information required for istekhara(urgent)

**amnakhan** · 17-01-2012, 09:31 PM

Assalam o Alaikum

there are three questions

1. what way is best for istekhara? if i do it myself or someone else do it for me? because i have read somewhere that a mind should not be completely inclined on one of the option before doing the istekhara. i am not confused about it but i just want to know what would Allah suggest for me!

2. i have searched the web and there are alot of ways to do istekhara that i found. so which one is best? or if i do it whch one looks feasible to me would the answer be correct or not. im jus in need of a right indication.

3. if after doin istekhara 7 times, my heart does not go with the result will it be harmfull in anyway? like religiously or worldly?

Please reply to me urgently!

**Saeed M** · 18-01-2012, 10:13 AM

Firstly, understand that istikharah is not asking Allah for his opinion/suggestion. As the name suggests, istikharah means 'asking for good'. So, the replies to your questions are:

The description of Salaat al-Istikhaarah was reported by Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah al-Salami (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said:

“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to teach his companions to make istikhaarah in all things, just as he used to teach them soorahs from the Qur’aan. He said: ‘If any one of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say: 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 the matter should be mentioned by name) khayran li fi ‘aajil amri wa aajilihi (or: 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: fi ‘aajili amri wa aajilihi) fasrifni ‘anhu [wasrafhu ‘anni] waqdur li al-khayr haythu kaana thumma radini bihi (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 it should be mentioned by name) 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.”

(Reported by al-Bukhaari, 6841; similar reports are also recorded by al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa’i, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah and Ahmad).

There is no harm in the mind being inclined one way or another. It is permissible to ask a pious person to do istikharah for you, but better to do it yourself. In fact, even if you ask somebody else to do it for you, do it yourself as well.

There is no harm in doing whatever you think is best for yourself. Just ensure that your decision does not contradict the shari'ah in any other way.

**amnakhan** · 18-01-2012, 08:10 PM

thank you so much brother for correcting me about the iskekharas true meaning.
however the dua of istekhara u have written is confusing me with the brackets involved. can u kindly send it to me written in arabic if possible?

whatever the result of the istekhara comes and if i don't carry it out, would it be contradicting the shariah in any way?

**Saeed M** · 19-01-2012, 09:23 AM

اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك وأستقدرك بقدرتك وأسألك من فضلك العظيم فإنك تقدر ولا أقدر وتعلم ولا أعلم وأنت علام الغيوب ، اللهم إن كان هذا الأمر خيرا لي في ديني وعاقبة أمري فاقدره لي ويسره لي وبارك لي فيه ، وإن كان شرا في ديني وعاقبة أمري فاصرفه عني واصرفني عنه واقدر لي الخير حيث كان ثم رضني به .

If you don't carry out whatever you feel the result is, there is no shar'i harm.

He will accept your dua and put good into whatever you do.