Istikhara dua is a sunna prophet Mohamed, peace upon him, recommended mulsim to do when they feel confused or undecided about life’s matter.
Muslims pray it, especially when they face a dilemma like choosing between two things with zero knowledge about one is better, like when you get two scholarships from two universities but don’t know which one is better to apply for. Similarly, they do this dua for marriage or for getting jobs.
Muslim scholars say that. Since people don’t know the future, they ask Allah what’s better for them so Allah inspires them on which proper decision to take so they can get out of this predicament.
what is istikhara? Ibne-e-Aseer, M, (1342) defines this term as asking for something good from almighty Allah.Bukhari (1994) has cited a Hadith” from Hazrat Jaber (RTA), in which he mentioned that The Prophet Mohamed, peace upon him, advised Muslims to do this supplication before commencing anything.
Tha’labi wrote that “If the decisions are cloudy and there are doubts and suspicions surrounding them, then Muslims should pray to Allah to show us the right path.
Briefly, istikhara IsIstikhara is a very important du’a (prayer) that should be recited when making any major decision in one’s life big or small. The word “istikhara” literally means “to seek guidance from Allah.” When making a decision about something, it is not a form of divination or fortune-telling. Rather, it is a way of asking Allah to guide us to the best possible outcome in whatever situation we find ourselves in.
what is Dua for istikhara in English? “Allah, without any suspicion, I counsel you In the name of your infinite knowledge and power and ask for your blessings. You are almighty, and I am helpless. You have the supreme knowledge of all that’s concealed, and I know nothing. Allah, if this thing (marriage, job, apartment) is in my favor, give it to me, make it accessible and easy, and bless it. But If it is not in my favor, then don’t give it to me and make it away from me, and I’m away from it. And destine the good for me and make whatever you see for me and make me fulfilled.
Transliteration for this dua ‘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.’
Read also: +10 dua for forgiveness and repentance in Islam
How do we say istikhara dua in Arabic? This is the text of How you can say this Dau in Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ [mention decision here like marriage , job, travelling or anything ] خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
How to perform istikhara prayer/ salat step-by-step? Just follow these six steps.1. Perform ablution ( in Arabic Wudu وضوء) wash your hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, hair, and feet, .like you do always before any prayer to ensure your body is clean.
2. Devote your intention to Allah before prayer and say, Allah Akbar.
3. Do two rakaat. In each, read A’-fatiha, followed by other Surah like Al- Kafirun or Al-Nas
4. After Taslim, raise your hands to the sky and invoke Allah’s Greatness in your heart.
5. Thank Allah for all the blessings he gave to you and pray on Mohamed, peace upon him.
.6. It’s better to follow the same Ibrahim prayer:: O God, bless Muhammad and Muhammad’s family as Allah did bless Abraham and his family.
7. Say dua (We wrote above), and delegate all your matters to Allah, for surely he knows the best.
Can an Istikhara Be Done Anytime? Of course, you do it any time, but the favorite time for this prayer is the third part of the night before Dawn, Fajar, as Allah descends every night to the lowest heaven and says:
I am the Lord; I am the Lord: who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him? Who is there to beg of Me so that I grant him? Who is there to beg forgiveness from Me so that I forgive him?
How Can I Feel the Result of Istikhara? After this supplication, many people can ask how can I know the answer? or to be more specific, how can I ensure the decision- like applying for X university- is dictated by Allah and does not stem from my tendencies or desires.. well, There are many signs you can feel.
If you feel cheerful, comfortable, and relieved about the thing you make this prayer for, then you can take action to do it Otherwise, if you feel not comfortable or distressed, maybe it’s time for you to back off. Also, if you might have a dream this night regarding the matter you pray for, ask Dreams’ interpreters about its meanings. You might find the right answer in it. If you feel not delighted nor down-hearted, then repeat your istikhara once again or consult the people who have knowledge and wisdom about which course is better to follow. The Difference Between Sayyidul Istaghfar and Dua of Istikhara? Sayyidul Istaghfar is the dua for seeking forgiveness from Almighty Allah and can be said any time to atone for the bad deeds. And it goes:
اللهم أنت ربي لا إله إلا أنت خلقتني وأنا عبدك وأنا على عهدك ووعدك ما استطعت أعوذ بك من شر ما صنعت أبوء لك بنعمتك علي وأبوء لك بذنبي فاغفر لي فإنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت
On the other side, Dua of Istikhara is for seeking consultation from god, and we say it whenever we feel confused and perplexed and not able to take a deceiving decision.
