Dua For Guidance To The Right Path? 287 Most Correct Answers

This is the best dua to recite when a problem arises. This dua was recited by Hazrat Younus alaihi salam in the belly of the fish. Allah accepted his prayer.

Sa’ad ibn Waqas (RadhiAllahu Anhu) narrated that the Prophet SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said: “The supplication of the Companion of the Fish (Prophet Yunus) was in the belly of the fish: مِنَ الظّالِمِيْنَ

“La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minadh-dhalimin”.

(There is no god but Thee, Thou art far exalted and above all weakness, and indeed I was the culprit)’.

If any Muslim asks with these words, his request will be accepted.”

In another account we read: “I know words that will cause Allah to remove one’s distress. These are the words (of supplication) of my brother Yunus, peace be upon him.”

[Tirmidhi]

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At certain stages of life, we often find ourselves at crossroads and need to make important decisions that have a huge impact on our future. These decisions may include choosing a career, getting married, buying a car or house, moving house or to a foreign country, and the like.

Despite weighing all the positives and negatives and consulting family, friends or other qualified individuals, this task of making an informed decision leaves us doubtful and nervous. Praise and thanks to our Creator for not letting us fret and worry in these crucial times. He has taught us a special prayer for guidance in decision making called the Salat Al-Istikharah. When one performs this prayer, one asks Allah to guide one’s right choice regarding a certain essential matter.

The istikharah prayer was described in a hadith narrated from Jabir ibn Abdullah Al-Salami who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) used to teach his companions to do istikharah in everything as he did used to teach them suras of the Koran. He (peace be upon him) said: “If any of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, let him pray two rakahs of non-binding prayer and then say: (translation) O Allah, I ask your decision through Your knowledge and your decision through your ability, and I beg you for your great favour. Because you are able and I am not able and you know and I do not know and you are the knower of the hidden things. O Allah, if You have known that this matter (name here) is good for me in my religion, livelihood and the result of my matter then decree it for me, make it easy for me and then bless it for me. And if you have known that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affair, then turn it away from me and turn it away from me and appoint for me what is good, wherever it may be like. And then please me with it.” (Al-Bukhaari, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisa’i, Abu Dawud, Ibn Maajah and Ahmad).

The result of Istikharah is known by being inclined to do something and continue to feel positive about it. If the decision one is going to make is good for him (in both worlds) then the ways to it will open up and if it is not then the ways will be blocked and Allah will lead him somewhere else. The beauty of Istikharah is that the person who has sought Allah’s guidance will be satisfied with Allah’s decision for him even if it distracts him from what he thought was good, as he will know that this is the result of his Istikharah is. This is because Allah the Creator knows what is best and will definitely guide His servants to what is best for them with His vast knowledge and infinite wisdom.

We must understand that Istikharah does not guarantee that there are no tests and trials in life. Since Istikharah is a dua, Allah’s response to it can be in one of three ways as stated in the hadith: “There is no Muslim who offers a dua in which there is no sin or severing of family ties, but Allah will give him one.” of three things in return: either he will answer his du’a soon, or he will keep it for him in the hereafter, or he will avert a corresponding evil from him because of it.” (Ahmad)

So if someone is going through a bad marriage even after performing Istikharah or suffering a loss in his business etc., it could be that Allah wants him/her to approach Him through patience and dua and send His blessings in other ways . Allah says: “But maybe you hate something and it is good for you; and maybe you love something and it’s bad for you. And Allah knows, while you do not know.” (Quran 2:216)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: It is the happiness of the son of Adam to practice Istikharah and be content with what Allah has ordained for him. And it is from the misery of the son of Adam to drop the istikharah of Allah and to be dissatisfied with Allah’s decrees.” (Tirmidhi and Ahmad)

Unfortunately, many people nowadays ignore this beautiful Sunnah and resort to unfounded or forbidden ways to make important decisions. There are some who follow the Sunnah of praying Istikharah but have added strange myths and unreasonable expectations. They ask a stranger or religious figure to do this for them and expect to be shown the results of istikharah in dreams, visions, a particular sign or color, all of which are nothing but acts of ignorance. First, asking someone to do istikharah for you or others is a form of innovation, and second, there are no instant results like giving a green signal to proceed on a particular matter.

