Does anybody know about the concept of Istikhara? I know that it has something to do with dreams, but I don’t know what it’s about and how it works. Could anybody put light on this?
Umer, the Pakistani Brain of Austria
istikhara is the getting guidence from God on some important matters. As far as I know there was proof that Holy Prophet (SAW) has told Sahabh how to do this.
I cannot remmber the exact words but normally poeple use istikhara when getting married or when they cannot decide on a important matters.
When you're at a point where you're totally confused which path/decision to take. Then you can do istakhara. Mostly, istakhara is done for marriages in order to seek guidence from Allah whether that proposal is good or not. But you can also perform istakhara in any matter of life, you can do it for chosing even the subjects for the degree. Or even whether to go to Murree on a vacation or not (but then again, it is better if you perform istakhara for only the crucial matters where decision is very hard for you to take). There is one restriction however, that no matter what happens you should not go against the hints/path which Allah shows you. Once you perform istakhara, no matter what, stick to the results. Its gunnah to perform istakhara and not following the results.
It goes like, you say 2 raka't namaz nafal, and then read the istakhara dua, keeping in mind the matter about which you need guidence... Then keep on reciting duas/praising Allah until you fall asleep. Either, you will see the hints in the dream or if not, Allah will make ways to the right path easier so that you can choose it on your own. But then again, it is not necessary that you'll see a dream after istakhara.. You can perform istakhara 7 times about a matter, in order to get the better understanding.
sadaf i agree with u on the first half..like when u do istekhara..but i think i m not 100% sure on the other part..like how u do the istekhara..,i think u go to a molvi and he opens the Quran and reads an ayat..if the ayat is talking about good things for example heaven then its a Yes..if its talking bout hell or somthing like that then its a No..maybe somone else can answer properly
Yeah this is another way, but anyone can do istakhara, there's no restriction that you should go to the movli or not. I have heard the method when you read some verses and open Quran is known as "fa'al".. I am not sure.. maybe you're right about that... The book I had on istakhara and other prayers had the method which I told you..
Umer, when a person is unsure of a decision, it's the best way to get advice from Allah SWT on any matter ranging from marriage to education to wether one should buy a certain house, start a certain business and what not. And yes once u have done it you can not go against the Will of Allah (which comes thru a dream). It's a blessing and it can save from a lot of unseen dangers.
I was under the impression that istikhara should be done by someone who is really devoted muslim... like, you know.. a nani or dadi or ammi.
But then, this very learned person, told me that the person who is facing the decision should do istikhara himself. Meaning, it is recommended that the person who is facing the problem should do the istikhara himself/herself, instead of asking someone else.
Keep in mind, I am referring to instructions according to Hanafi thinking (as explained by Sadaf). Other imams or shias may have different methodology.
Thanx to all for telling me about it.
Sadaf, you wrote, you can perform it 7 times to get a better understanding. Do you mean 7 days in a row or do you have to have some days inbetween?
Umer, the Pakistani Brain of Austria
Well, I am not so sure about it. But I guess, its according to you convenience. I mean, whenever you feel like. there's not restriction on days, I guess.
But it would be better if any other person also explains that to us here.
I guess marriage is a tough decision
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/hehe.gif
but I completely agree with your comments regarding what Istikhara is and its method.
But, I do remember that I mentioned to someone more knowledgable than me about doing Istikhara through molvi and he said Astaghfirullah, Istikhara is to get help from Allah and there are some matters which you cannot discuss even with your close friends and hence asks Allah for help so how would you tell these things to a molvi. Hence, Istikhara through a molvi is not a very good idea. As far as the continuity of Istikhara is concerned you do the istikhara for 7 days or until you get some hints or things will take their due course. I think u need a continuity in doing istikhara.
Re: the seven day thing...
It is said that Istikhara is done three nights in a row. InshaAllah, you will get a sign. If you don't, continue doing it for seven nights. If there is still no sign, then any decision you take, will Inshallah be blessed by Allah. Or after seven nights, take a few nights' break and do it all over again. If you really need guidance and don't wanna make a decision, then you can repeat this whole process as many times as you wish.
Remember, even interpreting the sign requires intelligence. So you might wanna consult some one knowledgable to discuss the sign you got and its meaning.
the best thing: istiqhara.
i've been saved thru many life-ending paths if it werent for the blessings of Allah.
the thing that u said sheraz CT about the Quran (fa'ail).. as far as i know that isnt encouraged as the way the Prophet (PBUH) taught how to perform the istiqhara.
i'll find out more and post it.
-mehndi
Thanks Pristine and khan,
I won’t forget that now
Pristine
are all nani, dadi and ammi really devoted muslims??
http://www.understanding-islam.com/rb/mb-027.htm
The Arabic word ‘Istikhara’ means to ask Allah for whatever is good. The supplication that the Prophet (pbuh) taught us for the purpose of Istikhara is a very beautiful one, but it does not have anything in it that suggests that the person asking Allah for the good (Mustakhir) shall be given a sign in any dream. If you look closely at the words of this supplication, all they imply is that whenever I have a decision to take, or have taken a decision, I should pray to Allah that if the consequences of this decision are in my favor, in this world as well as the hereafter, He should help me in carrying out the decision. On the other hand, if the consequences of this decision are not to my benefit, in this world or in the hereafter, He should remove all inclinations from my mind to implement such decision, and satisfy my heart and soul in doing so.
