Thread by @MR_9ce_Guy

Understanding Istikhara.

Let’s learn few things about Istikhara.

Istikhara literally means seeking for guidance in matters that you’re finding difficult to make decisions.

Istikhara is mostly done when you’re about to make big decisions in your life.

Istikhara is not done on basic day to day activities like;

- Deciding what to eat
- Deciding whether to shower or not
- Deciding Whether to have breakfast or not.

That would actually be ridiculous.

Instead Istikhara is done on things that actually matters, things that are life changing, things that require good decisions. Example;

- You want to start a new business
- You want to get married to someone
- You want to decide on a job offer.

These are just examples.

If you look at the Hadith of Jabir Ibn Abdullah, You’ll see that the Prophet (S.A.W) used to teach his companion to make Istikhara on all things.

All things here doesn’t mean basic things you do everyday, rather it means every big decision that has impact in your life.

How do you perform Istikhara? And when is the right time to perform istikhara.

Some scholars have agreed that you can pray Istikhara any time, it doesn’t have a specific time for it.

You’ll hear people telling you to pray Istikhara at night before you sleep so that you’ll dream the result 😂😂

The Prophet (S.A.W) said “When one of you has decided on a matter He should pray Istikhara”

Now that’s confusing right? because you’re thinking I’m praying Istikhara because I can’t decide!!

The instruction is that you pick the one you think is better and pray.

When you want to perform Istikhara.

-Make your ablution.

-Pray two units of prayer (Nafil).

-Then recite the following dua

Allaahumma inni astakheeruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’aluka min fadlika, fa innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdir,....

...wa ta’lamu wa laa a’lam, wa anta ‘allaam al-ghuyoob.

Allaahumma fa in kunta ta’lamu haadha’l-amra (then you mention the name of what you want to decide on here) khayran li fi ‘aajil amri wa aajilihi (or you say: fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri)...

...faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma baarik li fihi.

Allaahumma wa in kunta ta’lamu annahu sharrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri (or you say: fi ‘aajili amri wa aajilihi)
fasrifni ‘anhu [wasrafhu ‘anni] waqdur li al-khayr haythu kaana thumma radini bihi.

Translation:

O Allaah, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things...

...O Allaah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then you mention what you’re trying to make a decision on) is good for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me...

..And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next), then turn me away from it, [and turn it away from me], and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.”

Above is the dua of Istikhara, after reciting this dua that’s it, you’ve successfully performed Istikhara.

Now the question is How do I see the result of my Istikhara, How do I know which is the right decision?????

Some people will tell you that the reason you pray Istikhara at night is so you won’t say a word again then sleep after that.

That if you dream of something dark or red in color then the decision is bad, but if you dream of green color then it’s good... this is wrong.

You think Istikhara is like a traffic light 🚦?? 😂😂

People will be getting depressed saying they’ve prayed Istikhara but they didn’t see anything.

You’re not meant to see anything in your dream, The Prophet didn’t say the result is shown in a dream.

If you want to know the result of your Istikhara go back to the dua and see what you prayed for.

You said: “ ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me”

Therefore if your decision is the right one you’ll become at peace with it, you’ll find it easy and blessed

Then again you said:

“then turn me away from it, [and turn it away from me], and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.”

Therefore you’ll see you finding that thing difficult, slowly drifting away from it and losing interest in it.

Facts you should know about Istikhara!!

1) Someone else cannot pray Istikhara on your behalf..

Come to think of it please, you’re the one making a decision but someone else is asking Allah to guide you for you 🤷‍♂️ 😂 making sense?????

2) You can say the dua’a in your own native language!!! But it’s preferred in Arabic. (Allah is the all hearer)

3) You can make Istikhara 2 or 3 times, but even when you do it once is okay.

Please stop using Istikhara as a breakup line 😂😂

“I did Istikhara and I dreamt your face was black”

Ain’t no face was black you just wanted to leave.

If you’re doing Istikhara trying to decide who to marry the result will be in who you find peace and you heart leans to.

4) Abdullah bin Abbas said: “The Prophet (S.A.W) used to teach the Istikhara dua the same way he taught us Surah’s from the Quran”

This is to show you that Istikhara is actually useful and it’s required for every Muslim to know this dua and seek Allah’s guidance.

These are the few things I Know about Istikhara!!

If you know anything you didn’t see here please share with me, or if you have any question feel free to ask me.