Istikharah is a dua that one must make oneself at any time of the day and then carry out the matter (which he prayed for). And if it is good then Allah will make it easy for him and bless him in it, and if it is not good for him then Allah will turn it away from him and make easy for him what is good with his permission. For no doubt the person who makes istikharah and seeks guidance from his Creator and advice from His creation never repents, as Allah says to His Messenger (peace be upon him): “…And when you have made up your mind, then leave on Allah. Verily Allah loves those who rely (on Him).” (Quran 3:159)

AS humans, our life in this world is shaped by fluctuating conditions that make us happy and sad. No one experiences everlasting bliss or everlasting misery. Life is by nature a test.

Allah says: “He is the one who created life and death to test which of you is the best in conduct.” (Qur’an, 67:2)

Pleasant and favorable conditions require us to be thankful, and adverse conditions require us to be patient and seek Allah’s help.

As believers, we should believe that every condition is a manifestation of Allah’s will. What has passed us should not happen to us, and what has happened to us should not happen to us. Help comes with patience, relief after affliction, and ease after difficulty (Tirmidhi). Our faith and conviction are tested when we face difficulties and afflictions. These difficulties can be physical, emotional, financial and/or psychological. This is confirmed by the following verse: “Verily We shall try you with some fear, hunger, and loss of wealth, life, or the fruits (of your labour).” (Qur’an, 2:155)

These adverse conditions can sometimes affect an individual, a family, a community, or a large segment of the ummah, as is the case in the current cases of Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, and Myanmar. Muslims believe in Islam and supplication or dua before Allah Almighty is what they consider a weapon in their hands to solve their problems. Prayers or Dua are panaceas for the current problems the Ummah is facing today. In the Hadith we find that the Noble Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) encountered a community of people who were going through tribulation. He advised: “Why don’t they ask Allah for help (make dua)?”

The problem with us is that Dua has become a ritual and a last resort for us after all options and means have been exhausted. According to a Hadith, Dua has the unique ability to change fate (Tirmidhi).

All the Prophets (peace be upon them) as we find in the Qur’an resorted to supplication as their ultimate “weapon” to seek Allah’s help when all their efforts failed while reforming nations in their respective hostile environments.

A very poignant example of this is the incident of the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him). Allah Almighty mentions the incident in the following words: “The people of Noah denied and they denied our servant and said: ‘He is a madman’ and threatened him. He therefore prayed (through Dua) ​​to his Lord (said): “I am overwhelmed! Help me?” We therefore opened the gates of heaven while the waters flowed wildly. (And) We made springs gush forth from the earth so that the two waters met in a certain amount.” (Qur’an, 54:9-12)

The above verses in the original Arabic language are very powerful and conjure up an image of vast amounts of water gushing out of both the earth and the sky until the earth was saturated with water. All who mocked the Messenger perished in that deluge. We can say with certainty that the Prophets (peace be upon them) qualified for His help by fulfilling their responsibility to invoke the Creator. And the action heralding this support in favor of the Prophets (peace be upon them) was raising their hands in dua.

At the time of the Battle of Badr, when the future of Islam was in jeopardy, when a small, ill-equipped group of 313 Muslims faced a well-armed army of 1,000 men, the Noble Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) spent the whole night of Am On the eve of the battle, they asked and besought Allah for His help, and Allah Almighty granted the greatest victory in the annals of Islamic history the following day.

In another incident, when Sultan Salah Al-din Ayyubi received news that the Crusader ships were sailing towards them with reinforcements, he retired to the Masjid and spent the night in prayer, begging and begging Allah Almighty for help. At morning prayers he said to a pious man: “Please make dua so that the enemy ships leave the shore with reinforcements.” The person replied: “Fear not, O Salah Al-Din. Verily, the tears of the night have drowned the enemy ships.” A short time later came the news that the ships had sunk.

This is the power of dua, rightly called a believer’s “weapon” by scholars.

In a hadith it is mentioned that “Dua is the essence of worship.” (Musnad Ahmed & Tirmidhi)

In fact, another hadith mentions that “Dua is worship.” (Sunan Abu Dawud) If you ponder and think about the above hadith, you will see that they are very clear, definite and absolute statements. How is it that we pay so little attention to what is described as both the “nature” of worship and worship itself?

The reason for this is that we tend to look at the outward form of dua as being “less strenuous” and “strenuous” in terms of time, place, speech and physical exertion compared to the acts of ibadah (worship) of others is. While there are conducive and favorable moments when duas are accepted in relation to the above, there are no restrictions or specifications on the action of the duas. Dua can be done anytime, anywhere and in any language when a woman is menstruating and also in a state of ceremonial impurity.

