Hotd Mohon Pada Allah

[HOTD] mOhOn pada Allah Dan apabila hamba-hamba-Ku bertanya kepadamu tentang Aku, maka (jawablah), bahwasanya Aku adalah dekat. Aku mengabulkan permohonan orang yang berdoa apabila ia memohon kepada-Ku, maka hendaklah mereka itu memenuhi (segala perintah-Ku) dan hendaklah mereka beriman kepada-Ku, agar mereka selalu berada dalam kebenaran. (QS. Al-Baqarah, 2 : 186)

Dari Abi Zar r.a ia berkata: Nabi S.A.W bersabda: (Hadith Qudsi) ”Firman Allah Taala: Wahai hamba-hamba-Ku, semua kamu adalah sesat kecuali orang-orang yang mendapat petunjuk-Ku, maka mintalah hidayah daripada-Ku, niscaya akan Aku berikan. Wahai hamba-hamba-Ku semua kamu adalah dalam kelaparan kecuali orang yang mendapat makanan daripada-Ku, maka mintalah daripada-Ku niscaya Aku berikan kepadamu. Wahai hamba-hamba-Ku semua kamu adalah tidak berpakaian kecuali orang yang Aku berikan kepadanya pakaian, maka mintalah daripada-Ku niscaya akan Aku berikan. Wahai hamba-hamba-Ku, kamu semua melakukan salah dan silap setiap waktu dan Aku adalah pengampun dosa-dosa, maka mohonlah keampunan daripada-Ku niscaya Aku akan ampunkan…” Links:

[Solat Sunat Istikharah] http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solat_Sunat_Istikharah [Membiasakan Istikharah] http://www.republika.co.id/koran_detail.asp?id=227476&kat_id=14 [Shalat Istikharah : Kapan, Jawabannya Bagaimana dan batas waktunya] http://syariahonline.com/new_index.php/id/2/cn/2122 [Do'a Shalat Istikarah] http://www.alsofwah.or.id/index.php?pilih=lihatdoa&id=25 [Shalat Istikharah] http://www.perjalanansuci.com/Doa/SolatIstikharah.htm [Doa Istikharah] http://www.pesantrenvirtual.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=619& Itemid=30 [Solat Istikharah - Mengapa tunggu mimpi?] http://www.pengantin.com.my/v1/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12 [Istikharah: The Guidance Prayer] http://www.islaam.net/main/display.php?id=608&category=7 [Istikharah (The Prayer for Seeking Guidance)] http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=2 [Istikharah According to Quran and Sunnah] http://www.muttaqun.com/istikharah.html [Istikharah] http://www.albalagh.net/qa/istikharah.shtml -perbanyakamalmenujusurga-

http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solat_Sunat_Istikharah Solat Sunat Istikharah From Wikipedia Jump to: navigation, search

Solat Sunat Istikharah adalah solat sunat yang didirikan untuk meminta petunjuk yang baik, apabila kita menghadapi dua pilihan, atau ragu-ragu dalam mengambil keputusan. Oleh itu kita memohon kepada Allah menunjukkan kepada kita pilihan yang terbaik. Waktu terbaik untuk mengerjakan Solat Sunat Istikharah adalah pada 2/3 malam terakhir. NIAT Maksudnya : "Sahaja aku menunaikan Solat Sunat Istikharah 2 rakaat kerana Allah Taala" DOA Maksudnya : "Ya Allah ! Aku pohon pilihan (minta petunjuk) daripada Engkau dengan pengetahuan Engkau dan aku pohon ketentuan Engkau dengan kekuasaan Engkau dan aku pohon akan Dikau dari limpah kurniaan Engkau yang besar, maka sesungguhnya Engkau Maha Berkuasa sedangkan aku tidak berkuasa dan Engkau Maha Mengetahui sedangkan aku tidak mengetahui segala perkara ghaib. Ya Allah! Seandainya Engkau mengetahui bahawasanya urusan ini ?. Berkebajikan bagiku pada agamaku, kehidupanku dan kesudahan urusanku sama ada cepat atau lambat, maka takdirlah akan dia baik dan permudahkannya bagiku kemudian berkatkan bagiku padanya dan seandainya Engkau mengetahui bahawa urusan ini ?. Mendatangkan keburukan bagiku pada agamaku, kehidupanku dan akibat urusanku cepat atau lambat, maka palinglah akan dia daripadaku dan palinglah akan seberapa yang boleh, kemudian redhalah akan daku dengannya" (sebutkan urusan yang dimaksudkan di tempat yang bertitik).

http://www.republika.co.id/koran_detail.asp?id=227476&kat_id=14 Kamis, 22 Desember 2005 Membiasakan Istikharah Istikharah berasal dari kata istakhara-yastakhiru yang berarti memohon kebaikan dari setiap urusan. Dalam konteks hubungan manusia dengan Allah SWT, istikharah berarti memohon kepada Allah SWT agar setiap keputusan yang akan diambil benar-benar merupakan keputusan terbaik yang mengandung kemaslahatan, baik bagi diri sendiri maupun orang lain. Ini berarti juga bahwa istikharah adalah berlindung kepada Allah SWT dari keburukan setiap keputusan yang akan diambil. Bagi setiap Muslim, istikharah adalah kebiasaan yang sangat baik dilakukan. Istikharah selayaknya menjadi aktivitas rutin yang senantiasa mengiringi setiap Muslim dalam menentukan keputusan. Dalam kehidupan yang sangat kompleks, manusia pasti dihadapkan pada berbagai macam urusan yang tarik-menarik sehingga sulit diselesaikan dengan satu keputusan. Bagi seorang Muslim, keadaan seperti ini tidak akan membuatnya bingung apalagi stres, sebab ia masih dapat menempuh satu cara yaitu dengan melakukan istikharah. Ini bisa dilakukan dengan shalat dua rakaat, doa, atau zikir yang dicontohkan Rasulullah SAW. Dari sisi spiritualitas, istikharah menunjukkan kualitas keimanan seorang Muslim. Semakin sering ia beristikharah, semakin tinggi pula keyakinannya kepada pertolongan Allah SWT. Ia

yakin bahwa Allah SWT hanya akan menganugerahkan kebaikan dari setiap keputusan jika kita memohon petunjuknya dengan penuh kerendahan hati. Di sisi lain, istikharah juga menjadi bukti kepasrahan seorang Muslim kepada Allah SWT. Artinya, apa pun hasil dari keputusan yang telah diambil, sepenuhnya akan diterima sebagai bagian dari usaha yang ditempuhnya dengan keyakinan kepada Allah SWT sebagai penentu segala sesuatu. Sayangnya, kesombongan manusia kadang membuat dirinya lupa kepada Allah SWT. Penyembahan kepada rasio sering membuat manusia lupa akan peran Allah SWT dalam menentukan sesuatu bagi manusia. Akibatnya, muncul anggapan bahwa dirinya yang menjadi penentu setiap sesuatu. Alih-alih melakukan istikharah, mereka justru terbuai oleh kemampuan rasio yang sebenarnya adalah anugerah Allah SWT sekaligus cobaan bagi manusia. Sikap seperti ini tidak akan terjadi dengan adanya kesadaran akan manfaat istikharah bagi jiwa manusia. Hati orang yang membiasakan istikharah akan senantiasa tenang dan terbuka menerima apa pun yang terjadi. Orang yang membiasakan istikharah hatinya senantiasa mantap, jauh dari sikap ragu-ragu dalam mengambil setiap keputusan. Ini muncul dari keyakinan bahwa Allah SWT akan membimbing orang yang membiasakan istikharah dalam menjalankan aktivitas hidupnya. Dalam sebuah hadis diungkap kesaksian Abu Bakar RA, bahwa Rasulullah SAW jika berkehendak memutuskan suatu hal, beliau selalu beristikharah dengan berdoa, ''Ya Allah, anugerahkanlah kebaikan kepadaku dari setiap urusanku dan pilihkanlah keputusan yang terbaik bagiku.'' (HR alTirmidzi). Karena itu, mari kita latih diri kita untuk membiasakan istikharah sebelum mengambil setiap keputusan agar senantiasa berada dalam bimbingan Allah SWT. Wallahu a'lam. (Muhammad Irfan Helmy MA )

http://syariahonline.com/new_index.php/id/2/cn/2122 Konsultasi : Ibadah Shalat Istikharah : Kapan, Jawabannya Bagaimana dan batas waktunya Pertanyaan: Assalamu'alaikum wr.wb. 1. Sebaiknya shalat istikharah dilaksanakan pada saat kapan ? 2. Melalui apa Allah menjawab pilihan-Nya untuk orang yang melakukan istikharah ? 3. apakah ada batas waktu minimum atau maksimum dalam melaksanakan shalat istikharah ? Saya menunggu jawabannya, terima kasih.

