Question:
How does one do Istikhara?
Answer:
Make wudu‘ then pray two raka`ats to the intention of letting Allah choose for you. Then supplicate to Allah thus:
اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ , وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ , وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلا أَقْدِرُ , وَتَعْلَمُ وَلا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلامُ الْغُيُوبِ
(state your matter) اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ
خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي , فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ
(state your matter), اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ
شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ : عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ
Allahumma innee astakheeruka bi `ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’aluka min fadliki’l-`azheem, fa innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdir, wa ta`lamu wa laa a`lamu, wa anta `allaam al-ghuyoob. Allahumma fa in kunta ta`lamu anna haadha’l-amra “(then the matter should be mentioned by name)” khayran lee fee deeni wa ma`aashee wa `aaqibati amree faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee thumma baarik lee feehi. Allahumma wa in kunta ta`lamu annahu sharrun lee fee deeni wa ma`aasheewa `aaqibati amree (or: fee `aajili amree wa aajilihi) fasrifnee `anhu [wasrafhu `annee] waqdur lee al-khayr haythu kaana thumma ‘radeenee bihi.
Translation:
O Allah, 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 immense bounty. You have power, I have none and You know and I know not. You are the Knower of all things hidden. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: 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 (or: for me both in this world and the next), 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.”
(Reported by al-Bukhari, 6841; similar reports are also recorded by al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisa’i, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Ahmad).
Focus on your need and intend for Allah Most High to enlighten your heart concerning it. Repeat this intention and du`a with every non-obligatory Salat until either your mind feels at ease, or you see a good dream, otherwise run from it.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