Dua is the ultimate form of Abdiya (bondsman-ship) as it is an expression of total dependence on Allah Almighty, knowing that every single condition – good or bad, happy or sad, benefit or loss, wealth or poverty – is solely in the hands of Allah Almighty and that He alone is the ultimate causer of causes. With Him are the keys to His infinite and infinite treasures.

Dua is the act that “connects” the slave to his master. The slave raises his hands as begging bowls in an expression of begging, as a beggar does. “O mankind! It is you who stand as beggars in your relationship with Allah, and it is Allah Who is free from all needs, worthy of all praise. (Qur’an, 35:15)

In all humility, with an attentive heart, full of hope in one’s Creator, Maker, Sustainer and Appreciator, one draws the gaze of the mercy of the Master who is afraid to turn away his slave empty-handed (Tirmidhi, Ahmed, Abu Dawud).

If it is not in the nature of a mother to turn away her child empty-handed, no matter how disobedient a child may be, how is it possible for the One who is the Most Merciful and of Mercy to place Himself in the hearts of all mothers has, vice versa? His slave gone empty-handed? How is it possible that the one who gets angry when His servants don’t plead with Him is not happy when they do? (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Constant turning to Allah Almighty in dua is a sign of one’s belief in Him, and the more one turns to Him, the more one’s faith grows. Dua is a state of heart and conversation with its Creator in the language of its choice. One hadith says dua is a means of asking Allah Almighty for the fulfillment of all our needs, no matter how mundane or insignificant they may be; or significant as they face overwhelming odds on the battlefield (Tirmidhi).

In the vocabulary of Islam there are no words like impossible, unattainable and/or insurmountable. Dua in times of ease is satisfying and generates humility, while at the same time, according to Tirmidhi, it serves as an assurance that our duas will be accepted in difficult times.

n Courtesy of islam.ru/en

Dua in difficult times, accompanied by the shedding of tears, is uplifting, invigorating, safe, cleansing, refreshing and brings comfort and relief to a broken heart.

In the present time we face so many difficulties as individuals and internationally the Ummah faces crises around the world that sometimes we can’t help but feel helpless, frustrated and depressed. At such times, we have a choice of overcoming these hurdles all by ourselves, or voicing our disagreement by appealing to the “powers that be” there are, or using the most powerful “weapon” available to any believer – dua, and to stand before Allah Almighty and ask for His help as He alone is the one who has power over everything and every situation.

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This article is part 2 of my Dua series. Read Part 1 Why I Love Dua as a Muslim to see how I implement duas in my daily life.

The Prophet mentioned that Allah descends to the lowest heaven and says:

“Who is calling me so that I can answer him? Who is asking me to give something to him?…” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Do you sometimes wonder why your duas aren’t being answered? Maybe there’s more to just saying dua and hoping for the best. I researched my dua and found that there are ways to answer your dua more effectively.

First, there are situations where your dua is accepted.

Second, there are times when your dua is accepted.

Third, there are requirements for your dua to be accepted.

Situations where your dua is accepted

The scholars have mentioned that when you are in one of the following situations, it is ideal for your dua to be accepted.

A person wronged or oppressed.

A person going through great difficulties after a disaster.

A person who travels.

A person who is fasting.

A woman in labor.

A person who has recited or finished the Qur’an.

A person who performs Hajj or Umrah.

A person who makes dua for someone in their absence (when you make dua for someone in their absence, an angel says, “Ameen and to you”).

A person who is frequently in a state of remembrance of Allah.

A person who is a just ruler.

Times when your dua is accepted

Scholars have mentioned these times as best for accepting Dua and are the Sunnah of Prophet PBUH.

The early morning hours (the last part of the night until the start of Fajr – divide the night into three parts between Maghrib and Fajr).

After the Adhan.

During salah (when a slave is closest to his master in a state of prostration or before the end of salah after the completion of tashahhud).

After the obligatory prayers.

A period on a Friday (some scholars say the Imam settles between the two Khutbahs and others say it is the last period before the Maghrib).

When waking up at night after wudu.

Before drinking the water of Zamzam.

During the month of Ramadan.

During Laylat-ul-Qadr (The Night of Destiny).

When visiting the sick.

