer, and thereafter he asks for the goodness of the world. Therefore, if after istikhārah one finds apparent worldly loss, but his Dīn remains safe, one should believe that through the barakah of istikhārah Allāh ta'ālā has granted him a minute loss of this world and saved him from a greater loss of the Hereafter.

2. Many times, the du'ā as a result of istikhārah is accepted and Allāh ta'ālā grants him goodness, but that goodness takes two forms: one form is that the choice he has made is one hundred percent good, without an iota of harm in it; the other is that he is guided towards the better of two possible outcomes. To understand this, take the example of a person who purchased a house as a result of a positive feeling after istikhārah. After six months, a new neighbour moved in next door and started harassing him. This person needs to understand in this situation that it is through the barakah of istikhārah that he has been saved from a bigger calamity, i.e. if he had chosen another house, the neighbour there would have harassed him even more.

3. Sometimes, a person feels positive after istikhārah despite his du'ā not being accepted due to the aforementioned obstacles. In this case the positive feeling he was experiencing in his heart was not from Allāh ta'ālā. It was either a condition that existed before the istikhārah or it was a feeling from Shaytān. Sometimes a young man is deeply in love with a girl and after doing istikhārah he feels very comfortable. What can be expected from such an istikhārah? Are his positive feelings a result of the istikhārah or was that condition present before?

Some Misconceptions

There are a number of common misconceptions about the sunnah practice of istikhārah:

1. One of the main points of confusion is the assumption that if, as a result of doing istikhārah, a positive feeling about a particular course of action results, then it is a guarantee from Allāh ta'ālā that it will be one hundred percent successful. People incorrectly believe that istikhārah is Divine Revelation. If after istikhārah a person of knowledge and experience was to advise an alternative, their opinion is discarded by saying, 'I have performed istikhārah and now there can be no change.' As a consequence, people proceed according to their feelings (e.g. they choose a marriage partner) and then, if some time later things do not work out, they begin to have doubts and negative thoughts about the sayings of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam regarding istikhārah. May Allāh ta'ālā protect us all from such a condition.

2. Likewise, people only do istikhārah nowadays when they are unsure about something. They perceive it to be a remedy for confusion; a way to request Allāh ta'ālā to fix something for them. Istikhārah should not be limited to occasions when a person has doubts about doing something, or when a person is indecisive about something! Istikhārah is to be performed for all mubāh actions, even if you are 100 % sure about the course of action. For example, you may want to enrol your child in a particular school and have no doubts about it being the right one; even then you should perform two rak'āt and read the du'ā of istikhārah so that you are granted goodness and saved from a wrong decision.

3. Nowadays, istikhārah is more or less confined to finding a marriage partner.

4. Many believe it is necessary to perform istikhārah during the night before going to sleep, and compulsory not to talk to anyone after performing the two rak'āt of istikhārah.

5. Similarly, some believe it to be totally necessary to sleep on the right hand side facing the qiblah.

6. Many expect and desire to see a dream in which one is clearly told that this is the path for you. Seeing a dream guiding towards a particular choice is not necessary in istikhārah. One needs to pay attention to the inclination of the heart whether one sees a dream or not. In all circumstances, the decisive factor is the inclination of one's heart.

7. Another common misconception is to ask others to perform istikhārah on one's behalf. Many feel that we are sinful, so what good will our istikhārah do? Thus they search for a pious god-fearing person and ask him to perform istikhārah for them. Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam did not state any condition that a sinful person cannot perform istikhārah, and moreover, leaving sin and repenting is not an act of difficulty. One should leave sin, repent and perform istikhārah himself. This practice of asking others to perform istikhārah is not in accordance to the sunnah. Yes, when making istikhārah for a marriage partner, it is permissible for the parents of the boy/girl to perform istikhārah. This is because this is a need of the parents too, as it is their responsibility to marry their children into suitable families.

