* Istikhara: The Guidance Prayer Question Answer : - ~ Question Two: Should I rely on someone else's Istikhara for me?

There is a pious lady in ourcommunity who has offered to pray
istikhara for me to help me make a decision for marriage. My question
to you is if you know if this idea of relyingon someone else's
istikhara is a good idea and compatible with the teachings of Islam on
howto make dua and decisions? Should I follow her advice (according to
her dreams and feelings) to me on this issue or not?
Answer:
This is one means you can take: to seek the istikhara of a pious
person. The permissibility of this was mentioned explicitly by the
Malikis and Shafi`is. The Hanafis do not appear to have discussed this
issue [al-Mawsu`a al-Fiqhhiyya, Kuwait], but there is nothing in it
that would indicate its impermissibility. Rather, it is merely the
taking of a means, which is permittedas long as one knows that the one
who gives and takes, benefits and harms is Allah alone.
In such cases, though, one should not leave doing theistikhara oneself!
Salat al-Istikhara Information
CONCERNING THE RITUAL PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE IN CHOOSING THE BEST OPTION
[SALAT AL-ISTIKHARA], AND THE PRAYER OF SUPPLICATION [DU'A']
APPROPRIATE TO IT.
According to a traditional report transmitted on the authority of
Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, it was Jabir ibn 'Abdillah (may Allah be
well pleased with him and with his father) who said:
"Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to teach
us how to seek guidance in choosing the best option available in a
practical enterprise [al-istikhara fi 'l-amr], just as he would
sometimes teach us a Chapter [Sura] from the Quran.:
"If one of you is concernedabout some practical undertaking, or about
making plans for a journey, he should perform two cycles of ritual
prayer [rak'atain], not as an obligatory observance [farida], but
voluntarily. Then he should say:
"O Allah, I ask You to showme what is best, through Your knowledge,
and I askYou to empower me, through Your power, and Ibeg You to grant
me Your tremendous favor, for You have power, while I am without
power, and You have knowledge, while I am without knowledge, and You
are the One who knows all things invisible.
(Allahumma inni astakhiru-ka bi-'ilmi-ka waastaqdiru-ka
bi-qudrati-kawa as'alu-ka min fadli-ka al-'azim fa-inna-ka taqdiruwa
la aqdiru wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu wa Anta aAllamu al-ghuyub):
O Allah, if You know that this undertaking is in the best interests of
my religion, my life in this world, and my life in the Hereafter, and
can yield successful results in both the short term and the long term,
then make it possible for me and make it easy for me, and then bless
me in it.
(Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha al-amra khairun li fi dini wa
dunyaya wa akhirati wa aaqibati amri wa aajili-hi wa ajili-h
:fa-'qdir-hu li wa yassir-hu li thumma barik li fi-h):
If not, then turn it away from me, and make it easyfor me to do well,
wherever I may happen tobe, and make me content with Your verdict, O
Most Merciful of the merciful.'"
(wa illa fa-'srif-hu aan-ni wa yassir liya al-khaira haithu kana ma
kuntu wa raddi-ni bi-qada'i-ka ya Arhama ar-rahimin).
The South African JamiatulUlama Transvaal collected this:
The Etiquette of Duaa
These etiquettes are narrated in the Hadith. Forreasons of brevity,
only the following summary and reference of each Hadith is mentioned
instead of the entire Hadith.
*. To abstain from haraam food, clothing and earnings. (Muslim : Tirmidhi)
*. To make Duaa with sincerity. In other words,one should firmly
believe that nobody but Allah Ta'aala will fulfill his objectives.
(Haakim)
*. One should perform a good deed prior to making the Duaa & he should
mention this during the course of the Duaa. For e.g. He should say, O
Allah! I had performed so & so deed solely for Your pleasure. O Allah!
accept my Duaa due to the barkat of thatdeed. (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu
Dawud).
*. To make Duaa whilst one is paak & clean. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn
Majah, Nasai, Ibn Hibbaan, Mustadrak).
*. To make wudhu before the Duaa (All six major hadith collections)
*. To face the Qiblah (All sixmajor hadith collections)
*. To sit as in the Tashahhud position (AbuAwanah)
*. To praise Allah Ta'aala atthe beginning as well as at the end of
Duaa (All six major hadith collections)
*. To convey Durood upon Rasulullah (pbuh) at the beginning as well as
the end. (Abu Dawud, Musnade-Ahmad)
*. To spread out both the hands. (Tirmidhi, Mustadrak)
*. To raise both the hands up to the shoulders (Abu Dawud,
Musnade-Ahmad)*. To sit with humility and respect. (Muslim, Abu Dawud,
Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)
*. To mention ones helplessness and dependence.