Can I Do Istikhara Dua Without Doing Salah? Yes, you can do that. Imam al-Nawawi, may God have mercy on him, in the Book of Remembrances, has cited an event, where fellows of prophet Mohammed, peace upon him, settled un dispute by doing only dua without salat.
Imam al-Nawawi said If some Muslims can’t perform salat. Then he should pray istikhaarah by supplication to Allah to clarify things for him and ease whatever is better for him.
The four Islamic schools have quoted the previous words of Al-Nawawi and approved them as an allowance for Muslims to make those duas without completing salat.
Should I Say Dua for Istikhara – Before or After Taslim? Muslim scholars have different opinions about whether Istikhara is before taslim or after it. Ibn Taymiya, May Allah mercy him, holds that Muslims are allowed to do both of them. However, he was more inclined to ( dua before taslim).
The Hanafis, Malikis, Shaafa‘is, and Hanbalis said: The dua should be immediately after the prayer and this latter opinion is more common among the majority of Muslims. But there’s no mistake if you said Dau before taslim.
Significance of Istikhara in Islam Muslims do Istikhara whenever they feel perplexed about any situation like buying a new apartment, applying for a job, marrying someone, or signing up for a new deal.
Istikhara teaches Muslims to submit their will to Allah. By delegating the decision’s burden and the results coming with it to God, they feel more connected with his supreme power. Also, Istikhara keeps the Muslims away from the misleading ways that pretend that ability to know the future, like astrology and other malpractices that might fall in the polytheism’s circle. It removes cloudiness and confusion and leads Muslims to the correct choice Common Questions About Istikhara prayer Those are the questions people usually ask about this topic
1. How to Make Istikhara Prayer for Marriage?
Just follow the same steps mentioned before. During this Dau, say if marriage from that person is good for me, then ease it for me and bless it but if it will harm me, then make it away from me- and continue until the end.
2. Can Dua Change Istikhara?
Yes. certainly, it can
3. If I Don’t Know the Dua for Istikhara What Should I Do?
No problem. You can read it from your phone’s screen or write it on paper and then read it.
4. What if I Don’t Know Dua Istikhara by Heart?
You can read it from your phone’s screen or write it on paper and then recite it. The most important thing is to invoke the greatness of the divine God in your heart and feel pious and devout.
5. Can Women Do Dua for Istikhara When Menstruating?
When menstruating, women can’t pray, but they can say this dua orally when they want..
6 . Can I Do Istikhara Dua for Someone Else?
The basic rule is that Muslims should perform prayer on/her own. However, Some scholars allowed asking others to do so on behalf of them, based on Hadith saying: (Who can benefit his brother, so he can do so, Muslim).
A
7.Is Istikhara Sunnah or Nafl?
It’s a sunnah
8. is istikhara dua in quran?
This dua isn’t Quoted from Quran But from Sunnah. Some surahs are favored for you to say during this prayer like El kafroon and Ikhlas
9. How to Perform Salat Al Istikhara and Dua for Istikhara?
We mentioned how to do that before, Make a pure intention and prayer and say dua before or after Taslim. If you can’t pray for any reason, just say dua in a pious manner.
10. What to do when the Answer Seems Unclear?
you can repeat Istikhara or consult others who are known for their knowledge and wisdom to guide you through your problem.
11. How Many Times Should I Pray Istikhara?
One time, if the answer isn’t clear, you can repeat it once again.
Etiquettes (Aadaab) of Istikhara This prayer is performed when you seek counsel for a problem you face but it’s not for Haram things like taking bribes from one authority When Praying, Make everything clean (externally and internally): your body, dress, and the place where you pray as well as your soul and thoughts. Invoke the greatness of Allah in your heart Choose the best times for prayer like the third part of the night Begin by thanking God and salat on Mohammed before asking for ISTIKHARA Put your full trust in Allah and whatever result that shows to you, be willing to accept it. Anyway, if want to delve more into Islamic studies and Shariah science, Hafizon academy offers you this opportunity to study freely within your own schedule. Check our plans and book your trial session now.
Conclusion In this article, you’ve known the meaning of istikhara supplication, How to say it and why do you say it. Besides, some ETIQUETTES and rules for you to prepare for this prayer or dua.
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