Abdullah Jawaban: Assalamu `alaikum Wr. Wb.

1. Sholat istikhoroh boleh dilaksanakan kapan saja, baik ketika menghadapi persoalan yang berat maupun yang ringan. Dalam hadis Rasulullah SAW bersabda: �Apabila salah seorang diantar kalian berniat melakukan suatu urusan, hendaklah dia sholat dua raka�at yang bukan fardhu kemudian hendaklah dia berdo�a : Allohumma�..� (HR. Bukhori) Oleh karena itu Imam An-Nawawi berkata: �Istikhoroh disunnahkan dilaksanakan di segala kondisi sebagaimana dijelaskan oleh Nash hadis di atas� (Al-Adzkar) hal tersebut juga dikemukakan oleh Ibnu Hajar Al-Asqolani (Fathul Bari 11/184) 2. Dalam hadis tidak dijelaskan bagaimana jawaban akan diberikan, meskipun Imam Nawawi dalam kitabnya Al-Adzkar menyatakan hendaklah orang tersebut memilih sesuai dengan pilihan hatinya (hatinya menjadi contong terhadap suatu pilihan setelah sholat). Tetapi pendapat tersebut ditentang oleh sejumlah ulama karena hadis yang menjadi rujukan Imam Nawawi adalah hadis dhoif sebagaimana kami akan jelaskan di jawaban nomor tiga. para ulama hanya menegaskan bahwa jangan memilih pilihan yang ada sebelumnya yang hanya berdasarkan kepada hawa nafsu (Fathul bari 11/187) Jadi yang seharus dilakukan adalah, setelah kita melaksanakan sholat istikhoroh kita pilih mana yang terbaik (berazam) dan meyerahkan segala urusannya pada Allah. Karena kalau pilhan tersebut adalah pilihan yang terbaik, maka Allah akan memudahkannya bagi orang tersebut dan akan memberkahinya. Tetapi jika hal tersebut adalah sebaliknya maka Allah akan memalingkannya dan memudahkan orang tersebut kepada kebaikan dengan idzin-Nya. (Bughyatul Mutathowwi� Fi Sholat At-Tathowwu� hal 105) 3. Kami tidak mendapatkan dalil shohih yang menjelaskan tentang batasan minimum maupun maksimum pelaksanaan sholat istikhoroh. Sedangkan hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Ibnu sunni dari Anas RA ia berkata : Rasulullah SAW bersabda: �Wahai Anas, Apabila engkau berniat melaksanakan suatu urusan, maka minta pilihan pada tuhanmu mengenai urusan tersebut tujuh kali, kemudian perhatikan mana urusan yang pertama dipilih oleh hatimu, karena kebikan ada padanya� Hadis di atas dihoif sebagaimana dikemukakan oleh Ibnu Hajar : �Sanadnya dhoif sekali� (Fathul Bari 11/187). Al-Iroqi berkata :�Mereka (para rowi) memang terkenal tetapi di antara mereka ada rowi yang terkenal dengan kedhoifannya (bahkan sangat dhoif) yaitu Ibrohim bin Al-Baro� ( Kitab Al-Adzkar An-Nawawi dan Tuhfatul Abror As-Suyuthi hal 162-163) Wallahu a`lam bishshowab. Wassalamu `alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

http://www.alsofwah.or.id/index.php?pilih=lihatdoa&id=25

Do'a Shalat Istikarah Jumat, 09 April 04 Jabir bin Abdillah Radhiallaahu anhu berkata: Adalah Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Sallam mengajari kami shalat Istikharah untuk memutuskan segala sesuatu, sebagaimana mengajari surah Al-Qur-an. Beliau bersabda: “Apabila seseorang di antara kamu mempunyai rencana untuk mengerjakan sesuatu, hendaknya melakukan shalat sunah (Istikharah) dua rakaat, kemudian baca-lah doa ini:

ّ‫ اَلّلهُم‬.ِ‫ وََأ ْنتَ عَلّمُ ا ْلغُ ُي ْوب‬،ُ‫علَم‬ ْ َ‫ َوتَعْلَ ُم َولَ أ‬،ُ‫ك َتقْدِ ُر وَلَ أَ ْقدِر‬ َ ‫ فَِإّن‬،ِ‫ك مِنْ َفضِْلكَ ا ْل َعظِيْم‬ َ ‫ وَأَسْأَُل‬،َ‫ك بِقُدْ َر ِتك‬ َ ‫س َتقْدِ ُر‬ ْ َ‫ وَأ‬،َ‫ك ِبعِلْ ِمك‬ َ ‫ستَخِيْ ُر‬ ْ َ‫((اَلّلهُمّ ِإنّيْ أ‬ ْ ِ‫ي ثُ ّم بَا ِركْ ل‬ ‫ي‬ ْ ِ‫ي َويَسّ ْرهُ ل‬ ْ ِ‫ فَاقْدُ ْرهُ ل‬-ِ‫ عَاجِِل ِه وَآجِِله‬:َ‫َأوْ قَال‬- ْ‫ي َو َمعَاشِيْ وَعَا ِقبَةِ َأمْرِي‬ ْ ِ‫خيْرٌ لِيْ ِفيْ ِديْن‬ َ -ُ‫جتَه‬ َ ‫ َويُسَمّى حَا‬- َ‫لمْر‬ َ ‫ت تَعَْلمُ أَنّ َهذَا ْا‬ َ ْ‫ن ُكن‬ ْ ِ‫إ‬ َ‫خيْر‬ َ ْ‫عنْ ُه وَاقْدُرْ ِليَ ال‬ َ ْ‫عنّيْ وَاصْرِ ْفنِي‬ َ ُ‫ فَاصْ ِرفْه‬-ِ‫ عَاجِِل ِه وَآجِِله‬:َ‫َأوْ قَال‬- ْ‫ي َو َمعَاشِيْ وَعَا ِقبَةِ َأمْرِي‬ ْ ِ‫لمْرَ شَرّ لِيْ ِفيْ ِديْن‬ َ ‫ت َتعْلَمُ أَنّ َهذَا ْا‬ َ ْ‫ن ُكن‬ ْ ِ‫ وَإ‬،ِ‫ِف ْيه‬ .))ِ‫ي بِه‬ ْ ِ‫ضن‬ ِ ْ‫ن ثُمّ أَر‬ َ ‫ح ْيثُ كَا‬ َ "Ya Allah, sesungguhnya aku meminta pilihan yang tepat kepadaMu dengan ilmu pengetahuanMu dan aku mohon kekuasaanMu (untuk mengatasi persoalanku) dengan kemahakuasaanMu. Aku mohon kepadaMu sesuatu dari anugerahMu Yang Maha Agung, sesungguhnya Engkau Mahakuasa, sedang aku tidak kuasa, Engkau mengeta-hui, sedang aku tidak mengetahuinya dan Engkau adalah Maha Mengetahui hal yang ghaib. Ya Allah, apabila Engkau mengetahui bahwa urusan ini (orang yang mempunyai hajat hendak-nya menyebut persoalannya) lebih baik dalam agamaku, dan akibatnya terha-dap diriku atau -Nabi bersabda: …di dunia atau akhirat- sukseskanlah untuk-ku, mudahkan jalannya, kemudian beri-lah berkah. Akan tetapi apabila Engkau mengetahui bahwa persoalan ini lebih berbahaya bagiku dalam agama, per-ekonomian dan akibatnya kepada diriku, maka singkirkan persoalan tersebut, dan jauhkan aku daripadanya, takdirkan kebaikan untukku di mana saja keba-ikan itu berada, kemudian berilah kere-laanMu kepadaku. Tidak menyesal orang yang beristi-kharah kepada Al Khaliq dan bermusyawarah dengan orangorang mukmin dan berhati-hati dalam menangani persoalannya. Allah Ta’ala berfirman: “… dan bermusyawarahlah kepada mereka (para sahabat) dalam urusan itu (peperangan, perekonomian, politik dan lain-lain). Bila kamu telah membulatkan tekad, bertawakkallah kepada Allah…” (Ali Imran, 3: 159)

