SECONDLY: that he prays two rakaahs of superogatory prayer, with the intention of al-Istikharaah (seeking guidance).

THIRDLY: after the prayer, he should make the supplication of al-Istikharaah: Transliteration: Allahuma inni astakhiruka bi'i3lmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadhlika-l'a3zeem, fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta3lamu wa la a'a3lamu, wa anta a3laamu-l'ghuyub Allahumma in kumta ta3lamu anna hatha-l'amr (and here he mentions his need) khayru-lii fi diini wa ma3aashii wa a3aaqibati amrii faaqdirhu lii wa yassirha lii thumma baarik lii fihi wa in kunta ta3lamu ana hatha-l'amr (he mentions his need) sharru-lii fi diini wa a3aashii wa a3aaqibati amrii faasrifha a3nii wa asrifni a3nhu wa-qdir lii al-khayra haythu kaana thumma raddhinii bihi Translation: O Allah, I seek your counsel by Your knowledge and I seek your assistance by Your power and I ask You from Your immense favor, 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 Allah, if You know this affair (and here he mentions his need) to be good for me in relation to my religion, my life and aftermath, then decree it and facilitate it for me, and bless me with it, and if You know this affair to be ill for me concerning my religion, my life and end, then remove me from it, and decree for me what is good, wherever it maybe, and make me satisfied with it FOURTHLY: He should have a strong assurance in his Lord and truthful reliance upon his Lord , being sure of guidance, waiting for the answer.

 DOES ANYTHING PREVENT THE SUPPLICATION FROM BEING ANSWERED? Yes! al-Istikharaah is a du'aa (supplication) so the Muslim should fulfill all the conditions of making a du'aa and avoid all obstacles and barriers that prevent a dua from being answered. Such obstacles are: (1) earnings of the individuals are haram e.g.. dealing with interest , illegally gained wealth, deception, as the Prophet saw mentioned the case of a man who having journeyed far, disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky (saying): O lord! O lord! - whilst his food is unlawful, his drink unlawful , his clothing unlawful and he is nourished unlawfully.

So how can he be answered! (Muslim, 2/2214) (2) If the dua'a requests something which is sinful or involves oppression Ubadah ibn as-Samit (ra) relates that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: There is not a Muslim on the face of the earth that invokes Allah with a supplication except that he will be granted it or will be protected from an evil equal to his supplication, so long as the supplication is not for a sinful matter or for severing the family ties (Tirmidhi no.3568; see also Ahmad 3/18; and al-Haakim 1/493) (3) Abandoning of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil i.e. not advising fellow muslims. Hudayfah (ra) said the Messenger of Allah (saw) said By Him in Whose hand is my soul - you must order the good and forbid the evil, or soon will Allah send upon you a punishment from Him and then you will supplicate to Him but your supplication will not be answered (Ahmad 5/338, Tirmidhi no.2169) (4) Exceeding the limits in making du'aa such as raising one's voice or committing an innovation in du'aa, making something a partner to Allah in one's duaa.

The Prophet (saw) said There will be a people who will exceed the limits in making du'aa (Ahmad 1-172-183, Abu Dawood, Vol 1, 1475; see also Quran 7:55) (5) The supplicant being heedless of Allah, turning away from his Deen, neglectful of His orders and falling into His prohibitions. The Prophet (saw) said Call upon Allah whilst being sure of being answered and know that Allah does not answer the supplication from one whose heart is heedless, inattentive (al-Haakim, Tirmidhi (3381). (6) Contradicting some of the Shariah rulings There are three types of people who call upon Allah yet they will not be answered. A man married to a woman of evil character and he does not divorce her, a man who lends another man some money but does not take witnesses to it and a man who gives money to a foolish person (al-Haakim, adh-Dhahabee, at-Tahaawee).

WHAT IS THE RULING ON AL-ISTIKHARAAH? The hadith is in the imperative case which suggests it is obligatory but no scholar has said this. (al-Iraqi, Sharh at-Tirmidhi 2/335) Kitab Hadith Salat al-Istikharaah). The scholars are united on the fact it is recommended.

