Dought & clear, - (Prayer Asking for Guidance), - When should the du‘aa’ be offered in salaat al-istikhaarah?

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When a Muslim prays salaat al-istikhaarah, should he recite the du‘aa’ of istikhaarah after the tashahhud and before finishing the prayer, or after saying the tasleem at the end of the prayer?.
Praise be to Allaah.
What is prescribed with regard to du‘aa’ al-istikhaarah is that it should be said after finishing the prayer. This is the view of the majority of scholars.
It says inal-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah(3/245): The Hanafis, Maalikis, Shaafa‘is and Hanbalis said: The du‘aa’ should come immediately after the prayer. This is in accordance with what is mentioned in the text of the hadeeth from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). End quote.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said: What is prescribed for the Muslim, when he offers salaat al-istikhaarah, is to offer the du‘aa’ after saying the salaam at the end of the prayer, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “If any one of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak‘ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say:Allaahumma inni astakheeruka bi ‘ilmika… (O Allaah, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] by virtue of Your knowledge…)”
This indicates that the du‘aa’ should come after saying the salaam at the end of the prayer.
End quote fromMajmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 11/389
The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked: Does the du‘aa’ of istikhaarah come before the tasleem or after saying the tasleem and finishing the prayer?
They replied: The du‘aa’ of istikhaarah comes after the tasleem of salaat al- istikhaarah. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The du‘aa’ of istikhaarah comes after the salaam, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Let him pray two rak‘ahs then let him say…” and he mentioned the du‘aa’.
End quote fromLiqa’ al-Baab al-Maftooh, no. 20
And Allah knows best.

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Dought & clear, - (Prayer Asking for Guidance), - Can one pray istikhaarah with just one rak‘ah?

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Can one pray istikhaarah with just one rak‘ah?.
Praise be to Allaah.
What appears to be the case is that the Sunnah of istikhaarah cannot be done by praying just one rak‘ah, because of the report narrated by Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to teach his companions to make istikhaarah in all things, just as he used to teach them soorahs from the Qur’aan. He said: ‘If any one of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak‘ahs of non-obligatory prayer…
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1166.
Al-Bujayrami (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) referring to two rak‘ahs of istikhaarah indicate that it cannot be done with just one rak‘ah.
End quote fromTuhfat al-Habeeb ‘ala Sharh al-Khateeb, 1/428
Al-‘Ayni (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The evidence indicates that the Sunnah in istikhaarah is to pray two rak‘ahs, therefore one rak‘ah is not acceptable for istikhaarah.
End quote from‘Umdat al-Qaari’ Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 11/385
Ash-Shawkaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The words “let him pray two rak‘ahs” indicate that the Sunnah in istikhaarah is to make it two rak‘ahs, so one rak ‘ah is not acceptable.
End quote fromNayl al-Awtaar, 3/88.

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Dought & clear, - (Prayer Asking for Guidance), - There is nothing wrongwith reading the du‘aa’ of istikhaarah from a piece ofpaper

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Is it essential in du‘aa’ al- istikhaarah to recite it from memory? If a person cannot memorise it, is it acceptable for him to read it from a piece of paper?.
Praise be to Allaah.
In du‘aa’ al- istikhaarah it is not essential to recite it by heart; if one reads it from a piece of paper, that is acceptable, because what matters here is the du‘aa’, and (the one who reads it from a piece of paper) has said it. The majority of scholars regard it as permissible to read Qur’aan from the Mushaf when praying, which is more serious than reciting du‘aa’ after the prayer. See the answer to question no. 65924. But if one is able to memorise it by heart, that is preferable.
It says inal-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah(33/57): The Shaafa‘is and Hanbalis are of the view that it is permissible to recite from the Mushaf when praying. Ahmad said: There is nothing wrong with leading the people in praying qiyaam whilst looking at the Mushaf. It was said to him: What about the obligatory prayer? He said: I did not hear anything about it. az-Zuhri was asked about a man who recites in Ramadan from the Mushaf. He said: The best of us used to recite from the Mushaf. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
There is nothing wrong with reading the du‘aa’ from a piece of paper. If a person has not memorised it he can write the du‘aa’ on a piece of paper and reads it at times when it mustahabb to offer du‘aa’, such as the end of the night or during the night and at other times. But if he is able to memorise it and recite it by heart with proper focus and humility, that is better.
End quote fromMajmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 30/31
The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked (8/161):
With regard to praying istikhaarah concerning some matter or need or whatever, is it essential to memorise the du‘aa’ narrated from Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) – du‘aa’ al- istikhaarah – or can I just read it from the book after the prayer?
They replied: Whether you memorised du‘aa’ al-istikhaarah or you read it from the book, the matter is broad in scope, but you have to strive to have presence of mind, be humble before Allah, and be sincere in your du‘aa’.
And Allah knows best.

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For children, - World (Dunya) and Hereafter (Akhirat)in Deen-e-Islam

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Once, a group of people were traveling on rocks at night. A voice came from the sky that whosoever picks up the rocks will regret and whosoever doesn't pick up the rocks will regret. Now, the people were confused. How can this be? Whether you pick up the rocks or not, you will regret!
Anyway, some people picked up the rocks and some didn't. In the morning when they reached their homes, they saw that the rocks turned into diamonds. Now, those people who didn't pick up the rocks started regretting saying, "If only we had picked up some rocks." Those people who did pick some rocks also started regretting saying, "Why didn't we pick up more rocks?" Both sides ended up regretting.
Dear Muslims, this same incident will take place with us on the Day of Judgment. Those people who spent their time in useless things will start regretting by looking at those who achieved a great position in Paradise by spending their time in the way of Allah (SWT). Now, those who did achieve a position in Paradise will start regretting by looking at those who did more than them and are higher in status. "Alas! If we had only done more to please Allah (SWT)."
Allah (SWT), the Majestic said: "And could you but see when the guilty shall hang down their heads before their Lord: Our Lord! We have seen and we have heard, therefore send us back, we will do good; surely (now) we are certain." Noble Qur'an (32:12)
Imam Sadiq (as)said: All evil is placed in a house and its key is love for this world. All good is placed in a house and its key is abstinence in this world.

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