When rain falls

In places like Mecca, Arafat and Medina (when going to Hajj or Umrah).

Requirements for your dua to be accepted

“Verily Allah is pure and accepts nothing but what is pure. And verily Allah commanded the believers what He commanded the Messengers, for He Most High said: ‘O Messengers! ‘” (Quran 23:51)

It is mentioned that certain requirements should be met in order for our Duas to be answered:

Your income must be legal.

Your food must be pure and halal.

You must do penance (do tawba) for your sins.

You should remove all unlawful things from your life.

Make sure you do the basics: pray five times a day, pay zakat, fast in Ramadan, etc.

You should do dua with sincerity and a focused mind and heart.

You should feel with absolute conviction that Allah SWT will answer your dua and no one but He can answer. The Prophet said:

“Call upon Allah while firmly believing that He will answer, and realize that Allah does not answer the dua that emanates from a heedless, unobservant heart.” (Tirmidhi)

Giving the thing asked for, ward off the harm that would otherwise have befallen a person, or as a gift that awaits the person in the next life (this is the best form of Dua answered as mentioned in Hadith Ahmed) .

Performing a good deed before your dua and saying it during your dua (as was done by the three men trapped in a cave by a large rock: each of them made a dua and mentioned a good deed, and the Rocks moved a little with each dua until they could escape – Sahih Bukhari).

To begin and end the dua with praise from Allah SWT.

To send greetings and peace to our beloved Prophet PBUH. A Companion once sat down to make dua and began to praise Allah and salute the Prophet, to which he replied:

“Please, and you will be given. Ask and you will be given.” (Tirmidhi)

In general, trying to keep your tongue wet with the praises of Allah, because gratitude itself increases blessings. Allah SWT says:

“Verily, if you show me gratitude, I will certainly increase you” (14:7). And the Prophet (SAW) emphasized this when he said: “The very best dua is Alhamdulillah (All praise be to Allah).” [Sahih Ibn Hibban]

If possible, pray salat-ul haja (the prayer of need).

How it all comes together…

Begin your dua by:

Confirmation of your belief in Allah SWT – Shahadah.

Asking him for forgiveness – Istighfar.

Praise Allah SWT – Al-Hamd.

Sending blessings upon the Prophet PBUH – Salawaat.

The Prophet said:

“Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him and ask Him for help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and our misdeeds. Whom Allah guides, no one can mislead; no one can lead.” (Muslim)

Here is an example of how to prepare for Dua:

Say the Shahada – I testify that there is no god but Allah alone without a partner and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Say Astaghfirullah x 3 – I ask forgiveness from Allah.

Say Alhumdulillah x 3 – praise be to God.

Say Subhanallah x 3 Glory to God.

Say Allahu Akbar x 3 – God is great.

Say Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam x 3 – Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Invoke Allah with longing, longing and humiliation using His best name Al-Hayy (The Ever-Living) Al-Qayyum (The Self-Sustaining).

Express your need for Him and place all your hope in Him alone.

Tell your Lord that you have no one to turn to and follow the Sunnah to raise your hands when making dua, ideally in the state of wudu and facing the qibla.

Allah SWT says:

“Call upon your Lord with utmost humility and confidentiality” (Quran 7:55)

He SWT also says:

“And invoke Him with fear and longing: Verily Allah’s mercy is near to men of excellence.” (Quran 7:56)

Remember…

We should not have fear in our hearts that our dua will not be answered because of our shortcomings or because we feel that we don’t deserve it.

We are told that our “longing” for Allah to answer our dua out of His boundless generosity and mercy should overcome this fear.

Invoking Allah SWT for our needs is an act of worship and Allah loves to be invoked.

It is the shaytaan’s ruse when he makes us believe that we are not worthy of our dua being accepted. Make sure you have that frame of mind that makes you think you are humble when in fact you are too arrogant to ask your Lord for help. After all we are nothing without Allah SWT so do we really think we don’t need to ask for His help? Prophet PBUH taught us that Dua is:

“The Essence of Worship.” (Tirmidhi)

We should be patient and realize that Allah SWT fully knows our problems and is in full control of our circumstances. He will respond to our dua based on what is best for us and at the most appropriate time.

We must persist in our dua and not give up if we don’t get an immediate response.

When our dua is answered, we should remember that Allah SWT knows what is best for us, even if we don’t like the result at first.

