Excellence of Salatul Istikhara | How to pray ?

What is Istikhara ?

Istikhāra means seeking Divine Favour for well-being, benefit and prosperity. Allah's help must always be sought for anything and everything. However, when the course of action for good is not clear and a decision between two or more options in terms of welfare, gain or benefit becomes difficult, a person is in a dilemma what to do and whether to do or not to do a particular thing. In such a situation, a faithful reverts to Allah and seeks his consent and favour. Prophet (ﷺ) has guided us in this matter by prescribing Salātul Istikhāra.

Salatul Istikhara is a two Raka'āt of Nafl Salah followed by words of Praise for Allah and invocation of blessing for Prophet (ﷺ) and after that prescribed Dua for Istikhāra is recited so as to solicit Divine Favour for a right course of action. Decision taken after this is to be treated as Allah's Will. Basic recitation of Dua of Istikhara can also be considered sufficient.

Excellence of Istikhāra

Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqās states that Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Making Istikhāra is the privilege of Adam's son and remaining happy and to be contended with Allah's pleasure is also his good fortune and anything to the contrary will be his misfortune." [Ahmad]

Anas Ibn Mālik R states that Prophet (ﷺ) has said, "One who makes Istikhāra does not remain unanswered and he who seeks advice is never sorry and he who practices thrift is never dependent [Tabirani]

Abu Ayyub Ansari R states that prophet (ﷺ) had ordered him to make Istikhāra before marrying. [Hakim]

Method of Istikhara

Jabir R  states that Prophet (ﷺ) always advised the Companions to make Istikhāra and taught how to do it. Prophet (ﷺ) would say, "When you are in a dilemma or when you are uncertain about an important course of action then offer two Raka'āt of Nafl Salah in addition to the obligatory Salah and then recite this Dua:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ

"O Allah! because you are all knowing, I do entreat your blessings and because you are All Powerful, I do appeal for Your Infinite Grace, for You have the Power and I do not have power. You posses Knowledge which I donot possess, You have the Knowledge of all that is hidden and unknown. O Allah! If in Your Omniscience, this (the course of action that I am about to pursue) is better for me, both in this world and in the world here-after, then kindly do decree in my favour and make it easy and blessed for me. And in case, this course of action that I am about to pursue is not good for me, both in this world and in the world here-after, then do distance it away from me and keep me safe and protected from it and do decree for me goodness and welfare wherever it be and also make me contended, satisfied and peaceful."

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Allah and his messenger knows best