THE PROMISE OF ISTIKHARA

By: Shaista & Beenish Khurshid, Calgary, Alberta & San Francisco, California

You may have heard of Istikhara - a famous du’a/prayer people make before making a big decision such as getting married. There are many myths around Istikhara - some believe you will see an answer in a dream by seeing a specific colour. Others believe once you make istikhara, your decision is sure to be perfect.

The truth about this du’a is actually much more simple. Du’a istkhara is a prayer of humility and trust in the Ultimate Wisdom (God). Du’a Istikhara can be translated as follows:

O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, you are Capable, and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [then mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, - [or say: in this life and the afterlife] - then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, - [or say: in this life and the afterlife] - then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be and help me to be content with it.

The du’a begins by submitting to God, and recognizing God’s Might and Knowledge. It is only in the second half of the du’a where we make our ask.

“Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) used to teach us to seek Allah’s Counsel in all matters as he used to teach us a Surah from the Qur’an. He would say: When anyone of you has an important matter to decide, let him pray two Rak’ahs other than the obligatory prayer, and then say: <Du’a Istkhara>. Whoever seeks the counsel of the Creator will not regret it, and whoever seeks the advice of the believers will feel confident about his decisions, for Allah has said in the Qur’an: “And consult them in the affair. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.” (Qur’an 3:159)” (Al-Bukhari 7:162)

In Rasulullah’s advice is the best advice. When you have an important matter to decide:

1. Pray two rak’ah other than the obligatory prayer

2. Recite istikhara

The promise: whoever seeks the counsel of the Creator will not regret it.

What stands out so significantly about both the du’a and this hadith is it’s emphasis on the reliance on God. The du’a is one of reliance on Allah SWT, and the promise of Rasullulah is that we will not regret relying on Allah SWT’s counsel.

The Hadith also highlights this verse in the Qur’an:

“And consult them in the affair. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.” (Qur’an 3:159)

Allah SWT asks us to:

1. Consult the believers in our affairs

2. Make a decision

3. Then put your trust in Allah SWT

This highlights the importance of drawing from the experience, knowledge, and intuition of those around us that we trust as a source of Hikmah. While it can be comforting to isolate ourselves in stressful times, the right thing to do is reach out.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمَكَ، 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- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ- فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي- عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ- فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ

This du’a is not a magic potion. Reciting it will not magically improve your life. Instead, this du’a is a conversation with Allah SWT. This conversation is the magic potion which starts from our heart. Our heart should feel his power, His grace, His omnipotence. We should truly believe that He is our Lord, the most High, He can do anything. And we are asking/begging for his counsel, his perspective, his consultation, from the knowledgeable, the Great.

When uttering the dua, we humble ourselves, we understand and believe that He is the knower of Ghaib (the unseen). It helps us to understand our inability, fallibility, and weaknesses. It also helps us to understand the greatness of whom we are asking. It helps us realize that we can rely on Him without a doubt.

We ask humbly about the matter we are at a crossroads with, understanding that God knows our welfare more than us. We finish the dua by saying that whatever is best for me, make that happen, and help me be content with it. We are giving our rope to Allah and He will help us to solve the conundrum.

Putting your trust in Allah SWT also means acknowledging that you may not have all the answers. So take this as an opportunity to defer judgement, let go of any strongly held notions or feelings, and recognize that there may be more to this decision than you can know.

Once you have asked for God’s ultimate guidance, rest in Allah's guidance. And when you feel comfortable with God’s power and ultimate wisdom, the decision will start becoming clear, if Allah wills.

There are those who have had a bad experience after reciting du’a Istikhara. What is important to remember here is the wisdom in the du’a itself, which is that God ultimately knows what is good for us and what is bad for us. Sometimes, we must go through a trial to find a better outcome in the end, and Allah knows best.

“Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” (2:216)

Despite the ups and downs of life, we must keep our trust in Him, for surely, to Him is our final return.

In Summary:

1. When you are at a crossroads make Istikahra.

2. Humble yourself and understand that you need his help and guidance

3.You really feel that he has knowledge and power and you're powerless and unknowledgeable.

4. When you finish, do Istikahra let yourself a little loose and let go of your previous notion.

5. Seek help from those who are knowledgeable, and those who also trust in Allah SWT

6. Make a decision

7. Put your trust in Allah SWT

Photo by Damian Siodlak on Unsplash