Consulting with one's elders and performing Istikhaarah
Q: I had made Istikhaarah for a certain matter and went to sleep. Upon awaking for Fajr Salaah today, my heart was very confused and indecisive. I thought that I will have to continue for several days.
After Ishraaq Salaah, I remained awake for an hour or so in Ibaadat, Tilaawat, zikr etc. Thereafter, I felt tired and slept for about two hours. When I woke up, my heart was very much inclined in a certain direction. I did not perform Salaatul Istikhaarah, read the dua, or do anything related to the Istikhaarah before this sleep. Nevertheless, should I consider this inclination?
A: The Islamic teaching is that before embarking on any important affair (e.g. nikaah, business, purchasing a house, etc.), one should consult with one's seniors and people of experience. The Hadith teaches us that the one who consults will never regret.
After seeking advice and guidance, if you feel confident that the path you wish to adopt will be good for your deen and dunya, then there is no harm in you embarking upon it. Thereafter, you should perform salaatul istikhaarah and seek goodness from Allah Ta'ala in the work you wish to embark upon.
The Sunnah method of istikhaarah mentioned in the Hadith is to perform two rakaats nafil salaah with the niyyat of istikhaarah. Thereafter, one should recite the masnoon dua of istikhaarah, thereby seeking guidance and goodness from Allah Ta'ala in the thing one wishes to embark upon. If one feels positive after performing the istikhaarah, then one should go ahead. The following is the masnoon dua of istikhaarah:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرًا لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيْشَتِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرًّا لِيْ فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيْشَتِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أرْضِنِي بِهِ
O Allah! I ask You for good through Your Knowledge, and for ability through Your Power, and beg (Your favour) out of Your infinite Bounty. For surely You have Power whereas I have none. You know all whereas I know not. You are the Great Knower of all things. O Allah! If in Your Knowledge, this matter is good for my faith (Deen), for my livelihood, and has a favorable outcome, then ordain it for me, and make it easy for me, and bless me therein. But if in Your Knowledge, this matter is bad for my faith (Deen), for my livelihood, and has an unfavourable outcome, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain good for me, wherever it be, and cause me to be pleased with it (Your decision).
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
عن أنس بن مالك قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ما خاب من استخار، ولا ندم من استشار، ولا عال من اقتصد (المعجم الأوسط للطبراني، الرقم: 6627)
عن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعلمنا الاستخارة في الأمور كما يعلمنا السورة من القرآن يقول إذا هم أحدكم بالأمر فليركع ركعتين من غير الفريضة ثم ليقل اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك وأستقدرك بقدرتك وأسألك من فضلك العظيم فإنك تقدر ولا أقدر وتعلم ولا أعلم وأنت علام الغيوب اللهم إن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر خير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري أو قال عاجل أمري وآجله فاقدره لي ويسره لي ثم بارك لي فيه وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شر لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري أو قال في عاجل أمري وآجله فاصرفه عني واصرفني عنه واقدر لي الخير حيث كان ثم أرضني قال ويسمي حاجته (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 1162)
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