http://www.perjalanansuci.com/Doa/SolatIstikharah.htm Seseorang yang menghadapi sesuatu soal yang bersifat mudah, sedang ia sendiri masih raguragu mana sebaiknya dilakukan, maka di sunatkan mengerjakan solat yang bukan termasuk wajib. Solat itu boleh saja di waktu mengerjakan sunat Rawatib atau Tahiyatul-masjid dan boleh pula di waktu malam atau pun siang, sedang bacaan sehabis Al-Fatihah dapat dipilih sekehendaknya.

Niat Solat Istikharah Sengaja aku mengerjakan sembahyang istikharah dua rakaat kerana Allah Ta'ala Doa Solat Istikharah

"Ya Allah, saya memohonkan pilihan menurut pengetahuanMu dan memohonkan penetapan dengan kesuasaanMu juga saya memohonkan kurniaMu yang besar, sebab sesungguhnya Engkaulah yang Maha Mengetahui dan saya tidak mengetahui apa-apa. Engkau Maha Mengetahui segala yang ghaib. Ya Allah, jikalau di dalam ilmuMu bahawa urusan saya ini........baik untukku dalam agamaku, kehidupanku serta akibat urusanku, maka takdirkanlah untukku dan mudahkanlah serta berikanlah berkah kepadaku di dalamnya. Sebaliknya jikala di dalam ilmumu bahawa urusan ini buruk untukku, dalam agamaku, kehidupan serta akibat urusanku, maka jauhkanlah hal itu daripadaku dan jauhkanlah aku daripadanya serta takdirkanlah untukku yang baik-baik saja dimana saja adanya, kemudian puaskanlah hatiku dengan takdirMu itu."

http://www.pesantrenvirtual.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=619&Itemid= 30 Doa Istikharah Oleh: Dewan Asatidz Tanya: Mengenai doa pada shalat istikharah. Saya pernah membaca sebuah buku doa yang memberikan berbagai alternatif doa yang bisa dibaca pada shalat istikharah. Salah satu diantaranya mengatakan untuk memohon kepada Allah tunjukkan dalam mimpi berupa kain putih bersih atau air yang mengalir jika perkara yang diminta baik kelanjutannya dan ditunjukkan berupa asap yang hitam kalau perkara yang diminta jelek kelanjutannya. Kami mohon penjelasannya apakah doa seperti tersebut diatas memang bisa dipakai atau tidak. Terima kasih sebelumnya atas penjelasannya. Tolong data saya dirahasiakan. Adek Handayani - Jakarta Jawab: Sdr. Yusuf Syam,

Saudari Adek, doa istikharah sesuai yang maktsuur dari Nabi saw. adalah doa berikut ini: Ya Allah pilihkanlah untukku dengan kekuatan ilmu-MU, tentukanlah untukku dengan kehendakmu, aku minta kemurahanMU yang sangat luas, karena Engkaulah yang bisa menentukan sesuatu dan aku tidak bisa, Engkau maha mengetahui apa yang tidak ku ketahui, dan Engkaulah yang paling tahu hal-hal yang ghaib. Ya Allah, jika sesuatu ini menurutMU baik bagi diriku, kehidupanku dan kesudahan perkaraku maka pilihlah dia untukku dan mudahkanlah dia bagiku kemudian berkahilah, dan seandainya ini menjadi malapetaka bagiku, agamaku, kehidupanku dan kesudahan perkaraku maka jauhkanlah dia dariku sejauh-jauhnya, dan berilah aku kebaikan di mana saja berada dan ridhailah aku karenanya. (disunatkan sebelum dan sesudah berdo'a membaca hamdalah dan shalawat). Setelah selesai berdo'a, biarkan Allah memberi hidayah kedalam hati kita (sampai kita menemukan kemantapan) untuk memimlih. Dan apabila masih juga ragu-ragu, maka disunatkan mengulangi salat istikharah itu sampai menemukan kemantapan. Sebagaimana Rasulullah pernah menyuruh sahabat Anas bin Malik untuk mengulangi salat istikharahnya karena dia masih ragu-ragu. Doa di atas intinya adalah permohonan kita pada Allah utk memilihkan pilihan yang baik. Mengapa kita meminta dipilihkan? Ya, tiada lain karena kita bingung dalam menentukan pilihan. Pilihan atau alternatif-alternatif yang ada membingungkan kita karena kita anggap tak ada yang lebih unggul, semuanya sederajat. Atau adakalanya alternatif cuma dua (antara melakukan dan tidak), tapi kita bingung bagaimana sebaiknya. Jadi, kalau kita sudah tahu dan yakin bahwa apa yang akan kita lakukan baik dan benar yang tak perlu istikharah. Nah, sekarang bila dibandingkan antara doa yang Anda sebutkan dengan doa di atas, secara substansial tak ada bedanya. Karena doa yang Anda tuturkan itu pun intinya permohonan kita pada Allah agar memilihkan sesuatu yang terbaik. Kain putih dan air jernih yang mengalir disimbolkan sbg sesutau kebaikan, dan asap hitam merupakan simbol kejelekan. Jadi, sebenarnya, yang terpenting dalam doa istikharah itu adalah kepasrahan kita kepada Allah agar memberikan pilihan kepada kita yang terbaik. Kita pasrah sampai Allah membersitkan di hati kita kemantapan atas sebuah pilihan di antara alternatif-alternatif yang ada. Bagaimana sampai kita mencapai kemantapan inilah yang berbeda-beda isyaratnya. Doa yang Anda sebutkan itu sebenarnya permintaan datangnya sebuah isyarat baik. Meminta isyarat baik berupa kain putih, dan isyarat jelek berupa asap hitam. Padahal sebenarnya isyarat kebaikan itu tak hanya satu, sebagaimana isyarat kejelekan tak hanya satu. Dengan demikian, jika pertanyaannya "apa boleh dipanjatkan?" Ya boleh-boleh saja. Tapi apa tidak lebih baik memakai doa yang maktsur dari Nabi, yang secara redaksional lebih mendalam maknanya? Seakan-akan -dengan kalimat lain- kita bilang: "Sudahlah, Ya Allah, tolong berikan saya kemantapan untuk melakukan suatu pilihan yang tepat, atau tunjukkan kepada saya isyarat (berupa apa saja) yang menunjukkan kebaikan dan isyarat (berupa apa saja) yang menunjukkan kejelekan." Yang perlu diketahui, kemantapan di sini bisa kita peroleh dengan berbagai cara. Tentu semasa menentukan pilihan itu, kita juga harus selalu berfikir mana yang lebih baik: kalau baik apa alasannya, kalau tidak juga kenapa alasannya. Kalau ternyata dlm proses berfikir menentukan pilihan ini kita mantap dengan suatu pilihan, ya sudah, berarti itu pilihan yang harus kita perbuat. Tapi, misalnya, kita merasakan fikiran sudah buntu, terus capai sampai tertidur, lantas mendapatkan isyarat baik (utk melakukan suatu pilihan) melalui mimpi, ya anggap saja itulah pilihan terbaik. Termasuk isyarat-isyarat yang Anda tuturkan itu. Demikian, semoga jelas. Arif Hidayat