Finally, with istikhārah, istishārah (consultation) is very important too. One should, before, during, and after performing istikhārah, seek consultation from those well-wishers who are learned and experienced in the relevant matter. The Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam said, "The one who does istikhārah will not be unsuccessful, and the one who consults will not see regret." (At-Tabrānī)

[ummtaalib]

Istikhaarah on behalf of another

 

Q. I am making Nikah soon Inshallah. Can I request someone else to make Istikharah for me?

 

(Question published as received)

 

A. Ideally, Istikhaarah should be done by a person striving to make the best decisions themselves. However, it is permissible for a person to request another person to make Istikhaarah on their behalf.

 

If a person requests another person to make Istikhaarah on their behalf, that person should be a trustable person who knows the person requesting Istikhaarah as well the considerations related to his/her's circumstances.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

Confirmation:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

 

Fatwa Department

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)

[ummtaalib]

Sunnah method of performing Salaatul Haajat

 

Q: What is the Sunnah method of performing Salaatul Haajat?

A: The Sunnah method of Salaatul Haajat reported in the Hadith is that one makes wudhu properly, performs two rakaats Salaatul Haajat and thereafter engage in dua by first praising Allah Ta'ala and conveying Durood upon Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). One would thereafter recite the following dua:

لَا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ وَالْغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍّ وَالسَّلامَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ إِثْمٍ لا تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْبًا إِلا غَفَرْتَهُ وَلا هَمًّا إِلا فَرَّجْتَهُ وَلا حَاجَةً هِيَ لَكَ رِضًا إِلا قَضَيْتَهَا يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ".

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

عن عبد الله بن أبي أوفى قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم من كانت له إلى الله حاجة أو إلى أحد من بني آدم فليتوضأ فليحسن الوضوء ثم ليصل ركعتين ثم ليثن على الله وليصل على النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم ثم ليقل لاإله إلا الله الحليم الكريم سبحان الله رب العرش العظيم الحمد لله رب العالمين أسئلك موجبات رحمتك وعزائم مغفرتك والغنيمة من كل بر والسلامة من كل إثم لا تدع لي ذنبا إلى غفرته ولا هما إلا فرجته ولا حاجة هي لك رضا إلا قضيتها يا أرحم الراحمين (جامع الترمذي 1/ 108)

 

وفي العرف الشذي قال : صلاة الحاجة ركعتان بلا تعيين السور والحديث قوي ، والدعاء المذكور في الحديث يأتي به بعد الصلاة ، فإن الحاجة عامة من كونها متعلقة بالله أو بالناس ، والدعاء الذي يتعلق بالناس مفسد للصلاة عندنا ، ووقع في بعض الروايات أنه يذكر الحاجة في الدعاء باللسان (جامع الترمذي 1/ 108)

 

ومن المندوبات صلاة الحاجة ذكرها في التجنيس والملتقط وخزانة الفتاوى وكثير من الفتاوى والحاوي وشرح المنية أما في الحاوي فذكر أنها ثنتا عشرة ركعة وبين كيفيتها بما فيه كلام وأما في التجنيس وغيره فذكر أنها أربع ركعات بعد العشاء وأن في الحديث المرفوع يقرأ في الأولى الفاتحة مرة وآية الكرسي ثلاثا وفي كل من الثلاثة الباقية يقرأ الفاتحة والإخلاص والمعوذتين مرة مرة كن له مثلهن من ليلة القدر قال مشايخنا صلينا هذه الصلاة فقضيت حوائجنا مذكور في الملتقط والتجنيس وكثير من الفتاوى كذا في خزانة الفتاوى وأما في شرح المنية فذكر أنها ركعتان والأحاديث فيها مذكورة في الترغيب والترهيب كما في البحر وأخرج الترمذي عن عبد الله بن أبي أوفى قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من كانت له إلى الله حاجة أو إلى أحد من بني آدم فليتوضأ وليحسن الوضوء ثم ليصل ركعتين ثم ليثن على الله تعالى وليصل على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم ليقل لا إله إلا الله الحليم الكريم سبحان الله رب العرش العظيم الحمد لله رب العالمين أسألك موجبات رحمتك وعزائم مغفرتك والغنيمة من كل بر والسلامة من كل إثم لا تدع لي ذنبا إلا غفرته ولا هما إلا فرجته ولا حاجة هي لك رضا إلا قضيتها يا أرحم الراحمين ا ه (رد المحتار 2/ 28)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

[ummtaalib]

Istikharah in the Light of the Sunnah

Source

 

This book, by my dear friend Shaykh Abu Usamah clarifies many complications people have in understanding the reality of Istikharah. When it was first published, it proved extremely beneficial to every reader, even the learned ones. This is the third edition.

