What if you dont have a dream than how do you know what to do?Further, say you make it a habit to keep praying every night does it mean then that whatever happens happens for the best?
The basic procedure of Istikhara is to pray 2 rakats and read the dua afterwards?Correct? It’s confusing on different website,some say its important to sleep afterwards?
Thanks
Re: istikhara
You turned to this forum seeking help. Someone could give you a complete answer, or you might need to read different responses to get your answer, or you might not find an answer here at all.
Istikhara is seeking help directly from Allah from the unseen worlds and from His Wisdom and complete Knowledge.
Follow this: How to do (perform) Istikhara with dua. Arabic Text with Urdu and English Explaination - Istakhara
PreRequisites:
How it works:
In everything seek Allah’s guidance. So try once, or 3, or 7 times. Be patient. Do every single day, or give couple of days gap in between. iA, you will find the right direction.
Re: istikhara
Dreams have nothing to do with isitkhaara. This is a misconception spread by the Brawelvis of the Indo Pak regarding this issue.
If you read the Kawawit Encyclopedia of Fiqh the urdu translation of which I shall post here soon in shaa Allah, you will realize that none of the classical scholars of the past of the 4 Madhabs said one is to have a dream.
Rather, Imam Al-Nawawi, a Shaafi, made it clear that it is likely ones heart will feel inclined to the matter or diverted from it. Having a dream is possible as Allah can do things as He Wills but is by no means a standard which has been falsely propagated in Indo Pak.
Re: istikhara
Ali Al-Qaari said:
**وقال علي القاري رحمه الله: ويمضي بعد الاستخارة لما ينشرح له صدره انشراحاً خالياً عن هوى النفس
**A person is to act, after isitikhaara, based on what his chest is opened toward an opening which is free from personal desire and whims.
Ali Al-Qaari was a Hanafi
Al-Nawawi said:
قال النووي رحمه الله تعالى: إذا استخار مضى لما شرح له صدره
When one has done istikhaara he is to do that which his chest is opened toward.
Al-Nawawi was a Shaafi.
Thus, there is no such thing as seeing a dream as falsely propagated in Indo Pak.
Re: istikhara
Peace @Life01,
The following three hadith found in ‘Sahih Bukhari’.
Book 'Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed) Hadith No. 487.
Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: As-Salami: Allah’s Apostle used to teach his companions to perform the prayer of Istikhara for each and every matter just as he used to teach them the Suras from the Quran He used to say, "If anyone of you intends to do some thing, he should offer a two rakat prayer other than the compulsory prayers, and after finishing it, he should say: O Allah! I consult You, for You have all knowledge, and appeal to You to support me with Your Power and ask for Your 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 Allah If You know It this matter (name your matter) is good for me both at present and in the future, (or in my religion), in my this life and in the Hereafter, then fulfill it for me and make it easy for me, and then bestow Your Blessings on me in that matter. O Allah! If You know that this matter is not good for me in my religion, in my this life and in my coming Hereafter (or at present or in the future), then divert me from it and choose for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me be pleased with it." (See Hadith No. 391, Vol. 8)*
Book ‘Prayer at Night (Tahajjud)’ Hadith No. 263
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah : The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikhara means 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.
**
and Book ‘Invocations’ Hadith 391**.
Narrated Jabir: The Prophet used to teach us the** Istikhara**** for each and every matter as he used to teach us the Suras from the Holy Qur’an. (He used to say), “If anyone of you intends to do something, he should offer a two-Rak’at prayer other than the obligatory prayer, and then say: 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as’aluka min fadlika-l-'azim, fa innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wala a’lamu, wa anta’allamu-l-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha-lamra khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or said, fi 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) fa-qdurhu li, Wa in junta ta’lamu anna ha-dha-l-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa 'aqibati amri (or said, fi ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni was-rifni 'anhu wa aqdur li alkhaira haithu kana, thumma Raddani bihi,” Then he should mention his matter (need)**.
*** *In the Book ‘Prayers (Salat) Hadith No. 391’, Ibn Abbas narrated: 'When the Prophet PBUH entered the Ka’ba, he invoked Allah in each and every side of it and did not pray till he came out of it, and offered a two-Rak’at prayer facing the Ka’ba and said, “This is the Qibla”.
The above last hadith is a type of example about how to do ‘Istikhara’*.
*Almighty Allah knows best.