The Prophet said:

“The slave will be answered as long as his dua does not involve sin or breaking family ties, and as long as he is not hasty. It was said, ‘What does being hasty mean?’ He said, ‘When he says, ‘I made dua, and I made dua, but I didn’t see any reaction,’ so he gets frustrated and stops making dua .'” (Sahih Muslim)

Allah SWT says:

“Perhaps you would hate something while it is good for you, and perhaps you would like something that is bad for you – Allah knows and you do not know.” (Quran 2:216)

He SWT also says:

“Perhaps you would hate something, but Allah puts much, much good in it.” (Quran 4:19)

Allah SWT will give us only His good pleasure (rida) and divine providence (‘inaya); we just have to ask!

Join me again for part 3 of my Dua series, How to start and end my day with Dua, where I will be sharing my morning and evening Dua routine.

*My reading recommendation*

I miss my university offer

Finding a place through clearing

My hard work is not paying off

Disappointment of my parents/carers

My friends are better than me

Salatul Hajat, also written as Salat-ul Hajat, is the prayer of distress. It is usually recited to Allah to help those in dire need. This prayer helps in improving a person’s spiritual well-being, mental health and physical health.

Reciting this prayer on time ensures that one is guided by Allah and does not sin. It is considered a good deed. In this blog, we look at the meaning and purpose of this salat, the recommended time to recite it, and the exact dua in Arabic and English with meaning. It also explains how to perform this salad.

What is the meaning of Salatul Hayat?

The literal meaning of the word Hajat is to wish. Salatul Hajat has 2 rakats prayers offered to Allah. It is a prayer that is basically recited for wishes or the fulfillment of a specific purpose.

What is the purpose of salatul hayat?

The purpose of salatul hajat is to emphasize your prayer and ensure it goes to heaven, known in Islam as jannat, the best creation of Allah.

What is the best time to pray Salatul Hayat?

This salad can be performed at any time of the day, however, the best prescribed time for this dua is in the last third of the night. It is generally regarded as a dua to be said after Witr Namaz.

Salatul Hayat Dua

The dua said in salatul-hajaat is a salat for distress. Regarding Salat-Hajat dua, Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa narrates:

The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever has a need from Allah or a human being, let them perform ablutions and then pray two rakats. After that they should praise Allah and send blessings (duruod) to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

The Dua in Arabic with Pronunciation Guide:

لا إِلَهَ إلاَّ اللهُ الحَلِيمُ الكَرِيمُ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ العَظِيمِ ، الحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِيْنَ ، أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ ، وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ ، وَالْغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرّ،ٍ وَالسَّلامَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ إِثْمٍ ،لاَ تَدَعْ لِيْ ذَنْباً إِلاَّ غَفَرْتَهُ، وَلاَ هَمَّاً إِلاَّ فَرَّجْتَهُ، وَلاَ حَاجَةً الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

Laaa i-la-ha il-lal-la-hul-ha-leemul kareem.

Sub-hanallahi rabi-bil ‘arshil ‘azeem.

Wal-Hamdu-lil-la-hi rabbil-`Alameen.

As’aluka muji-bati rah-ma-tik, wa `a-zaaa ‘i-ma mag-fira-tik, wal gha-nee-mata min kul-li birr, was-sa-la-mata min kul-li itm.

La ta-da`li dhan-ban il-la gha-far-tah, wala ham-man il-la far-raj-tah, wala day-nan il-la ka-day-tah, wala hajatam-min ha- wa i-jid-dunya wal-aaa-khi-rah.

He-ya laka ri-dan il-la qa-day-taha yaaa ar-ha-mar-ra-he-meen.

Translation of Salatul Hajat Dua

There is no god but Allah the Wise and Wise. There is no god but Allah Almighty. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the enormous Throne. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I ask of you (O Allah) for everything that leads to your mercy and your tremendous forgiveness, enrichment in all good and freedom from all sin. Leave none of my sins (O Allah) except that You forgive them, nor any care except that You make an opening for them, nor any need in which there is Your pleasure except that You fulfill, O Most Merciful One!

The meaning of this dua in the words of Abu Dawud is: “Whenever a matter became serious, the Prophet (peace be upon him) turned to salah.” It means that one can ask God for help at any time, because Allah is him Most Merciful and Beneficent. Among all voluntary appeals to Allah there is also an important prayer called salatul hajat. It is observed for the purpose of fulfilling one’s Haajah (needs). It is just one of the ways of praying to the Almighty for one’s rightful desire.

