The Seeking Of Truth

Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

I would like to share with you a hadith about Salat-al-Istikhara. This prayer is an extremely important volunteer prayer and it was a sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad(SAW) to do this when he needed Allah(SWT) to guide him towards an action. As an example, my friend used to do Istikhara when he was choosing between classes for college. He told me that whenever he did Istikhara for certain classes the end result was always blessed because he would find out later about the other class option and find that his class was much more suited for him. SubhanAllah.

Here is a hadith about how to go about his prayer:

Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah : The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikharameans to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), 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): — ‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as’alaka min fadlika al-‘azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu Wala a’lamu, Wa anta ‘allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta’lam anna hadha-l-amra Khairun 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.’ (O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter–(or said: If it is better for my present and later needs)–Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter–(or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)–Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it). The Prophet added that then the person should name (mention) his need.  (Sahih Bukhari).

We have to realize that there may be options in life that we may want but Allah(SWT) knows that the other option is better for us. So it is better to take council with Allah(SWT) then just take a random choice and mess up something.

As Allah(SWT) says, ” . . .But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.”( Surah Baqrah 2:216).

Also what should be mentioned is that the Fuqaha(Jurist) say that if the result is not clear it is recommended to do this up to 7 times. Do not just thing you do this once and it is like a magic 8 ball that tells you what to do. The point of this is to get inclination towards an option.

So insh’Allah we all take this knowledge and actually use it to our advantage. Insha’Allah Allah(SWT) will forgive us, guide us, protect us, and give us all Jannah-al-Firdaus.