WHAT ARE THE AFFAIRS IN WHICH ONE MAKES ISTIKHAARAH? Istikharaah is made in every affair which is mubaah (allowed) and it can be in obligatory or recommended matters in which one has a choice (see Ibn Hajr, Fath ul-Baree 11/184), as in the choice of time, place or in specification, or when obligatory and superogatory actions conflict with one another. This clarifies the statement of Jaabir ibn Abdulllah (ra): He used to teach us al-istikharaah in all of our affairs. e.g.. seeking knowledge is recommended and sometimes can be obligatory, so he makes al-istikhaarah concerning the type of knowledge to seek, the time and the place in which he studies, i.e. those matters where the servant has a choice. e.g.. hajj is obligatory so he makes al-istikharaah concerning the people whom he makes hajj with and the way to travel and when to depart. e.g.. the servant has a choice in whom he/she marries therefore one makes istikharaah with regard to an individual, not concerning getting married itself. al-Istikharaah can be made in those affairs whose result is known because Allah alones knows the reality of the results and their consequences. So whatever a servant may think from his own opinion may not always be the correct opinion; how many times did a person consider something to be good yet it resulted in his destruction? and how many times did a person consider something to be evil yet it resulted in his success?

WHAT SHOULD ONE DO AFTER HE MAKES AL-ISTIKHARAAH? He should firmly resolve to do that which he perceives to be correct, without hesitation or sadness, without sluggishness or fear, after placing his trust truly upon Allah. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah (3:159). He should be truthful in his intention, sincere in the actions in the matter in which he has sough ghuidance. He does this, whether his heart is happy or not about the affair, whether the happiness of his heart was before or after making al-istikharaah, because the affair is not determined by the happiness of the heart, rather it is determined by Allah granting and making the affair easy. So perhaps his heart is happy for an affair but Allah does not intend it for him, so He does not make it easy for him even though he may begin it. As for the hadith of Anas (ra) then look towards what your heart follows for in it lies the good, then it is very weak (not authentic).

THE IMPORTANCE OF DREAMS? The matter is determined by Allah making the affair easy and Him granting it, not by the expansion of one's chest, nor by a dream which a person sees anything. Let us assume he had a dream; how does he know that the dream is from Allah and not from shaytaan or from the talking of his soul? The Prophet (saw) said, Dreams are of three types: glad tidings from Allah, whispering from the soul or frightening thoughts from Shaytaan (at-Tirmidhi, IbnMajah)

REPEATING AL-ISTIKHARAAH MORE THAN ONCE FOR A PARTICULAR MATTER? Superogatory actions are of various types; as for the prayer that is for a need and is of a particular description, the majority of people of knowledge allow it to be repeated. Imam Ash-Shaafi'i, Imam Ahmad and Imam Malik were amongst those who allowed repeating the prayer for rain (al-Mughni,2/95) and Salaatul Istikharaah resembles the prayer for rain for they are both for a specific need and both are combined with a du'aa. Making du'aa plentifully is something desired therefore we do not see anything wrong with repeating al-istikharaah. Abdullah ibn az-Zubair (ra) in Sahih Muslim, vol.2, 3083, after the kabah caught fire - ...So how about the house of your Lord? Verily I will pray al-istikharaah three times, and then make up my mind about this affair. As for the hadith of Anas who said that the Messenger of Allah said O Anas. If you are concerned about an affair, seek guidance (by praying al-istikharaah) from your Lord, with regard to it, seven times (Ibn as-Sinee) - it is very weak. An Nawawee said in Al-Adhkaar, its chain is ghareeb (a single narrator in one of the levels of the chain of narration) and in it are those whom I do not know of. Al-Iraqee said, in Nayl al-Awtaar, The hadith is saaqit (extremely weak), there is no proof in it. Ibn Hajr al-Asqalaanee said in al-Fath (11/187) its chain is waahin jiddan (extremely weak).

DOES IT HAVE A PARTICULAR OR FAVOURED TIME? It does not have a particular time - it can be performed at any time, though there is nor harm in performing it at the times which a du'aa is more likely to be answered - (1) the time between the adhaan and the iqaamah: The dua between the adhan and the iqaamah is not refused ( Ahmad; Abu Dawood, vl1. no 52, Tirmidhi and others) (2) During rainfall. Two duas are not refused: the dua during the call for prayer and at the time of rainfall. (Bukhari, Muslim and Ahmad) (3) During the last third of the night. Our Lord - the Blessed and Most High - descends every night to the lowest heaven when only the last third of the night remains and says; Who is calling upon Me so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that I may give what he asks? Who is seeking Myforgiveness so that I may forgive him? (Muslim vol 1. no1656) (4) the last hour of Friday. There is an hour on friday that if a Muslim coincides with it, standing in Salah (du'aa) and asking Allah for goodness, then he is surely granted what he asks for. The majority of the scholars are of the opinion that it refers to the last hour based on this hadith, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, search for it in the last hour after asr (salah). (5). Whilst traveling. There is no doubt in three supplications being answered: the supplication of the father against his son, the supplication of the traveler and the supplication of the one who is oppressed (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, vol.1 1531, at Tirmidhi)