http://www.pengantin.com.my/v1/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12 Solat Istikharah - Mengapa tunggu mimpi? Baru-baru ini seorang duda datang mengadu. Dengan nada kecewa beliau menjelaskan bahawa pinangannya baru sahaja ditolak. Menurutnya, wanita yang ingin dijadikan pasangan hidupnya itu agak berusia tetapi masih lagi cantik, berpendidikan agama dan masih lagi dalam kategori `anak dara'. Baru-baru ini seorang duda datang mengadu. Dengan nada kecewa beliau menjelaskan bahawa pinangannya baru sahaja ditolak. Menurutnya, wanita yang ingin dijadikan pasangan hidupnya itu agak berusia tetapi masih lagi cantik, berpendidikan agama dan masih lagi dalam kategori `anak dara'. Walau bagaimanapun perangainya agak sedikit pelik. Sebelum ini, bukannya tidak ada rombongan yang cuba untuk meminangnya, tetapi kesemuanya ditolak. Alasannya mudah sahaja, tidak mendapat petunjuk Allah katanya. Beliau sudah mengerjakan solat istikharah, namun tidak mendapat alamat dalam mimpinya itu. Persoalan yang ingin diperbincangkan di sini, apakah mimpi manusia biasa boleh dijadikan sandaran atau boleh menjadi isyarat kepada jawapan yang dicari? Benarkah solat sunat istikharah boleh menjadi medium atau pengantara untuk menentukan sesuatu keputusan seperti menentukan jodoh seseorang atau baik buruk takdirnya? Istikharah sebenarnya berasal daripada perkataan Arab yang bermaksud meminta pilihan yang baik. Biasanya solat istikharah dilakukan apabila seseorang itu ingin melakukan sesuatu perkara tetapi dia tidak pasti apakah perbuatan atau tindakannya itu membawa kebaikan ataupun tidak kepada dirinya. Maka untuk itu, dituntut baginya supaya melakukan solat sunat istikharah. Pelaksanaannya sama dengan solat-solat sunat yang lain. Dalam sebuah hadis daripada Jabir bin Abdullah berkata, Rasulullah s.a.w. pernah mengajar kami cara untuk meminta petunjuk Allah Taala dalam beberapa urusan yang penting. Baginda bersabda, Apabila salah seorang di antara kamu menghendaki pekerjaan, maka hendaklah ia solat dua rakaat, kemudian ia berdoa: Ya Allah, sesungguhnya aku minta petunjuk yang baik dengan pengetahuan-Mu, dan aku minta diberi kekuatan dengan kekuatan-Mu. Aku minta kemurahan-Mu yang luas, kerana sesungguhnya Engkau yang Maha Kuasa sedang aku tiada berkuasa. Engkau mengetahui sedang aku tidak tahu, dan Engkau Maha Mengetahui yang ghaib. Sesungguhnya manusia diciptakan oleh Allah Taala dalam keadaan lemah. Kelemahan yang ada pada manusia itu menyebabkan apa jua rancangan dan tindakan yang kita lakukan kadangkadang sudah diyakini baiknya, tetapi belum tentu baik bagi Allah Taala. Begitu juga apa yang kita rancang dan kita lakukan sudah diyakini kesan buruknya, tetapi belum tentu buruk menurut penilaian Allah. Dalam hal ini kita harus mengakui bahawa daya fikir dan akal manusia sangat terbatas. Untuk itu kita dianjurkan beristikharah. Allah s.w.t. berfirman yang bermaksud: Kamu diwajibkan berperang, sedang peperangan itu ialah perkara yang kamu benci. Boleh jadi kamu membenci sesuatu, padahal ia baik bagi kamu,

dan boleh jadi (pula) kamu suka kepada sesuatu, padahal ia amat buruk bagi kamu. Allah jualah yang mengetahui, sedang kamu tidak mengetahuinya. (Al-Baqarah: 216) Sebenarnya amal ibadah yang mengandungi unsur-unsur tilikan dan bergantung kepada mimpi semata-mata bukanlah daripada ajaran Islam. Malah Nabi s.a.w. tidak pernah mengajar umatnya agar mencerap petunjuk Allah menerusi mimpi. Fenomena menilik nasib atau jodoh melalui mimpi di kalangan masyarakat kita, lebih-lebih lagi bagi sesetengah wanita perlu diperbetulkan semula. Amalan ini dikhuatiri boleh menyebabkan berlakunya dosa syirik kepada Allah s.w.t. Hal ini kerana manusia bukanlah tuhan yang boleh meramal apa yang berlaku. Perbuatan meramal atau menilik mimpi adalah amalan dan budaya jahiliah yang sangat ditegah oleh Islam. Firman Allah s.w.t. yang bermaksud: Wahai orang yang beriman, bahawa sesungguhnya arak dan judi dan pemujaan berhala dan mengundi nasib adalah semata-mata amalan kotor daripada perbuatan syaitan. Oleh itu hendaklah kamu menjauhinya supaya kamu berjaya. (Al-Maidah: 90) Perlu dijelaskan di sini bahawa tidak semua mimpi manusia itu benar. Mimpi manusia biasa pada kebiasaannya adalah mainan tidur yang berpunca daripada pengaruh iblis dan syaitan yang datang mengganggu. Kita tidak boleh menyamakan antara mimpi manusia biasa dengan mimpi para nabi dan rasulrasul. Mimpi bagi nabi dan para rasul adalah wahyu dari Allah Taala. Kisah Nabi Ibrahim a.s. sebagai contoh, telah diperintah oleh Allah untuk menyembelih anaknya, Ismail a.s. yang datang melalui mimpi baginda. Allah s.w.t. berfirman yang bermaksud: Maka apabila anak itu sampai (kepada peringkat umur yang membolehkan dia) berusaha bersama-sama dengannya, Nabi Ibrahim berkata: Wahai anak kesayanganku, sesungguhnya aku melihat dalam mimpi, bahawa aku akan menyembelihmu, maka fikirkanlah apa pendapatmu? Anaknya menjawab: Wahai bapaku, jalankanlah apa yang diperintahkan kepadamu, Insya-Allah ayah akan mendapatiku daripada orang-orang yang sabar. (Al-Soffat: 102) Kesimpulannya mimpi kita itu tidak mengandungi kebenaran mutlak. Kemungkinan kebenaran yang terlihat itu lebih berdasarkan kepada kebetulan sahaja atau unsur-unsur daripada mainan syaitan yang bertujuan untuk menyesatkan manusia. Itulah sebabnya, jangan menyandarkan segala keputusan kepada mimpi. Sebaliknya berfikirlah dengan lebih rasional. Dalam kes di atas, seandainya pertimbangan akal diletakkan pada tempat yang sewajarnya, maka memadai dengan sedikit soal selidik dan mengkaji latar belakangnya sudah dapat menentukan ciri-ciri pasangan yang menepati kehendak Islam. Maka ketika itu, dia tidak perlu lagi beristikharah dan terus menerus menunggu mimpi. Atau sekiranya beliau berada dalam situasi antara dua pilihan, yang satu berakhlak mulia sedang yang kedua kurang baik agama dan akhlaknya, maka pilihannya ketika itu sewajarnya kepada yang pertama. Kaedah pertimbangan dan penilaian seperti itu tidak perlu melalui solat sunat istikharah. Mimpi itu bukanlah satu-satunya jalan yang memimpin manusia kepada petunjuk Allah s.w.t. Kadang-kadang petunjuk Allah Taala datang melalui buah-buah iman yang masuk menyerap ke dalam hati sehingga menerbitkan keyakinan dan rasa hati yang kuat melalui keyakinan untuk memilih salah satu di antara beberapa pilihan. Jika kita mempunyai kecenderungan untuk memilih salah satunya, maka itu merupakan isyarat kuat daripada Allah. Pilihlah dulu terimalah seadanya, kemudian solatlah istikharah dan ketika itu pohonlah kepada Allah Taala moga pilihan kita tersebut tepat dan terbaik yang boleh

