Istikhara: Importance and Method from Quran and Hadith
Definition and Concept of Istikhara
The term Istikhara in Arabic means seeking guidance from Allah regarding important decisions. In Islam, Istikhara is a recommended practice to seek Allah’s guidance in making choices that concern one’s life. It is a way to trust Allah’s wisdom and decree in situations where uncertainty arises.
Basis of Istikhara from the Quran and Sunnah:
Quranic Reference:
﴿وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَاسْتَخِرْ رَبَّكَ﴾
So if you are in doubt concerning any matter, refer it to Allah. Indeed, Allah knows, and you do not know.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:216)
This verse highlights the importance of seeking Allah’s guidance in decisions, emphasizing reliance on Him.
Hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ):
“إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالْأَمْرِ فَلْيُصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ، ثُمَّ لِيَقُلِ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي استخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لي في عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لي، ثم بَارِكْ لي فيه، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أنَّ هَذا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لي في دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وعاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أو قالَ في عاجِلِ أَمْري وآجِلِه، فاصْرِفْهُ عنِّي، واصْرِفْني عنه، وَاقْدُرْ لي الخيرَ حيثُ كانَ، ثم رضّني”۔
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
When any one of you is concerned about a matter, let him pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say: ‘O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge and I seek Your power through Your might. I ask You for Your great bounty. You have power and I do not, and You know and I do not. You are the Knower of the unseen.’ If You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my life, and my outcome, then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless it for me. If You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my life, and my outcome, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me what is good, wherever it may be, and make me content. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Translation: Perform two optional rak’ahs of prayer, seek Allah’s knowledge and wisdom, and ask for His guidance, trusting that He knows what is best for you.)
Method of Performing Istikhara:
Perform Two Rak’ahs of Salah (Prayer):
After the two rak’ahs, recite the Istikhara Dua
.
Istikhara Dua:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي استخِيرُكَ بِعلْمِكَ، واستَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، واسْأَلُكَ من فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ ولا أَقْدِرُ، وتَعْلَمُ ولا أَعْلَمُ، وانتَ عَلاَّمُ الغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إن كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذا الأمْرَ (ثم تَسُمِّي حاجَتَكَ) خَيْرٌ لي في دِينِي ومَعاشِي وعاقِبَتِ أَمْرِي أو قالَ في عاجِلِ أَمْري وآجِلِه، فَقَدِّرْه لي، ويسِّرْه لي، ثم بَارِكْ لي فيه. اللَّهُمَّ وإن كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أنَّ هَذا الأمْرَ (ثم تَسُمِّي حاجَتَكَ) شَرٌّ لي في دِينِي ومَعاشِي وعاقِبَتِ أَمْرِي أو قالَ في عاجِلِ أَمْري وآجِلِه، فاصْرِفْه عَنِّي، واصْرِفْني عَنْه، وَاقْدُرْ لي الخيرَ حيثُ كانَ، ثم رَضِّنِي.
While reading the letters on these two red places, you have to express your need in front of Allah
After Dua: Trust in Allah’s decision and be content with His decree, whether you see signs of acceptance or redirection.
Stories from the Sahaba:
Jabir bin Abdullah (R.A):
Jabir (R.A) performed Istikhara before important decisions, such as choosing between different options in trade and marriage, and he witnessed Allah’s blessings when he followed His guidance.Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A):
Umar (R.A) was known to perform Istikhara during significant decisions like appointments and administrative matters, and his decisions were often followed by Allah’s guidance, leading to successful outcomes for the Islamic community.
Conclusion:
Istikhara is a powerful practice that strengthens one’s reliance on Allah and brings peace of mind. By following the guidance from the Quran and Sunnah, Muslims can seek Allah’s wisdom in making decisions and rely on His knowledge to achieve the best outcomes
Important Thing
When you seek guidance from Allah through Istikhara and feel content or inclined toward a particular choice, act upon it because Allah has placed goodness in it for you.
Istikhara does not mean seeing a dream but rather feeling a sense of inclination or peace in one direction. It is the best way to entrust the decision to Allah and rely on Him.
Interpretation of Colors Seen in Istikhara
The interpretations of colors seen during Istikhara often stem from various Islamic traditions. These interpretations are used to provide guidance regarding a decision based on spiritual insights:
Green Color: Green is generally considered a sign of positive and favorable outcomes. It signifies that the decision will lead to success or goodness.
White Color: White is also viewed as a symbol of clarity and purity, indicating a good decision that brings satisfaction and peace of mind.
Black Color: Black is generally interpreted as a sign of undesirable or harmful outcomes, suggesting failure or disappointment instead of success.