Anytime a Muslim is making a decision, he or she should seek Allah’s guidance and wisdom. Allah alone knows what is best for us, and there may be good in what we perceive as bad, and bad in what we perceive as good.


If you are ambivalent or unsure about a decision you have to make, there is a specific prayer for guidance (Salat-l-Istikhara) that you can do to ask for Allah’s help in making your decision. Should you marry this certain person? Should you attend this graduate school? Should you take this job offer or that one? Allah knows what is best for you, and if you are not sure about a choice that you have, seek His guidance.

Salat al-Istikhara is a powerful tool that Allah has given us to ask His guidance in all matters. We should not hesitate to pray Istikhara before making any choice in our lives, big or small.

It’s important to do this prayer with sincerity, knowing in our hearts that only Allah can give us the guidance we seek, and resolved to follow the guidance He gives us, even if it clashes with our own desires.

We should also say the dua with firm conviction, not begging or pleading, but asking Allah clearly for guidance.

And we should not be impatient after our dua. We do not put Allah on a timetable. And we should not expect some sort of miracle, or a dream full of signs and symbols. These things are not necessary. We simply say our prayers and trust that Allah has heard us and will answer us in the way that is best.

Salat-l-Istikhara is described in the Hadith narration below.

Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam used to teach us the way of doing istikhara (istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Surats of the Quran. He said, “ *If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two Rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer)* :


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

‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as’alaka min fadlika al-‘azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu Wala a’lamu, Wa anta ‘allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta’lam anna hadha-l-amra Khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or ‘ajili amri wa’ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or fi’ajili amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.’

(O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter–(or said: If it is better for my present and later needs)–Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter–(or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)–Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it). The Prophet added that then the person should name (mention) his need.
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 21 Hadith 263

* When making the dua, the actual matter or decision should be mentioned instead of the words “hathal-amra” (“this matter”).
What needs to be noted is that the answer to one’s istikhara prayer does not come simply in the form of dreams and feelings but in how Allah facilitates and unfolds events for an individual after he or she genuinely strives to do what is best.

Take the most effective means, which includes consulting those whose knowledge and wisdom one has confidence in, and place your trust in Allah.

Lastly, one needs to be patient in terms of receiving the answer to their prayers. Remember the words of our Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam, “The supplication of everyone is granted as long as he does not show haste and does not say that he made a supplication but it was not accepted.” [Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]

And Allah knows best, He is the All-Seeing, All-Hearing, the best Planner. May He guide us and ease all our difficulties.

Ameen.

https://hadithoftheday.com/how-to-perform-salat-l-istikhara/

Jaza'akallahu khair Op

Jazza kumu lahu haeran. nice write up!!!

If only Tinubu will seek Allahs guidance before taking silly decisions, country for no hard like this

Ok

I don't understand
Does this mean Muslims believe Allah can speak to them?
I thought it's only a prophet that can hear from Allah

As you are forming your decision, stop lieing and using lies to promote Islamic lies,

All those Islamic terrorist that will use excuses of that it is Jews that killed Jesus that Jews will kill Christians, see we already see through your lies, mohammed used same lies on you, angel Gabriel took him to the holy site in Jerusalem that wasn't in existence, see mohammed was always high on opium hence how he copied the bible.

I thought you people said Jesus didn't die that God took him to himself, so why didn't God take your mohammed too?
It is because the fool was cursed, if he is from the line on Ishmael then he was finished. Because you can't tell me that a man who had opportunity of marrying grownups will have a stiff prick staining 9 year old Aisha playing with her doll, who knows maybe because of that pain Aisha's father abubakar made sure none of mohammed's male sons grew to adulthood and did I tell you that zaynab gave him rat poison and even when he died a painful death and was buried, pigs exhumed him and ate his petrifying body.

On 14th may 1948 Israel was created, please on 15th may same 1948, what did the arabs do including the Palestinians?

It was an Arab Israeli judge that sentenced an Israeli president to jail in Israel, please what is the population of Jews in Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc and also synagogues, etc please who is cleansing who?