“Whoever does wudu and does it right, then prays two rak’ats, Allah will sooner or later grant him what he may pray for” (Ahmad)

Salat ul Haajat for marriage

Salat ul Hajat for Marriage gives the best results when recited on a Monday. After completing Isha prayer, one must perform an ablution or cleansing bath and then go to a private room to perform the prayer.

Begin with a 4 rakah prayer with a salam. Also state the intention of the prayer at this time. In the first raka, recite Surah Fatiha, followed by Surah Ikhlas, a total of ten times. Recited the same suras 20 times in the second raka. Say the same sura 30 times in the third raka. And finally, in the 4 rakah, both suras should be recited 40 times. Perform Salaam and quietly move on to the next step. Recite Surah Ikhlas 75 times. Then recite Istaghfar 75 times. And finally recite Darood Shareef 75 times. Finally, offer your dua for marriage. Repeat this every Monday for faster results.

How to perform salatul hayat?

In order to perform these prayers or namaz, there is a specific format that must be followed. Here is a brief guide on how to pray Salatul-Hayat.

The person who performs salat ul hajat must start wudhu. Wudhu is a purification ritual performed in Islam as an important part of purity and cleanliness.

After that, two rakats are performed with the intention of Nafl Salaat.

After the salat is finished, the recitation of the prayer to Allah SWT and Durood Shareef begins. It is considered good to recite as much Tasbeeh and Durood Shareef in Islam.

In the end, when all this is done, it is obligatory to make a sharp Dua e Hajat. This helps in fulfilling one’s requirement or ambiguity.

Salatul-Hajat Benefits

Salat-ul-Hajat rewards or benefits cannot be specifically mentioned as they derive from the purpose of prayer. It is a prayer of need and of reward with benefits according to one’s needs and desires. It is a powerful prayer and must be performed with a pure heart and complete surrender to the Almighty. When said with sincere intention, this prayer is sure to grant all desires and bring wondrous rewards from Allah, the Most Merciful.

FAQs on Prayer of Need

How many times is salad practiced in a day? The salat is a mandatory Muslim prayer performed five times a day by a Muslim person. It is considered the second pillar of Islam.

What is Salatul Hayat? Salatul Hajat is a simple but powerful prayer to ask Almighty for your wishes.

What is the perfect time to offer salatul hajat every day? Salatul Hajat can be offered at any time except sunrise, sunset and noon.

Devout family members and friends often tell us to pray Istikhara (the prayer of guidance) for the choices we face in life. However, we are not given any step-by-step instructions on how to perform Istikhara.

I used to think istikhara was a prayer I only do for important decisions in my life or when I can’t decide about something important. I was unfamiliar with the very essence of this powerful prayer, nor with its fantastic utility in my daily conflicts.

I also didn’t realize that this prayer made me put my complete trust in Allah SWT. I asked Him to take charge of my affairs and lead me to a decision that is best for me and not necessarily what I want for me.

It is sad to say that many of us were not taught to incorporate Istikhara into our lives from an early age, either by our parents or by Islamic institutions. We may not have been guided in the right way to run it – which is surprising and relatively easy.

As I researched Istikhara, I regretted not having used it more often and in most of my life decisions. I could have been guided by the best of protectors – Allah SWT. Who can guide us better than the one who created us!

What is Istikhara?

Istikhara is a Nafl prayer for seeking guidance from Allah SWT regarding ALL matters in one’s life. It is highly recommended in Islam and our Prophet PBUH taught his Companions to do Istikhara in relation to ALL their affairs, especially important decisions.

It is about looking for what is right or good for yourself in order to make the best possible choice. It means understanding that we don’t know everything, nor do we know all the facts about the options we have, so we suspend our judgment and leave the matter to our Lord.

We put our absolute trust in him. In this way, we focus on seeking the best possible answer for our worldly and religious life, which is often misunderstood by our limited intellect. Istikhara prayer can be said for a specific matter or for a general matter in the hope of seeking the best.

Some scholars recommend performing a general Istikhara prayer for all good things every day – ideally at the time of Duha prayer (after sunrise). After that, one should be content with what Allah chooses for one and not try to follow one’s whims after the answer to one’s istikhara has become obvious.

Misconceptions about Istikhara

1. Istikhara is prayer for marriage only

Some people believe that Istikhara is there only if you intend to marry someone, but Istikhara is there to seek guidance in ALL matters of life.