membawa kebaikan dunia dan akhirat. Hal ini diperjelaskan oleh Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. dalam sebuah doa yang bermaksud: Ya Allah, jika Engkau mengetahui bahawa pekerjaan ini, baik bagi agama dan kehidupanku dan hari kemudianku, maka berikanlah ia kepadaku, dan mudahkanlah ia bagiku, dan berkatilah ia kepadaku. Jika Engkau mengetahui bahawa pekerjaan ini buruk bagiku, buruk bagi agamaku, penghidupanku dan hari kemudianku, maka jauhkanlah aku daripadanya, dan berikanlah bagiku kebaikan di mana pun juga adanya, kemudian jadikanlah aku orang yang redha dengan pemberian itu. - (Riwayat Bukhari)

http://www.islaam.net/main/display.php?id=608&category=7

Istikharah: The Guidance Prayer

We are humans, powerless in this sphere of life, knowledgeable only enough to survive. So why shouldn't we turn to Allah and seek His perfect help whenever we require it? Allah responds to the call of His servant when he asks for guidance, and we are after all seeking to do something in order to please Him. Istikharah means to ask Allah to guide you to the path best for you concerning an affair with two halal options. In matters that are wajib (obligatory), haram (forbidden) or makruh (disliked) there is no need to pray Istikharah. Salaat-ul-Istikharah should only be used for matters that are mubah (allowed) or in matters that are mustahabb (liked or encouraged), in which there is a decision to be made as to which one should be given priority (i.e. get married or go to grad school). Many wrong notions exist concerning istikharah. Many Muslims will pray, read the du'a, and run to bed expecting to see a dream showing them their future wife, what her favourite colour is, and some other weird fantasy. That is not the purpose of this salat. The results of an istikharah can take many forms. Basically, you go by your feelings, whether you now feel more favourable or not. Also, you may notice events have changed, either for or against you. Note that you must follow the results of an istikharah, because not doing so is tantamount to rejecting Allah's guidance once you've asked for it. Also, you should firstly clear your mind, not have your mind already decided, and then afterwards follow the results willingly. It is a sunnah that, if one must choose between permissible alternaratives, one may pray two non-obligatory rak'at, even if they are of the sunnah prayers or a prayer for entering the mosque, and so on, during any time of the day or night, and to recite therein whatever one wishes of the Qur'an after reciting al-Fatihah. Then one praises Allah and sends salutations to the Prophet and recites the supplication in the Hadith below. The description of Salaat-ul-Istikharah was narrated by Jabir ibn 'Abd- Allah al-Salami (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "The Messenger of Allah used to teach his companions to make istikharah in all things, just as he used to teach them surahs from the Qur'an.

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, then say:

'O Allah, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next), then turn me away from it, [and turn it away from me], and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it." The Prophet added that then the person should mention his need. [Sahih Bukhari] Salat-ul-Istikharah is just two rakats of a non-obligatory prayer, prayed at anytime during the day, with a specific dua at the end. While reciting the dua, you should be thinking about the situation you want to be advised about with pure intentions and from the bottom of your heart. And Allah says that whenever he guides a heart aright it can never be misguided. Afterwards, you should 'have a good feeling' about one of your options. Whatever option you feel is best right after you say the dua should be your decision. If you're still in doubt, you can repeat. An-Nawawi holds that "...after performing the istikharah, a person must do what he is wholeheartedly inclined to do and feels good about doing and should not insist on doing what he had desired to do before making the istikharah. And if his feelings change, he should leave what he had intended to do,

otherwise he is not completely leaving the choice to Allah, and would not be honest in seeking aid from Allah's power and knowledge. Sincerity in seeking Allah's choice, means that one should completely leave what he himself had desired or determined." Some people mistakenly wait for a dream to give a clear sign as to what decision to make, but this is not true, and often times it never really happens. In fact, dreams may lead you away from what Allah wants you to do, as Shaytan might try to deceive you in your dreams. Salat-ul-Istikharah is for everybody. It's a way for all of us to implore Allah for divine guidance and mercy. It is yet another invaluable resource from Allah to keep us on the straight and narrow Sirat al-Mustaqim. The Prophet told all Muslims about Istikharah, not just the scholars. Despite this gift, too many of us take the advice of our friends and parents, or accept the norms of our society and act without ever wondering what Allah wants us to do. We must stop looking to the dunya for guidance. We must begin to consult Allah. I cannot provide a better conclusion than saying that you must put your trust in Allah. You must have trust in His concern for us, and His ability to help us. Allah says: "Put your trust in Allâh, certainly, Allâh loves those who put their trust (in Him)." [Surah AlImran Ayah 159]

http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=2

Istikharah (The Prayer for Seeking Guidance) Introduction to Salaat al-Istikharah A spiritually immense prayer, endowing the Muslim with tranquility and restfulness. A prayer in which a servant if concerned with an affair or is faced with a worldly problem or intends to do something recommended or obligatory in which he has a choice, or when two recommended or obligatory actions conflict each other – which one should he do? Which one should he put forward? He should pray two Rakaa’hs of al-Istikharah prayer, then make a Du’aa specified by our noble Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), seeking guidance form his Lord and seeking the counsel of his Creator and by it actualizes his servitude to Him, built upon the truthfulness of his certainty and his assurance in his Lord. Know that this great Du’aa (Du’aa of Istikharah) contains important issues, Tawheed in Allah’s Lordship, and humility in worship to Him, and Eeman in His Names and Attributes, and the servant fulfilling servitude to His Lord, firm reliance upon and seeking Allah’s help, asking and pleading in His Knowledge, and Power, for His Blessings, and then contentment in what is decreed for him. So, if al-Istikharah contained nothing more than the realization of these great meanings it would be enough in goodness. Verily, how Perfect He is, who prescribed for His servants the good of this world and the Hereafter. What is Salaat al-Istikharah? Linguistically al-Istikharah comes from the verb Istikharah which means ‘seeking / requesting guidance in what is good.’ So, al-Istikharah is the noun for request or action. While in the Islamic terminology al-Istikharah means that a servant seeks guidance from his Lord upon the manner described by the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) by praying two rakaahs of

