Correct your knowledge regarding Salaatul Istikhaarah

by Asma bint Shameem

🔺Definition:

Istikhaarah is defined as:

“Seeking guidance (to the right decision), i.e., seeking guidance as to what Allaah knows is the best and most appropriate choice, by means of prayer or the du’aa’ narrated concerning Istikhaarah.”

Istikhaarah prayer is Sunnah and you read it when you're deliberating about something permissible and deciding which way to go.

🍃 Jaabir Radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam used to teach his companions to make istikhaarah in all matters, just as he used to teach them surahs from the Qur’aan.

He said: ‘If any one of you is deliberating about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer…”

(al-Bukhaari 1166)

🔺How to read Istikhaarah prayer

For this istikhaarah prayer, all you do is make your niyyah in your heart, read two rakat of prayer and then read the dua of istikhaarah from the Sunnah and ask Allaah to guide you in making the right decision

Before you read the istikhaarah, consult your loved ones and those you trust as well as those that are experts in the field of your issue.

Also think about and reflect on the pros and cons of the issue at hand.

Then make an educated, intelligent and informed decision, putting your trust in Allaah and knowing that He will guide you to that which is best.

That's the 'answer' to the istikhaarah.

You don't have to wait for a “sign” or a dream or seeing “green” or “red” or anything like that.

Nor do you have to “sleep” to do istikhaarah or make the prayer “the last thing you do before bed” or “not talk to anybody” or other misconceptions so common amongst us.

There's NO PROOF, NOR any NEED for all that.

Just research, consult, contemplate, and pray.

Then put your trust in Allaah and go ahead with what “you” decide.

Remember that Allaah is NOT going to decide for you.

It’s YOU that has to make that decision.

Whatever you will decide, that's the answer to the istikhaarah.

By praying the istikhaarah this way, whatever decision you'll make “IS” the right decision that's better for you.

THAT’S the trust you have to place in Allaah after you make a decision.

🍃 Allaah says:

‎ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

"Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)." (Surah Aal-Imraan: 159)

So if you've prayed istikhaarah, asking Allaah for guidance, about something, then go ahead with it.

If it is good, Allaah will make it easy and facilitate it for you, and if it is bad, Allaah will divert you from it or divert it from you.

That's exactly what the words of the duaa that you read for istikhaarah are.

🌷The timings for praying Istikhaarah

Since the istikhaarah prayer is a ‘need’, so the ulama say it's allowed to be read, even in times when general nafl prayers are not allowed.

So if you need to, you can pray it even after fajr and before sunrise especially if the need to make a decision is urgent and you have to decide something quickly and the istikhaarah prayer cannot be delayed until after sunrise because of the urgency of the decision.

🌷When should the duaa be recited…”before” or “after” the tasleem?

There’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about that.

And some scholars are of the opinion that the duaa of istikhaarah should be read in the tashahhud before the tasleem.

But the stronger scholarly opinion is that the duaa should be read after the Tasleem.

🍃The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“The du‘aa’ of istikhaarah comes after the tasleem of salaat al- istikhaarah.”

🍃And Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“The du‘aa’ of istikhaarah comes after the salaam, because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said:

“Let him pray two rak‘ahs then let him say…” and he mentioned the du‘aa’.”

(Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh)

🌷 Are there specific surahs to be read in Salaatul Istikhaarah?

The scholars say there are no specific surahs to be read when praying Salaatul istikhaarah;

Rather you can recite whatever is easy for you, according to the stronger scholarly opinion as there’s no proof of reading any specific Surah.

🍃Shaikh Bin Baaz said:

“Its characteristic is to pray two rakat like the remaining voluntary prayers. He reads in each rak’ah the opening of the Book and what is easy for him from the Qur’aan…”

🍃 And Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“And it is not a condition in the Istikhaarah prayer to read a specific surah from the Qur’aan except Surah al-Faatihah, for there is no prayer for the one who does not read it.

There is no specific surah to read for it as far as I know, rather a person reads what is easy for him from the Qur’aan along with Faatihah.”

🌷Should I do Istikhaarah “every day” for “everything”?

Istikhaarah is not done for routine everyday chores or for things you’re certain about.

Like you know you have to pray.

Or you have to eat, etc.

Or you know you have to go to work etc.

So there’s no need to read Istikhaarah prayer for that.

