A few years ago, I came across a book that one of my relatives had
called:"The Three Abandoned Prayers". In it, the author discusses
three prayers that have been largely underused by many Muslims, but
which hold great power. They were Salat-ut-Tawbah (The Salah of
Repentence), Salat-ul-Istikhara (The Salah of Seeking A God-Guided
Outcome in Times of Decision), Salat-ul-Tasbih (The Salah of
Glorification of God).
No doubt, many of us have been heedless of these powerful tools for
growing in our closeness to Allah, but one in particular which is
important to re-think is Istikhara.
The procedure for this Salah, is best described by the hadith:
On the authority of Jaabir Ibn ˜Abdullah he said: The Prophet (S)
would instruct us to pray for guidance in all of our concerns, just as
he would teach us a chapter from the Qur'an. He (S) would say "if any
of you intends to undertake a mater then let him pray two
supererogatory units (two rak'ah naafilah) of prayer and after which
he should supplicate:
'O Allaah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge and by Your power I
seek strength and I ask You from Your immense favour, for verily You
are able while I am not and verily You know while I do not and You are
the Knower of the unseen. O Allaah, if You know this affair -andhere
he mentions his need- to be good for me in relation to my religion, my
life, and end, then decree and facilitate it for me, and bless me with
it, and if You know this affair to be ill for me towards my religion,
my life, and end, then remove it fromme and remove me fromit , and
decree for me what is good wherever it be and make me satisfied with
such.'"
Such a powerful tool we have been given, to admit our complete lack of
knowledge, power, ability,and sight, and the absolute dominance of
Allah (swt) in all these abilities. Such a great and mighty prayer,
comprehensive in its outlook, its span of time, and its effect on our
lives. Balanced within this worldand the Hereafter. Something which
only Divine Guidance could have brought us.
Many of us use this prayer,rightfully, to seek Allah's assistance in
making decisions concerning school, getting a job, getting married,
going to Hajj, or maybe even choosing a house. Unfortunately though,
we have relegated one of the most powerful duas available, to only the
mostimportant decisions.
What we don't realize however, is that this prayer need not only be
for the most important, crucial decisions in our lives. Why do those
who are in Islamic Work, not use this prayer when making decisions in
the organization? Why not use it when making difficult choices at
work? For a specific project choice or topic choice for apaper in
school? Why do we not use it every time we say: "Ya Allah" I wish you
would just guide me to what is best for me! orYa Allah! I wish you
would just show me what to do!
So many decisions that theactivist brother or sister has to make. So
many decisions at our workplaces. But in these decisions, we don't
remember that much of our worry can be removedby leaving the decision
to Allah (swt).
What made the Companions the unique Quranic generation, was that their
entire thought process revolved around the Quran and around
supplication to Allah. The relegated to Allah and His Messenger, every
decision in their lives, after putting forth an intelligent and
sincere effort at solving their problems
As the Prophet said:"Ad-Dua mukh-ul-'ibaadah"�.
Supplication is the essence of worship.
So next time we have a decision, big or small, that is of some
consequence, remember - No one who ever consults with his Lord in
sincerity, shall ever be displeased with His Decree.
Make use of istikhara! Once an Imam sat with mewhen I asked his advice
and told me something about one of the leaders of the Muslim
community. He told me: "Brother, every person who has success in the
Deen, has a secret, some worship he does that sets him above and
beyond and helps himtowards Allah. You know what his [the leader's]
secret it? Every time he travels, and I've seen him, he prays
istikhara. He asks for guidance in his travels, and on the various
affairs of his life, and he makes use of his times of travel to do it.
So have some secret that you use also."
Secrets aside, istikhara is powerful. So inshAllah lets use it.
Misconceptions about istikhara:
1. Istikhara is not about having a dream. If one reviews the wording
of the hadith, one finds that it is not asking for a dream, it is
asking God to make one's affairs occur inthe best way. Because onedid
not have a dream, a sign on a bus or a billboard go by them on the
highway, does not mean it didn't "work"
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