supererogatory prayer, then supplicating with the specific Du’aa for al-Istikharah for doing an action which is mubah (action which neither brings about reward if performed nor brings about punishment if abandoned - allowed) or for leaving it, or in an obligatory or recommended action in which he has a choice. Since, the servant is weak in his comprehension, ignorant of the unseen and indecisive about his actions, Allah, the Most High and the Most Merciful, ordained Salaat al-Istikharah for him whenever he faces an obstacle or is concerned about an affair: he consults his Creator and seeks His guidance with regard to it because Allah Alone is the Knower of Ghaib (unseen), He Alone is the most knowledgeable about the reality of the affairs and their results, their benefits from their harms, their good from their evil, in this world and the Hereafter: “And with Him are the keys of Unseen, none know them but He. And He knows whatever is there in the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but by His knowledge; there is not a grain in the darkness (or the depth) of the earth, nor any flesh or dry (green or withered) but is written in a Clear Record.” [Soorah al-An’aam (6): 59] Hence, when the servant is concerned about an affair or decided upon a matter, or a problem arises in his mind and he wishes to act upon it, then he should seek guidance form his Lord before embarking upon it according to the manner prescribed in the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam). What is Salaat al-Istikharah? Linguistically al-Istikharah comes from the verb Istikharah which means ‘seeking / requesting guidance in what is good.’ So, al-Istikharah is the noun for request or action. While in the Islamic terminology al-Istikharah means that a servant seeks guidance from his Lord upon the manner described by the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) by praying two rakaahs of supererogatory prayer, then supplicating with the specific Du’aa for al-Istikharah for doing an action which is mubah (action which neither brings about reward if performed nor brings about punishment if abandoned - allowed) or for leaving it, or in an obligatory or recommended action in which he has a choice. Since, the servant is weak in his comprehension, ignorant of the unseen and indecisive about his actions, Allah, the Most High and the Most Merciful, ordained Salaat al-Istikharah for him whenever he faces an obstacle or is concerned about an affair: he consults his Creator and seeks His guidance with regard to it because Allah Alone is the Knower of Ghaib (unseen), He Alone is the most knowledgeable about the reality of the affairs and their results, their benefits from their harms, their good from their evil, in this world and the Hereafter: “And with Him are the keys of Unseen, none know them but He. And He knows whatever is there in the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but by His knowledge; there is not a grain in the darkness (or the depth) of the earth, nor any flesh or dry (green or withered) but is written in a Clear Record.” [Soorah al-An’aam (6): 59] Hence, when the servant is concerned about an affair or decided upon a matter, or a problem arises in his mind and he wishes to act upon it, then he should seek guidance form his Lord before embarking upon it according to the manner prescribed in the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam). Is there any Proof for Salaat al-Istikharah? Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “From the prosperity of an individual is his seeking guidance from his Lord and his contentment with what He has ordained and from the misfortune of an individual is his abandoning seeking guidance form his Lord and his displeasure after what is decreed (for him) comes to pass” [Saheeh at-Tirmidhee, Ahmad, alHaakim and other]

As for the proof for the permissibility of Salaat al-Istikharah then Imaam al-Bukhari narrates in his Saheeh that Mutraf bin Abdullah Aboo Mus’ab narrated to us that Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Abee al-Mawaal narrated to us from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir from Jaabir (radhi allahu anhu):‘the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to teach us al-Istikharah (seeking of guidance) in all of our affairs, like he would teach us a Soorah of the Qur’aan saying: “If any of you is concerned about an affair, then let him pray two rakahs other then the obligatory prayers after which he should supplicate: ‘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 and I do not, and You are the knower of the unseen. O Allah if You know this affair is to be good for me in relation to my religion, my life and end (or he said my present and my future), then decree and facilitate it for me and bless me with it. And if You know this affair to be detrimental (harmful) for me concerning my religion, my life and end (or he said my present and my future), then remove it from me and remove me from it and decree for me what is good wherever it be and make me satisfied with it.’ And he mentions his need” [Ahmad (3/344), al-Bukharee (eng. trans. Vol.2, no.263), Aboo Dawood eng. trans. Vol.1, no. 1533, an-Nisa’ee (no. 3253), at-Tirmidhee (no.480) and Ibn Majah (no. 1383)] Explanation of the Meaning of the Du’aa al-Istikharah “O Allah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge” Meaning I request You that You choose good for me and help me in this need of mine and I seek a means of approach to You by Your knowledge which encompasses everything in the heavens and the earth." Seeking help by the Absolute Knowledge of Allah and seeking a means of approach by it, is very appropriate, since the need of seeking guidance is connected with the Unseen and Allah Alone is the one, with Eternal knowledge that extends over everything and nothing escapes from it and verily, He knew all that which occurred, what will occur and all that which did not occur: “Verily, Allah is All-Knower of everything” [(8): 75] And Indeed, nothing escapes His Knowledge:“And that Allah surrounds (comprehends) all things in His Knowledge” [(65): 12] And “With Him are the keys of Ghaib (all that is hidden) none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is on the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.” [(6): 59] ================================== “And I seek Your assistance by Your Power and I ask you from Your immense favor, for verily you are Able and I am not” Meaning I request from You in that which You have decreed for me, and I seek means of approach to You by Your Power. Here, the slave of Allah requests His Lord to make Him content with His choice by His Power, Ability and Immense Favor, since, the slave’s ability is from the Ability and Power of Allah, otherwise he is weak. Making matters easy is from the Ability of Allah and the Great Favor from Him that He has bestowed upon His slaves, if He doesn’t make things easy for His slave, they will turn difficult and he may dislike what Allah chooses for him, unaware of the good that is placed in it for him. So, he requests Allah from His immense Favor keeping in view the following statement of Allah:

“And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not.” [Soorah Baqarah (2): 216] One of the manifestations of this great fact is the treaty of Hudaybiyah. The year of Hudaybiyah, when the pagan Arabs of Quraish tribe prevented the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and his Companions (radhi allahu anhu) from entering Makkah to perform Umrah. Instead of the severe conditions imposed by the Mushriks and great dislike of the treaty by his Companions, Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) accepted them, being confident that Allah would not abandon him and that He will grant him victory. Allah knew that the treaty of al-Hudaybiyah was the beginning of victory. On the way back to Madinah Allah revealed the verse: “Verily! We have given you (O Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam)), Fathan Mubeen, a manifest victory.” [(48): 1] And indeed, due to the treaty, many good things regarding the manifestation of Deen and retreat of Kuffr took place. People came nearer and entered discussions with each other, Muslims could speak about Islam with proofs and evidences. There came in the fold of Islam as many people as the people who entered before. And regarding this treaty Allah says in His Book: “He knew what you knew not, and He granted besides that a near Fathan (victory).” [(48): 27] ==================== “And verily You know and I do not, and you are the Knower of unseen” “Say: None in the heavens and the earth know the unseen except Allah.” [Soorah an-Nahl (27): 65] So not a soul knows anything from the Ghaib (unseen), except by His permission: This permission is of two types: 1. Permission through Revelation – Particular to the Prophets and Messengers: “(He Alone) the All-Knower of the Ghaib, and He reveals to none His Ghaib. Except to a Messenger whom He has chosen (He informs him of unseen as much He likes), and then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him.” [Soorah AlMuzzammil (73): 26-27] And similar was the case with the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), the information of the future in his prophecies were the little that he was told of the future through the Angel Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) and not a result of his own knowledge. Allah made him manifest to this when He said: “Say: I have no power to bring good to myself nor avert harm, but it is only as Allah wills. If it were that I know the unseen, I would have multiplied the good and no evil would have touched me.” [Soorah al-A’raf (7: 188] 2. Permission through the creation of the universe – Knowledge of the way Allah’s creation operate and its scientific discoveries – whatever a believer or a disbeliever comes to know from the knowledge that was previously unknown, like the discovery of electricity etc… ======================== “O Allah if You know this affair to be good for me in relation to my religion, my life and end (or he said my present and my future), then decree and facilitate it for me and bless me with it.