2. Istikhara is performed only by pious people

Some people believe that as a sinner they must pious someone to do istikhara for them, but istikhara can be performed regardless of your state of piety.

3. Istikhara is only answered in a dream

Some people believe that your answers from Istikhara come in the form of dreams or seeing green or white. Your answers from Istikhara will be in the form of guidance from Allah SWT on what is best for you.

4. Istikhara is only for really big things

Some people believe that Istikhara can only be performed for important life decisions, such as deciding on a spouse, buying a house, having a child, etc. Istikhara can also be performed on a specific matter, a general issue, or every day forever be made .

5. Istikhara can only be performed when you are praying

Some people believe that one can only perform istikhara in the state of wudu or after a salah. If it is not possible to perform Istikhara prayer, e.g. B. as a traveler or during your menstrual period, you can easily read the Istikhara Dua alone.

How to perform Istikhara

Istikhara prayer is a short prayer seeking guidance. You will be rewarded for completing it and receive divine support for making the best decision to achieve greater success than deciding for yourself.

Step 1

Pray two sunnah rakats at any time that is not unpopular.

step 2

If you are short on time, you can combine your Istikhara prayer with another Sunnah prayer.

step 3

After your Istikhara prayer, recite the Dua of Istikhara:

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 لِي فِي وَمَعَ وَمَعَاشِي فَ فَ وَ وَ وَ وَ وَ وَ ا ا ا كَ كَ كَ كَ أَرْضِنِي أَرْضِنِي Allâhumma inni astakhiruka bi ilmika wa astaqdiruka Biqudratika Wa as’aluka min fadlikal-azimi, fa innaka taqdiru walâ a’lamim . Allâhumma in kunta ta’lamu anna hâdhal amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma-ashi wa aqibati amri faqdir-hu li wa yassir-hu li thumma barik li fihi wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hâdhal amra sharrun li fi dini wa maashi wa aqibati amri fasrifhu anni wasrifni anhu waqdir liyal-khayra haythu kâna thumma ardini. “O Allah, verily I seek the better [both choices] from You, through Your knowledge, and I seek ability from You, through Your might, and I ask You from Your immense abundance. Because you really have power and I am powerless; You have knowledge and I do not know; You are the knower of the invisible realms. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in terms of my religion, my livelihood and the end of my matter, then determine it for me, make it easy for me and bestow blessings on me in it. And if you know that this thing is bad for me in terms of my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair, then turn her away from me and me from her; and appoint for me something better than it, wherever it may be, and make me content with it.”

step 4

You can say the Dua of Istikhara when you cannot pray Istikhara or when you are menstruating.

step 5

It is best to recite Istikhara before sleeping, although this is not necessary.

step 6

As with other duas, facing the qibla is recommended.

step 7

It is recommended to open the Dua of Istikhara by praising Allah, sending blessings to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and thus closing it.

step 8

After that, do not rush to seek the answer to your Istikhara. The Prophet said:

“Your prayers will be answered unless you hurry up and say, ‘I prayed, but no answer came.'”

How do you get your reply from Istikhara?

Imam al-Nawawi mentioned that before istikhara prayer you should seek advice from those you can rely on for their knowledge, wisdom and concern for you.

Ibn Hajar al-Haytami mentioned that you should distance yourself from the desires of your selfish tendencies.

Shaykh Nuh Keller suggests that the more you pray Istikhara the clearer your answer will be and that you should pray it for all matters, even things you would not think of praying Istikhara for.

You must avoid your judgment or bias on this particular case and wait for Allah SWT to show you a sign or make things happen in a way that indicates what you must do.

If you are not sure about the result of the Istikhara, it is recommended to repeat the Istikhara up to 7 times and on different occasions as needed. Your answer doesn’t necessarily have to come to you in the form of a dream or even a “feeling”.

Instead, the resolution from your Istikhara prayer will be guidance from Allah SWT on what is khayr or best for you.

In order to perform Istikhara with proper manners, you must put your desires and desires on hold as your intention is simply to turn the matter over to your Lord.

After that, Allah SWT will ensure that events unfold in the best direction for your worldly and after-death affairs, inshallah.

For your convenience I have added a video of Qari Omar Hisham mashallah’s beautiful voice in case you wish to watch and listen to the Istikhara dua.