My dear brother, God has given man the faculty of reasoning. He should take his decisions in the light of the apparent pros and cons of the alternative choices. He should not, in any case, base his decisions on dreams. As should be clear from the above explanation, the concept of Istikhara does not imply that we should wait for signs from Allah in taking our decisions; it only means that we should take our decisions and do whatever we think is right and then ask Allah that if our decision is the correct one, He should help us and carrying it out and making our plans successful, while if it is not the correct one, he should alter the circumstances in such a way that we do not implement our decision, and that he should provide satisfaction to our heart in doing so.
In other words, Istikhara is the declaration of our belief that all things are in the control of Allah and that we, as His humble servants submit to all His decisions, even when we are made to alter our plans because of His decisions.
I hope this helps. In case anything requires further elaboration, please feel free to write back.
Regards
The Learner
http://www.understanding-islam.com/rb/mb-124.htm
The English translation of the supplication of Istikhara follows:
O my God, I seek virtue, through Your [absolute] knowledge and strength, through Your [absolute] power and I ask You of Your abounding grace. * for You possess power, while I don’t and You know [everything], while I don’t. And You, indeed, have the knowledge of the hidden [and yet unknown to all else]. O my God, if [on the basis of Your absolute knowledge,] You know this affair[1] to be virtuous for me – for my beliefs, for my life and for my ultimate destiny [in the hereafter] – then ordain it for me and make its achievement easy for me and then bless me with it. While, if [on the basis of Your absolute knowledge,] You know this affair to be bad for me – for my beliefs, for my life and for my ultimate destiny [in the hereafter] – then avert it from me and avert me from it[2] and ordain for me whatever is virtuous for me, wherever it be, and then give me delight in it.
Notes:
[1]: That is the affair that is in my mind, the affair that troubles me and the affair in which I cannot decide on my own.
[2]: That is, avert my mind away from it.
They shoot partypoopers, don’t they?
[This message has been edited by Mr Partypooper (edited January 29, 2001).]*
What is the rules and conditions of Salat Al-Istikhara? How is it performed?
Following scholarly response should help:
http://www.muslims.net/fatwaapplication/english/display.asp?hFatwaID=22921
To make the prayer of Istikharah (say: iss-teh-KHAR-uh), one should pray two non-obligatory (nafilah) rakat (units) of prayer, even if they are of the regular sunnah prayers or a prayer for entering the mosque, and so on, during any time of the day or night.
One should recite in them whatever one wishes of the Qur’an, after reciting al-Fatihah. After the salams one should praise Allah and invoke blessings upon the Prophet, peace be upon him.
After this one should supplicate to Allah with the following supplication, which Jabir Ibn 'Abdullah has reported from the Prophet, peace be upon him, when he related, "The Prophet, peace be upon him, taught us how to make Istikharah in all (our) affairs, just as he taught us various surahs of the Qur’an. He told us, 'If anyone of you considers doing something he should offer a two-rak’at prayer other than the obligatory prayers, and then say (after the prayer):
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika. wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa as’aluka min fadlika al-azimfa-innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wala a ’ lamu, wa anta 'allamu-l-ghuyub.
Allahumma, in kunta ta’ lamu anna hadhaI-amra khairun lifi dini wa ma’ashi wa aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa’ajilihi) f aqdirhu li wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li fihi, wa in kunta ta’llamu anna hadha-l-amra sharrun lifi dini wa ma’ashi wa-aqibati amri (orfi’ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu anni was-rifni’anhu.
Wa aqdir 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 thing is good for my din and my subsistence and for my Hereafter - (or say, If it is better for my present and later needs) - then ordain it for me and make it easy for me to obtain, and then bless me in it. If You know that this thing is harmful to me in my din and subsistence and in the Hereafter - (or say, If it is worse for my present and later needs) - then keep it away from me, and keep me away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, and make me satisfied with it)."
There is nothing authentic concerning anything specific that is to be recited in the prayer nor is there any authentic report concerning how many times one should repeat it.
An-Nawawi holds that “after making istikharah, a person must do what he is wholeheartedly inclined to do and feels good about doing and should not insist on doing what he had desired to do before making the istikharah. And if his feelings change, he should leave what he had intended to do, for otherwise he is not leaving the choice to Allah, and would not be honest in seeking aid from Allah’s power and knowledge. Sincerity in seeking Allah’s choice, means that one should completely abandon what one desired oneself.”
[This message has been edited by Musalman (edited January 29, 2001).]
[quote]
Originally posted by Sarah Zia:
**Pristine
are all nani, dadi and ammi really devoted muslims??
**
[/quote]
No idea. Depends on your situation. I trust my mother on these matters. If you feel it better, you can consult the religious scholar in the Islamic center near you or whatever. Strictly personal preference and depends on real people.