And if You know this affair to be detrimental for me concerning my religion, my life and end (or he said my present and my future), then remove it from me and remove me from it and decree for me what is good wherever it be and make me satisfied with it.” Here, the slave asks Allah for His Blessings in his affair because if Allah guides him due to His Knowledge, helps him due to His Ability and Power, then he needs Allah’s help to preserve it and His Blessings in it so that his matter becomes firm and grows. Precisely, Istikharah is dependant on three things: 1. The Absolute Knowledge of Allah 2. Allah’s Ability and Power of decreeing 3. Allah’s Blessings, which does not diminish, and His generosity, which is not repelled. For theses reasons, it is appropriate to start the Du’aa with seeking a means of approach by His Knowledge in choosing what is good for him, then follows that which is required for his choice to be attained, by seeking help through His Power – the ability to enact the action. Then, because the affair requires the blessing of Allah and His favors so that the choice is blessed and so is the benefit from it – it is appropriate that he asks Allah for His blessings, which encompass everything. Then, since the slave is short-sighted, his affairs unsettled, not being pleased with what is given to him and not content with what is ordained for him, it is appropriate that he should end his Du’aa by asking for contentment in what will be ordained for him. Wisdom and Benefits behind seeking Guidance from Allah, the All-Knower: Apart from the great blessing that Allah, the Exalted grants by answering the Du’aa (supplication) and fulfilling the request, there are many more benefits in performing this beautiful prayer. 1. The first of the benefits is the realization of the meaning of worship for Allah – comprising of humility to Him, expressing one’s weakness and lowliness to Him, manifesting one’s need and dependence upon Him, imploring Him, asking for the best of Him. Realization of Tawheed of Worship – a necessary aspect of eeman and the reason behind the creation of mankind: “I did nor create Jinn and mankind, except for My worship” [Soorah Adh-Dhariyat (51): 56] 2. Realization of the Tawheed of Allah’s Lordship and Tawheed of Allah’s Names and Attributes by affirming that in His Hands are the keys of the affairs and He knows the Unseen matters of the heavens and the earth and He loves good for His slaves and He chooses that which benefits them. “And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses…” [Soorah al-Qasas (28): 68] “And with Him are the keys of Unseen, none know them but He. And He knows whatever is there in the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but by His knowledge; there is not a grain in the darkness (or the depth) of the earth, nor any flesh or dry (green or withered) but is written in a Clear Record.” [Soorah al-An’aam (6): 59] 3. Assurety of Allah and pleasure with His decree before and after the Istikharah, reliance upon Him, and resigning the affairs to Him, thus removing the confusion, hesitation and anxiety which weakens the self, wearing down the body, giving way to distress and sorrow. 4. The fourth benefit is that Allah grants the request of one who makes al-Istikharah. Allah grants him two favors who makes al-Istikharah: the first that Allah answers the Du’aa of His servant and this is a great benefit and an evidence of the servants piety or him gradually achieving it.

The second is the ability to enact the affair for which he sought guidance and choosing the good for him, turning and directing him towards it rather than abandoning him and leaving him astray. How to perform the Salaat al-Istikharah? First – Fulfill all the conditions of supererogatory prayer – which are the same conditions of the obligatory prayer except the condition of the entering time for that particular prayer. The conditions of prayer are: a) The clothes being clean and free of any impurities b) The body being in the state of purity c) The place of prayer being clean and free of any impurities d) Covering of the awwrah (that which individual men and women must cover) e) Entering of the time for that particular prayer f) Facing the Qiblah (The Ka’bah in Makkah) g) Intention [Refer to Fiqh books for a detailed explanation on these points] Second – Praying two rakah’s of supererogatory (Nafl) prayer with the intention of al-Istikharah (Seeking Guidance). The prayer does not have any particular time before which one must make al-Istikharah for a particular affair. Neither does it have a favored time [1] nor any specific Soorah is prescribed for this prayer. But there is nothing wrong if one strives to perform it in times in which a du’aa is more likely to be answered, since al-Istikharah is a du’aa. [For more information about the times in which du’aa is more likely to be answered, refer to our forthcoming articles Du’aa] It should bear born in the minds that al-Istikharah is made after concern and when one has made the intention and resolve to do something according to the saying of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam): “When one of you is concerned about an affair…” Then he should turn over towards Allah with heart, humiliation and submission. Third – After the completion of two rakaahs prayer (i.e. after the salaam) particular for Istikharah, he should make the following supplication and it should be born in minds that it is necessary to stick to this specific Du’aa: 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 and I do not, and You are the knower of the unseen. O Allah if You know this affair is to be good for me in relation to my religion, my life and end (or he said my present and my future), then decree and facilitate it for me and bless me with it. And if You know this affair to be detrimental for me concerning my religion, my life and end (or he said my present and my future), then remove it form me and remove me from it and decree for me what is good wherever it be and make me satisfied with it.” Fourth – He should have a strong assurance in his Lord and truthful reliance upon his Lord, being sure of guidance, waiting for the answer. Fifth – Avoid all obstacles that prevent the supplication from being answered Al-Istikharah is a Du’aa, so one should adhere to the etiquettes of Du’aa and avoid all obstacles and barriers that prevent a Du’aa from being answered, they being: (a) Haraam Earnings (b) Requesting something, which is sinful or involves oppression (c) Abandoning the act of enjoining what is good and forbidding the evil

(d) Exceeding the limits in making Du’aa (e) Being heedless of Allah and the Deen in the times of ease (f) Contradicting some Shari’ah Ruling And the prohibited times are, as Uqbah bin Naaf’ee (radhi allahu anhu) said: “There are three times in which Allah’s Messenger (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam) forbade us to pray or bury our dead; when the sun begins to rise until it is fully up, when the sun is at its highest at midday till it passes over the meridian, and when the sun draws near to setting until it sets.” [Saheeh Muslim (eng. trans) vol.2, no.1811] What should be done after al-Istikharah? After performing the Istikharah prayer, one should firmly resolve to do that which he thinks to be correct, after placing the trust in Allah, the Al-Knower: “Then when you have taken the decision, put your trust in Allah.” [Soorah Aal Imraam (3): 159] “And whosever puts his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him…” [Soorah at-Talaaq (65): 3] One should be truthful in his intention, sincere in the actions in which he sought the guidance, while he does that which appears to him correct without hesitation and sadness, sluggishness or fear, whether his heart is happy or not about the affair, because the affairs are not determined by the constriction of the heart, but rather it is determined by Allah granting and making the affair easy for him. As He says:“And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not.” [Soorah Baqarah (2): 216] And since, none of the creation whoever it may be, can prevent good if Allah intends it for him, nor can they turn away evil if Allah – the Most High – decreed it for him: “And if Allah touches you with hurt, there is none who can alleviate but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His favor, which he causes to reach whomsoever of His slave He wills. And He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Soorah Yunus (10): 107] Question – Does the one making al-Istikharah also seek the council of People (Istikharah)? Answer – Yes! The one making al-Istikharah should also seek help from those whom he knows to be righteous and who can give the appropriate advice and it makes no difference whether this is before al-Istikharah or after it. For there is no contradiction whatsoever between alIstikharah and Istiharah (seeking the advice of the people) because al-Istikharah is from Allah and Istiharah is from the people. Istikharah is an action based on one’s Eeman whereas Istiharah is an action whereby one seeks means – so there is no contradiction between two. Reliance is an action of the heart, whereas, seeking means is an action of the limbs, which Allah created in order to achieve goals, and this – combining actions of the heart and the actions of the limbs – is what is legislated in the Religion of Islam. As for abandoning the means naming it to be ‘Tawakkul in Allah’ – then this is something, which Islam rejects and it is not reliance upon Allah. As for depending on means besides Allah is Shirk with regards to these means. Allah says in the Qur’aan: “And consult them in the affair. Then once you have taken the decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)” [Soorah al-Imran (3): 159] So the Most High – in this verse, combines both seeking the means, which is taking consultation, and the obligation to have reliance on Allah, which is an action of eeman and from the complete characteristics of a believer. And similar is reported in a narration, when a man asked him (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) concerning his riding beast; should he tie it and rely upon Allah, or should he leave it and rely