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

““What is apparent is that Istikhaarah is [performed] when there is uncertainty whether there is a benefit in something for him [or not].

There is no need for Istikhaarah if he is certain.

It comes in the Hadeeth:

‎إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ

“If anyone of you intends to do something”

[al-Bukhaari]

The intend of the context is “doubt”.

As for if you know that this affair is good for you, then there is no Istikhaarah.

You know prayer is good for you, that fasting is good for you, that being dutiful to your parents is good for you, then there is no need to do Istikhaarah.

Istikhaarah is only for something that has ambiguity”.

[al-Fawaaid al-‘Ilmiyyah min Duroos al-Baaziyyah (5/56)]

🌷Can someone else pray Istikhaarah for me?

No one can pray Istikhaarah in your behalf.

Rather “YOU” have to read it for yourself.

🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“Istikhaarah can only be done by the person who wants to do something or is thinking of doing it.

It is not valid to pray istikhaarah on behalf of another person, even if he delegates him to do that and says: Pray istikhaarah to Allaah for me (and ask Him to guide me concerning this matter), because the Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

“‘If any one of you is deliberating about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak‘ahs…”

By the same token, if two people enter the masjid and one of them says to the other:

Pray two rak‘ahs for me to ‘greet the masjid’ (tahiyyat al-masjid), and I am going to sit down, that is not valid.

Istikhaarah prayer is connected to the person who is seeking guidance concerning the thing he wants to do.”

(Liqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh, no. 89)

🌷 Can I pray Istikhaarah with other Sunnah or Nafl prayers, instead of reading two separate rak’aat?

Yes that’s permissible

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“If any one of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, then let him pray “two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer” then say: Allahumma inni….”

(al-Bukhaari 6841)

The words:

“Let him pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer”, show that istikhaarah can be read after ANY non obligatory prayers.

🍃 Imaam Al-Nawawi said:

“He can pray istikhaarah after two rak’ahs of regular sunnah prayer done at Dhuhr for example, or after two rak’ahs of any nafl prayers whether they are regularly performed or not.” (al-Adhkaar)

🌷Can Istikhaarah be read without the two rak’aat of prayer?

Like a woman in her menses?

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“Yes, it is permissible to make Istikhaarah as she pleases.

She can make Istikhaarah as much as she likes without Salaah, as (i.e. in the manner) one asks one’s Lord and makes Istikhaarah to one’s Lord, whether male or female, while mensturating and whatever she has relating to menstruation.

In all these cases, there is no problem in making Istikhaarah [without Salaah/Wudhu].

However, if it is done after the Salaah, then that is better and more virtuous. Her doing Istikhaarah with Salaah is an act of Sunnah.

So one prays two rakahs and then asks and makes Istikhaarah to one’s Lord, whether one is male or female. Yet [again we mention] if she is menstruating or is in a state of rush, and thus one makes Istikhaarah without Salaah, then there is no problem in one asking one’s Lord, and all praise is for Allaah.

Allaah says:

‎ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ

‘Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation).’ [40:60]”

🌷 The Duaa of istikhaarah

“The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam used to teach his companions to make istikhaarah in all matters, just as he used to teach them soorahs from the Qur’aan.

He said: ‘If any one of you is deliberating about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say:

‎اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ , وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ , وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلا أَقْدِرُ , وَتَعْلَمُ وَلا أَعْلَمُ , وَأَنْتَ عَلامُ الْغُيُوبِ , اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي , فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ , اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي , فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ

Allaahumma inni astakheeruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’aluka min fadlika, fa innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdir, wa ta’lamu wa laa a’lam, wa anta ‘allaam al-ghuyoob. Allaahumma fa in kunta ta’lamu haadha’l-amra (then the matter should be mentioned by name) khayran li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma baarik li fihi.

Allaahumma wa in kunta ta’lamu annahu sharrun li fi deeni wa ma’aashi wa ‘aaqibati amri fasrifni ‘anhu [wasrafhu ‘anni] waqdur li al-khayr haythu kaana thumma radini bihi

“O Allaah, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty.

You have power, I have none.

And You know, I know not.

You are the Knower of hidden things.

O Allaah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me.

And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, then turn me away from it, [and turn it away from me], and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.” (al-Bukhaari)

What beautiful words of a beautiful duaa!

And Allaah knows best