 

It’s a book I feel closely attached to and with whose every detail I agree.

 

May Allah continue to use it as a means of spreading pure authentic knowledge. Ameen.

 

Download here

[ummtaalib]

 

Reality of Istikharah, Mashwarah and Decision Making in Islam

 

[ummtaalib]

Istikhharah - Your companion for life   Everyday, we face decisions that lead us along different paths. Whilst some decisions may seem trivial like ordering food at a restaurant, other decisions can have serious consequences and life-long implications such as marriage or buying a property.  The final messenger of Allah ﷺ came into this world to connect man to his Gracious Lord and taught us such a perfect way of life wherein the secrets of success in both this world and the hereafter are found. He taught mankind how to worship Allah, how to draw from his infinite treasures and from amongst his wonderful teachings was the unique act of istikhara. Unfortunately, today istikhara has been made as difficult as the decision one wishes to make. For some, istikhara is something beyond their spiritual capacity to carry out and for others it is a detour, leaving them lost in an overemphasis and over-interpretation of dreams, signs and inspirations.  Literally, isitkhara is to seek goodness, but in the terminology of Islam it refers to a specific prayer that underlies the relationship between man and his Lord, a relationship that speaks of utter dependance. Istikhara entails performing two rak’at of prayer and thereafter beseeching Allah to guide one to make the most favourable and advantageous decision. The exact supplication is found in a narration of Bukhari wherein Jabir reports: The messenger of Allah ﷺ would teach us to make istikhara concerning all matters in the same way he would teach us a sura from the Qur’an. He would say, “When any of you wishes to take up any task, he should perform two rak’at of nafl prayer. He should then say in supplication:

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

O Allah, I seek the good from You through Your knowledge, and I seek ability from You, through Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty. For surely You have power, and I have not; You know all and I know not, and You are the Most Knowledgeable of the unseen. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter is good for me with regards to my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affair then ordain it for me, facilitate it for me, and bless me therein. But if in Your knowledge, this matter is bad for me with regards to my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affair, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it,  and ordain for me good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.”

When reaching the words هَذَا الْأَمْرَ one should think about the matter they are seeking a decision for. Below is a summary adapted from ‘Istikhara: In The Light Of The Sunnah’ which concisely address how to engage with one’s istikhara and dispels common misconceptions:

The essence of istikhara is that one is thereby handing his matter over to Allah, and placing all trust in him. When one makes istikhara, one gains satisfaction in Allah’s decisions for him. This imbibes in one the attribute of always being pleased with Allah’s will. It is not necessary to perform istikhara before sleeping, although it was the practice of some saints. It is not necessary to see a dream in response to one’s istikhara. However, if someone is used to seeing true dreams, it is likely his dream will be true. The inclination or feeling that one finds after istikhara is not necessarily part of the istikhara. Those used to receiving divine inspirations may regard their inclination to be such. Others should not pay attention to such feelings. It is best to perform as many rak’at as possible before reciting the supplication.The performance of at least two rak’at is a sunnah of istikhara. Istikhara can be performed by merely reciting the supplication without performing any salah or can also be recited after any fard prayer. Istikhara is a form of du’a so it can be performed until the task is accomplished. To perform it at least three times is the best. Once may also suffice. After having performed istikhara, there is no problem in consulting with anyone about the issue under concern. Such consultation is called mushurah, which in itself is a sunnah. The shortest form of istikhara is ْ اَللّهُمَّ خِرْ لِيْ وَاخْتَرْ لِي (O Allah, choose and select for me [the better one]) which is also very useful for on the spot decisions one has to make

The messenger of (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Let everyone of you ask his needs from his Lord, ask him even for salt, and for a shoelace when it breaks.” [Tirmidhi] May Allah allow us to adopt this nobel practise in every aspect of our lives  White Thread Press