Since shyne started this tradition of thought full threads ; I thought I should share this.
So I am thinking about one of the situation that may arise in near future(work/relocation related).
Not doing wont change any thing But doing it may change alot.
So I am thinking and thinking. Then I did what I always do.
I did istakhara PM style . 2 nafals and pray for guidance. I believe we become preceptive and able to see clearly OR MAYBE it IS divine help. What ever it, is it helps!!
I did it. Came to GS lost concentration. I knew nothing was going to happen.
Now get this:
Next morning I get e-mail from my older brother. Who is taking a plunge is Sufism.
He wrote two lines. Some thing along theses line.
“over analyzing may cause paralysis have faith and move forward.”
^ dude… being a techy you should know that over-analyzing is an anti-pattern, hence the term analysis paralysis. In the world of research, we term the same thing as perplexed reflexivity.
Anyways, wish you all the best… I believe the real term you need here is “Tawakkal ala Allah!” :k:
PM ...... sometimes we get stuck in the same ol' grind and only years later we realize if we had let go of things we could have been in a different place.
Sometimes moving forward requires one to take a step back..........but it does give you a clarity of thought and allows you to see what you are missing and what you want that is more important to you !
But shyne did you notice the connection. Funny my brother is been telling me there is such a thing.
I always deny it.
Like me asking for help(in prayer) AND him writing me the solution. hmmmm
PM .....I do believe in coincedences ....and I think you should take it seriously !
I've always related things like dreams and happennings to real-life events and I always interpret my dreams to what is going on with me at that point in life. I do base a lot of my decisions on that especially if I've done Isthikhara prior .
I've heard people talking about benefits of istikhara and I have some general idea but plz someone explain to me the exact and proper way to do it. I believe I really need to do it.
Intoxicated there is a Dua of Istikhaarah . Mostly though people think that they have to read it at night after 2 rakat nafl and pray to God to guide you in the right direction , You can actually recite it at anytime .
There are two school of thoughts some people think that the decision is based on a dream others say that it depends on the feeling you get , however the basic concept it that if you are indecsisive you just read the dua and Allah will guide you to the right path.
Now having said that personally , I 've always interpreted it through my dreams as I've had dreams that are very symbolic and when I did not follow them , I did make the wrong decisions and suffered .
“Istikhara” means to seek goodness from Allah (Exalted is He), meaning when one intends to do an important task they do istikhara before the task. The one who does the istikhara is as if they request Allah Almighty that, O the Knower of Unseen (Exalted is He) guide me if this task is better for me or not?
According to Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 21, Number 263:
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah :The Prophet (Sallal Laho Alaihi Wasallam) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara, 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):
WAY TO PERFORM ISTIKHARA:
First pray Two Cycles (raka’) of ritual Prayer (nafil) such that in the first raka’ after Surah Fatiha (Allhamd…) recite Surah al-Kafirun (Chapter 109) and in the second raka’ after Fatiha (Allhamd…) recite Surah al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112). After finishing prayer recite this (supplication/dua’): Dua in Arabic Text above. TRANSLATION: “O Allah! I seek goodness from Your Knowledge and with Your Power (and Might) I seek strength, and I ask from You Your Great Blessings, because You have the Power and I do not have the power. You Know everything and I do not know, and You have knowledge of the unseen. Oh Allah! If in Your Knowledge this action ------------------------------------------------ (which I intend to do) is better for my religion and faith, for my life and end [death], for here [in this world] and the hereafter then make it destined for me and make it easy for me and then add blessings [baraka’] in it, for me. O Allah! In Your Knowledge if this action is bad for me, bad for my religion and faith, for my life and end [death], for here [in this world] and the hereafter then turn it away from me and turn me away from it and whatever is better for me, ordain [destine] that for me and then make me satisfied with it.” How many times?
It depends. Sometimes it takes only once to get the answer and sometimes it takes longer. It is better to do istakhara seven (7) times. If you have received an answer as explained in the section below, stop doing istikhara. You do not have to continue to do isitkhara for 7 days. It is better that right after reciting the supplication, given above, sleep with ablution (people who cannot keep the ablution for longer times due to health problems do not have to worry about ablution before falling asleep) facing the direction of the Qibla (facing the Qibla is not required but it is a Sunnat of our beloved Prophet Peace Be Upon Him). It is better to recite salutations (durood/ salawat) on the Prophet Allah’s Grace and Peace be upon him before and after the above Dua (supplication). Answer:
If in the dream one sees whiteness (means any thing white in color, for example: milk, white paper, white sky, white clothes, white light etc.) or greenness (means any thing green in color, for example: grass, plants, trees, green clothes, green light etc.) then understand that this task is better and if one sees redness (means any thing red in color, for example: blood, red clothing, red fruit, red light etc.) or blackness (means any thing black in color, for example: black water, black light, black clothings, black sky, black wall etc. ) then understand it is bad and avoid it.
If do not remember any dream or do not see any colors then follow your heart. Whatever intention grows stronger in your heart regarding your targated work follow it after seven days of Istakhara.
Intoxicated there is a Dua of Istikhaarah . Mostly though people think that they have to read it at night after 2 rakat nafl and pray to God to guide you in the right direction , You can actually recite it at anytime .
There are two school of thoughts some people think that the decision is based on a dream others say that it depends on the feeling you get , however the basic concept it that if you are indecsisive you just read the dua and Allah will guide you to the right path.
Now having said that personally , I 've always interpreted it through my dreams as I've had dreams that are very symbolic and when I did not follow them , I did make the wrong decisions and suffered .
Thats interesting Sheyn...I have done istikhara many times and has never seen a thing...but I do follow what my instinct tells me once I have done it....It would be so much more easier if I could see things in my dream.
Yeah , thats why i’ve always looked for the answers in my dreams and if i don’t have a dream , i just repeat the isthikhara for 7 days and then interpret my dreams depending on what i dreamt and how i felt about the dream !
Some of the really important events that I did isthikhara for i had very vivid dreams that i still remember in detail , that’s why i rely on the dream !
