Istakhara

Описание: What is the meaning of Istakhara
When one should do Istakhara
What is the method of salat-ul-Istakhara
The paradox of choice and benefit of Istakhara


It means to seek goodness
We should make Istakhara for all our decisions
There is a specific prayer called “salat-ul-istakhara” that we will discuss
In Islamic terms, it means to seek goodness from Allah SWT when it comes to any of our decisions


Istakahara is not limited to major decisions in life
Our knowledge is limited and we should make decisions but while seeking goodness whether they be major decisions
Buying a house
Starting a job
Getting married
Or small seemingly insignificant decisions
Buying a shampoo
What to cook
What clothes to wear


Two rakat nafil prayer
Can be prayed at any time when your need arises
Purpose is to seek guidance from Allah SWT
Once guidance is sought, make what you think is the right decision
No need to wait for dreams or a certain feeling


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):


(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

More choices mean more stress
Typically fewer choices means fewer decisions and less stress
One of the problems we face in modern society is that we have too many choices and we find dissatisfaction in the choices we make thinking we made the wrong one

Therefore if choose something and it does not turn out favorably, we blame ourselves (some other choice must have been the right one)
You can feel paralysis when it comes to choosing. Ever go to a store trying to buy something and bought nothing at all?


We are faced with many choices on a day to day basis
We must make quick judgments and decisions given limited information
Some of the decisions may not turn out favorably but if we make istakhara a habit, we can rest assured that even those decisions that did not turn out favorably, are good for us