Taking the plunge

The Importance, Instructions, and Wisdom of Salaatul Istikhaarah

Ever been faced with indecision? Not sure which way to go in life? The Companions mentioned that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam taught them to make “istikhaarah” (which is related to the word “khair”, which means “good” - so in essence you are seeking what is “good” for you) just like he taught them any other du’aa. They would seek Allah’s guidance on even the seemingly smallest issues in their lives. It is one of the most concrete ways of displaying your tawakkul, or trust, in Allah.

To make Salaatul Istikhaarah, all you do is make 2 non-obligatory (extra) prayers. Then afterwards, recite the following prayer:

Allaahumma innee astakhiruka bi’ilmika was astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’alu min fadhlikal ‘adheem. Fa inna taqdiru wa laa aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wa laa a’lamu wa anta ‘allaamul ghuyoob.

O Allah, truly I seek guidance from you due to Your knowledge and I seek Your decree due to Your power and I ask of Your great bounty. For You are able and I am powerless, and You are knowledgable and I do not know, and You are the knower of the Unseen.

See how Allah teaches us how to pray to Him! He knows us the best and what we need- and in teaching us these prayers, He shows us the reality of our situations. So we come and seek Allah’s guidance admitting that all the power and knowledge belong to Allah, that He holds everything good in His Hands, and that we do not know the future while He does.

Allaahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna haadhal amru (mention it here) khayrul-lee fee deeni wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati amri, wa ‘aajilihi wa aajilihi, faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee, thumma baarik lee feeh.

O Allah, if You know that this affair (mention it here) is good for me in my religion, my life, my affairs, in the short term and in the long run, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it.

See how perfectly Allah teaches us to ask! We don’t just ask for what we “want”. We ask first for our religion (the most important thing) and for our lives (because we can and should live “good” lives) and affairs (we live in the world and want the best in this life and Hereafter), we ask not only for what’s best now but for later, when we don’t know if what we choose will end up good or not. We ask for it to come to us easily and smoothly and for us to be blessed in it.

Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna haadhal amru sharrul-lee fee deeni wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati amri, wa ‘aajilihi wa aajilihi, fasrifhu ‘annee wasrifnee ‘anhu, thummaqdur leelkhayra haythu kaana thumma radh-dheeni bih.

And if You know this affair is bad for me in my religion, my life, my affairs, in the short term and in the long run, then turn it away from me and make me repulsed by it, then decree for me the good wherever it is, then content me with it.

As for the opposite, if it’s bad for us, we are taught by the Most Merciful to not only turn it away from (deny it to us) but that we ourselves should not even want it! Sometimes we want something so badly but it’s not good for us. So see how Allah soothes our hearts and wants good for us. We ask if this is not good for us, then even further to go ahead and grant the good thing- the alternative- to us from wherever and whatever it is, and to content us with it- since we might not think we want it although it is good for us. Could there be a more perfect du’aa, which encompasses every single aspect of what we need? Subhanallah!

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After you recite the prayer, you should consult with people (make an informed decision) and come to the best conclusion you are able to, and just do it. The key here is not how perfectly you pronounce the words, but that you utterly trust Allah in the final judgement. In other words, once you are set upon a course of action, you no longer worry about it. Think if you were worried about some ailment and you went to the doctor’s and he said, “This is not a problem, it’s normal, don’t worry about it” - you’d probably feel relieved and not think twice about it. The same feeling of relief (how much greater since we are not talking about a mere mortal but the Almighty) should accompany you if you really trust Allah with the final outcome of your decision. It’s in His Hands now.

Now, a lot of people have a lot of superstition and baseless practices when it comes to Salaatul Istikhaarah.

Myth: You can’t make up your mind before you make Istikhaarah, you have to be “neutral”.

Reality:

It’s OK if you have feelings or inclinations one way or the other, but of course you are open to changing them. Why are you asking Allah anyway if you are totally sure? The point is you have uncertainty and to settle it you are asking Allah to guide you to what is best.

Myth: Istikhaarah is a mystical experience, best done at night before sleep, and the answer will
come to you in a dream or sign.

Reality:

Istikhaarah is “miraculous” not due to any weird or unusual experiences, but the beauty of a believer trusting his/her Lord completely. I can tell you that EVERY SINGLE TIME I have made Istikhaarah “amazing” things happened- meaning the absolute best thing (even if it was unexpected or the opposite of what I wanted) happened. IT WORKS. Sometimes people do see dreams or experience something out of the ordinary or have a great story to tell, but if you just have “normal” experiences that is fine. Why else are we instructed to take “shura” (consultation with people) and make a decision (with our rational minds) and try to carry it out? It is a practical act in the end and Istikhaarah can (and should) be made at any time of the day or night- whenever you need it.

Myth: If I decided on something and I saw a small deterrent, it wasn’t meant to be. Or if things
weren’t “miraculously” beautiful and fast, it wasn’t meant to be.

Reality:

Sometimes people are “oversensitive” or try to read too much into normal events. Yes, it’s true that sometimes after Istikhaarah, things happen very quickly or smoothly or miraculously. But it’s not always like that. After making your decision, carry on as normal with confidence and assurance. You might still encounter the normal stumbling blocks of life, but that’s not a problem. Keep going. If it’s not meant for you, it just won’t happen.

A final word- trusting Allah is like jumping out of an airplane WITH NO PARACHUTE and KNOWING He will catch you. If you have doubts, it might not work. It might be scary, but you need to trust Allah completely. In an age where people are continually “stressed” and “worried”, it’s wonderful that Allah helps us with our burdens. Your utter trust and Allah’s helping you in your life- that’s the “miracle”. So take a deep breath ask for guidance, and take the plunge!