CAN IT BE MADE AFTER A SUNNAH SALAH OR A SALAAH PERFORMED DUE TO AN EXTERNAL REASON? It is allowed to perform the du'aa after a sunnah salaah although it is better and more conducive to be acceptable with an independent salaah. This is further away from differences of opinion. an-Nawawi said: It is recommended to perform al-Istikharaah with an independent salaah.. what is apparent is that it can be achieved by two rakahs of sunnah salaah and by the salaah performed upon entering a masjid. Shaykh Adnan states that one must make the intention of al-Istikharaah. Al-Iraqi said: And if he made the intention of sunnah salah and also al-Istikharaah he may or may not achieve them due to their combination. However it is not seen as permissible to perform the dua after the prayer of rain or eclipse.

CAN IT BE MADE FOR TWO AFFAIRS SIMULTANEOUSLY? If the two affairs are linked, then there is no doubt in its permissibility, such as the issue of marrying a woman with the question of the amount of mahr. In the case of the two affairs being disconnected, there is a difference of opinion. Sheik Ibn Baize does not consider it objectionable whereas Sheik al-Albanee disagreed.

CAN ONE MAKE THE DU'AA BY ITSELF WITHOUT THE TWO RAKAHS OF SALAAH? If one is forced, due to time constrictions or is unable to perform two rakahs then he can make the du'aa itself (an-Nawawi, Al AlAdhkaar pg. 110-111). But it is most correct to perform it with the two rakahs as one should always perform worship in the most complete manner, away from doubts anddifferences.

IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO MAKE AL-ISTIKHARAAH FOR SOMEBODY ELSE? This is a question which required ijtihaad. If one looks to the hadith then it is apparent that it is not done for somebody else as the affair is associated with the person it directly concerns, i.e. - if one of you is concerned about an affair.... However if it is something which is shared then the individuals concerned can make istikhaarah. For example like marrying one's son or daughter or if it is an affair particular to someone who himself is not responsible for his actions, such as performing an operation for a child. In these instances it is allowed to make al-istikharaah for somebody else, since the father would hold a great connected to the matter.

KNOWING WHETHER THE DU'AA IS ANSWERED The du'aa of one of you in answered so long as he does not become impatient and say I made a du'aa to my Lord but He did not answer me (Bukhari, vol.8 352; Muslim, vol.4 6595). Only Allah knows the truly reality of an affair, therefore if something seemingly bad is decreed then perhaps in reality, it is inwardly good for the individual. Anas (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said: I am astonished for the believer. Verily Allah, the Most High, does not decree anything for him except that it is good for him (Ahmad).

SOME FURTHER POINTS * Salaat ul Istikharaah is not allowed in the times when salah is prohibited *There is no specific surah to be recited in al-Istikharaah. *The du'aa is to be performed after the two rakahs, without interruption. If one forgets to say it immediately but he still has wudhu and is still sitting then he should make it. If one has walked away then he must repeat the two rakahs. * It is necessary to adhere to the exact text - Verily the wordings of the duas are maintained exactly to the form established from the Prophet (an-Nawawi, al-Majmoo 3/495). The scholars differ whether one is permitted to say something before the dua (praising Allah swt) and after it (saying salaam on the Prophet saw), as the general evidences for du'aa suggest this; or if it should be disallowed given al-istikharaah is a specific du'aa, therefore it is not befitting to add to it. *The general rule is one hands should be raised unless proved that the Prophet (saw) did not do this in a particular dua. Verily your Lord is generous, shy. If His servant raises his hands to Him (in supplication) He becomes shy to return them empty (Ahmad, Abu Dawood vol.1 1483, Tirmidhi) * Whether ones heart inclines towards something before al-Istikharah or not, the individual should still make al-Istikharaah for this affair. *The individual should also seek guidance from those whom he knows to be righteous, whether before or after performing al-Istikharaah.(Summary from the Book, The Three Abandoned Prayers by Shaykh Adnaan Ali Uroor)

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