We know this is a religious war, dont let these obnoxious ishmaelites deceive you, there is noting like Palestine, Romans renamed Judea palestine to spite the Jews after their second revolt...
And for those Yoruba Muslims, I didn't hear you people condemn the killing of Deborah so we can never take you people serious until you dislodge the fulanis that have converted your traditional land of illorin to Islamic caliphate.

May Allah guide us alright.

Salat-l-Istikhara is a powerful prayer guidance, that has so many condition to be fulfilled,,To me a person who believed in Istikhara must always pray five times daily,not only for the purposes of the guidance,and also must believed that what God said is the best in that situation, rather than what he/she believes or others believed..There are three signs you see if God almighty accepted your Salat-l-Istikhara prayer 1.dream-God vividly explained how your prayer request will work or not..2.Your efforts in such request will be successful..3.lastly More help from different people's will come for you.. whether known or not.. Going other places for verification may affect your guidance, unless God wishes in that ratification..

Jazakumulahu khayr

Jazakallahu Khairan

MashaAllah

MetaFiles230709:
As you are forming your decision, stop lieing and using lies to promote Islamic lies,

All those Islamic terrorist that will use excuses of that it is Jews that killed Jesus that Jews will kill Christians, see we already see through your lies, mohammed used same lies on you, angel Gabriel took him to the holy site in Jerusalem that wasn't in existence, see mohammed was always high on opium hence how he copied the bible.

I thought you people said Jesus didn't die that God took him to himself, so why didn't God take your mohammed too?
It is because the fool was cursed, if he is from the line on Ishmael then he was finished. Because you can't tell me that a man who had opportunity of marrying grownups will have a stiff prick staining 9 year old Aisha playing with her doll, who knows maybe because of that pain Aisha's father abubakar made sure none of mohammed's male sons grew to adulthood and did I tell you that zaynab gave him rat poison and even when he died a painful death and was buried, pigs exhumed him and ate his petrifying body.

On 14th may 1948 Israel was created, please on 15th may same 1948, what did the arabs do including the Palestinians?

It was an Arab Israeli judge that sentenced an Israeli president to jail in Israel, please what is the population of Jews in Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc and also synagogues, etc please who is cleansing who?

We know this is a religious war, dont let these obnoxious ishmaelites deceive you, there is noting like Palestine, Romans renamed Judea palestine to spite the Jews after their second revolt...
And for those Yoruba Muslims, I didn't hear you people condemn the killing of Deborah so we can never take you people serious until you dislodge the fulanis that have converted your traditional land of illorin to Islamic caliphate.

Hardly you will see Muslims replying to Christian’s post on Sunday….I believe na Wuna ignorance dey create terrorism…in every terror attack,check the genesis

Especially when you want to marry,buy a house and a car. This prayer is very important

rapson19:

Hardly you will see Muslims replying to Christian’s post on Sunday….I believe na Wuna ignorance dey create terrorism…in every terror attack,check the genesis

Nice one, Nigerians are difficult to understand sometimes. It will never stop, wahala just dey in different phase😁

rapson19:

Hardly you will see Muslims replying to Christian’s post on Sunday….I believe na Wuna ignorance dey create terrorism…in every terror attack,check the genesis

May God bless u.

Danmisra:
Especially when you want to marry,buy a house and a car. This prayer is very important

Jazakallahu Khairan

rapson19:

Hardly you will see Muslims replying to Christian’s post on Sunday….I believe na Wuna ignorance dey create terrorism…in every terror attack,check the genesis

Na still that lieing that I am talking about, should I drag names here with evidence of how you guys litter there with nonsense?

But still Islam is a form of mental illness.

Jazakumllah khayran


Istikhara is one of the greatest blessings given to our ummah. Once you've finalised your choices and are unsure on what to choose,pray istikhara. Walahi Allah will guide you towards which is best without any stress.

some of you agreed to the declaration that you are a muslim just to post nonsense , the superior inferiority complex worrying guys knows no boiund

THE HELL RILIGION FROM WARLORD ALWAYS ASK FOR PERMISSION TO COMMENT

Jazzakumullahu khaira

Baarakallohu fihi

Jazakallah khair.
May Allah continue to guard us rightly (Ameen)

Aameen! May Allah (SWA) reward you abundantly.