DUA -e- ISTIKHARA

(دُعائے استخارہ)

Prayer for seeking advice from Almighty Allah

What Is Istikhaarah?

Istikharah is a way to get advice from Almighty Allah for making big & small decisions.

Almighty Allah knows what is exactly best for us, something might be good what we observe as bad and something might be very bad what we observe as good.

It is a simple two rikats namaz as normal nafil and after two rikats we have to recite Dua-e-Istikharah (Dua-e-Istikharah shown below with translation). After this, Almighty Allah guides us, we just need to make a decision as we internally want according to Islamic rules.

In Istikharah we have begged Almighty Allah’s advice to make our decisions right which will be good for this world and hereafter specially.

When to Perform Istikhaarah:

It is quite essential to make Istikharah when you are making big decisions and going to do, make, purchase & sell big things.

It is also very good to make Istikharah for small decisions & things as well.

Misconception of Istikhaarah:

Importantly we have to make Istikharah by our self, it is just a pray like other prayers, and a Dua which is called Dua – e – Istikharah.

We must not to ask and hire anyone to make Istikharah for us. It is based on faulty thinking or understanding.

Obtaining Result from Istikhaarah:

After Istikharah, whatever decision we make, it will be best for us.

It is not that, after Istikharah we will see any dream, any color, any signal, hear voice like that, these are all foolish and rubbish concepts in our mind.

Reference:

It is narrated from Hazrat Jaabir (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) that Rasulullah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) used to teach us the dua of Istikharah for important matters in the same manner as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Qur’aan.

He (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) used to say,” When you intend doing any important work, then read two rakaats nafl salaat and thereafter read this dua (Dua – e- ISTIKHARAH mentioned below).”

(Bukhari‐pg. 944)

 Rasulullah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) once remarked to Anas ( رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) “O Anas! When you are undecided with regards to any matter, then seek counsel from your Rabb and do this seven times.

Thereafter, whatever decision prevails in your heart regard it to be beneficial.” (Shaami‐Vol.1, pg. 507)

DUA OF Istikhaarah

استخارہ کی دعا

 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  (بخاری،ترمذی)

(هَذَا الْأَمْرَ ) At this point you will bring to mind the matter for which you are making Istikhaarah.

 Translation: O Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى), I ask You of good through Your knowledge, and ability through Your power, and beg (Your favor) out of your infinite bounty. For surely You have power, I have none. You know all, I know not. You are the great knower of all the things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge this matter is good for my faith, for my livelihood, and for the consequences of my affairs then ordain it for me and make it easy for me and bless me there in. But, if in Your knowledge this matter is bad for my faith, for my livelihood, and for the consequences of my affairs, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it and ordain for me the good wherever it be, and cause me to be pleased therewith.

After having recited this Dua, adopt that aspect towards which the heart is inclined.

Urgent Istikharah:

If you don’t have time and place to make Prayer of Istikharah and needs to make a decision urgently, then you can recite this small Dua of Istikharah, you can say readymade Dua of Istikharah. Hopefully, Almighty Allah will help you to make a better decision for you.

اللَّهُمَّ خِرْلِیْ وَاخْتَرْلِیْ

(شامی: ص 470،471، ج 2)