upon Allah? So the Prophet answered him saying: “Tie it and rely upon Allah” [At-Tirmishee, Ibn Khuzaimah, at-Tabari and others] And this was the practice of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), he used to consult his Companions (radhi allahu anhu) and even sometimes his wives – so he sought their counsel at the Battle of Uhud, he sought their counsel at the battle of Ditch and he also sought their counsel with regards to the prisoners of the Battle of Badr and in many other situations. Consequently, the stages of al-istikharah are: 1. Being concerned about an affair 2. Making al-Istikharah and asking for advice 3. Reliance upon Allah 4. Then the one making al-Istikharah acting according to what he considers to be correct Is Istikharah related to Dreams? The idea behind performing al-Istikharah is that the matter is determined by Allah making the affair easy and Him granting it. So, having a dream or not makes no difference, rather if assumed that one has a dream how does he know that the dream is from the Most Merciful or from shaytaan or from talking souls: Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Dreams are of three types; glad tidings from Allah, whispering of the soul or frightening thoughts from Shaytaan” [Saheeh al-Bukharee (eng. trans.) vol.8, no.595 and Saheeh Muslim (eng. trans) vol.4, no.6404] Unfortunately, contrary to the instructions of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), Muslims today depend entirely on the prayer to make their decisions. That is they make the prayer and supplication prior to making any decision, and rely on dreams to provide the answers for them. The prayer is often repeated before sleeping for a set number of days and dream books are consulted to interpret symbols in their dreams. All this has no basis in the methodology taught by the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam). However, this is not to say that a good dream may not be acted upon as a confirmation of a decision, about which istikharah was made. What are the Affairs in which one can make al-Istikharah? One can make al-Istikharah only in those affairs that are allowed (Mubah: action which neither brings about reward if performed nor brings about punishment if abandoned) like worldly affairs for e.g. traveling, the modes of transport, business dealings, trade, places and time in which one has a choice etc. Al-Istikharah cannot be made in obligatory, recommended, disliked and forbidden actions, since obligatory actions are forbidden to leave and forbidden actions are obligatory to leave, for e.g. performing obligatory Hajj, abandoning of alcohol or other acts of disobedience. Rather, he can make al-Istikharah in those obligatory and recommended affairs in which there is a choice e.g. marriage is obligatory but since he has a choice with respect to whom he should marry, he may seek guidance (i.e. perform al-Istikharah) with regard to a particular women, and a women may seek guidance in regard to a particular man – but not in marriage itself. Also al-Istikharah can be made if one is faced with two obligatory duties or conflicting recommended duties, e.g. the case of marriage and Hajj for the one who only possesses enough money for either of them. Thus, al-Istikharah can be made in all these affairs, whether one is sure of them or not, since the purpose of al-Istikharah is asking Allah, the guidance and ability to do something, and having resolve to do something does not contradict making al-Istikharah. Question: Can al-Istikharah be made in those affairs whose result is known?

Answer: Yes, since Allah alone knows the reality of Affairs and their consequences and the saying of Allah should be enough for us: “And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not.” [Soorah Baqarah (2): 216] Du’aa Prescribed After Being granted that which he has asked for The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “If one of you buys a maid-servant then he should say: ‘O Allah, I ask of You her good and the goodness within her and the goodness that You have made her inclined towards. And I take refuge with You from the evil within her and the evil that You have made her inclined towards, and he should ask for blessings. And if one of you buys a camel then he should touch the top of its hump and supplicate for blessings and say likewise.” [Aboo Dawood v.2, no. 2155, Ibn Majah and al-Haakim] And in another narration: “If one of you marries a woman or buys a maid-servant, he should touch her forelock and mention Allah’s Name – the Mighty and Sublime – and pray for the blessings.” Therefore, it is prescribed to put one’s hand on the front of what he has acquired, mentioning Allah’s Name and then praying for blessing with the afore-mentioned Du’aa, and likewise on similar matters such as buying a car and other than that. FOOTNOTES [1] Nawafil prayer like al-Istikharah, salaah entering the masjid are generally not allowed in times of prohibition. However, the scholars differ regarding this issue. Therefore, if one were to leave performing Salaat al-Istikharah in theses prohibited times, then that would thereby avoid difference of opinion and it would be more helpful to him in attaining tranquility, since verily, the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Leave that which you doubt for that which you do not doubt” [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, an-Nisa’ee]

http://www.muttaqun.com/istikharah.html Istikharah According to Quran and Sunnah

Hadith - al-Tirmidhi # 2151. [Classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, 1/699, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. It was classed as hasan by al-Haafiz ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari, 11/184] The happiness of the son of Adam depends on his being content with what Allah has decreed for him, and the misery of the son of Adam results from his failure to pray istikharah, and the misery of the son of Adam results from in his discontent with what Allah has decreed for him.

To make the prayer of Istikharah (say: iss-teh-KHAR-uh), one should pray two non-fard (nonobligatory) rakat (units) of prayer, even if they are of the regular sunnah prayers or a prayer for entering the mosque, and so on, during any time of the day or night. One should recite in them whatever one wishes of the Qur'an, after reciting al-Fatihah. Then one should praise Allah and invoke blessings upon the Prophet, peace be upon him. After this one should supplicate to Allah. Jabir Ibn 'Abdullah has reported the following supplication from the Prophet, peace be upon him, when he related, "The Prophet, peace be

upon him, taught us how to make Istikharah in all (our) affairs, just as he taught us various surahs of the Qur'an. He told us, 'If anyone of you considers doing something he should offer a two-rak'at prayer other than the obligatory prayers, and then say (after the prayer), "Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika. wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-azimfa-innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wala a ' lamu, wa anta 'allamu-l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta' lamu anna hadhaI-amra khairun lifi dini wa ma'ashi wa aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa'ajilihi) f aqdirhu li wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li fihi, wa in kunta ta'llamu anna hadha-l-amra sharrun lifi dini wa ma'ashi wa-aqibati amri (orfi'ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu anni was-rifni'anhu. Wa aqdir li al-khaira haithu kana thumma ardini bihi" (O Allah ! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, and Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this thing is good for my din and my subsistence and for my Hereafter - (or say, If it is better for my present and later needs) - then ordain it for me and make it easy for me to obtain, and then bless me in it. If You know that this thing is harmful to me in my din and subsistence and in the Hereafter--(or say, If it is worse for my present and later needs)-then keep it away from me, and keep me away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, and make me satisfied with it)."' The Prophet, may peace be upon him, added that then the person should mention his need." There is nothing authentic concerning anything specific that is to be recited in the prayer nor is there any authentic report concerning how many times one should repeat it. An-Nawawi holds that "after making istikharah, a person must do what he is wholeheartedly inclined to do and feels good about doing and should not insist on doing what he had desired to do before making the istikharah. And if his feelings change, he should leave what he had intended to do, for otherwise he is not leaving the choice to Allah, and would not be honest in seeking aid from Allah's power and knowledge. Sincerity in seeking Allah's choice, means that one should completely abandon what one desired oneself."

Action Items for the • •

uttaqun:

Make the prayer of istikharah before deciding to embark on a journey. Make the prayer of istikharah any time faced with uncertainty and requiring a decision to be made. Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

http://www.albalagh.net/qa/istikharah.shtml

Istikharah

By Mufti Ebrahim Desai Posted: 4 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1422, 27 May 2001 Q.) What is Istikharah and what is the proper way of performing it? A.) Istikharah is to seek guidance from Allah when one is faced with a problem to which no solution is apparent. Whenever a person is faced with a difficult problem, or becomes hesitant in making a decision and his knowledge of the matter is insufficient to guide him then after seeking advice from trusted friends he should turn to Allah and beseech His grace. He should willingly and with an open heart and mind supplicate for divine guidance and ask for direction so that the problem is solved in his own best interest. The du'a at such an occasion is called Istikharah. Istikharah is in fact an invaluable teaching of Rasulullah with which the Muslims have been favoured. This blessing could give solace to many for all times to come. It is related in the Hadith that Rasulullah used to teach the Istikharah to the Sahaba, Radi-Allahu anhum, like the Qur'an is taught to children. In another Hadith it is stated that, "He does not fail who makes Istikharah and he does not regret who makes Mashwarah (consultation)." In the Masnoon Istikharah, after one has carried out his responsibility as best as one can, one should hand over the entire matter and oneself to the limitless knowledge of Allah Ta'ala. By resorting to Istikharah one is now relieved of making a decision on his own. Now there can be no perplexity. Only that will happen which Allah Ta'ala wills and which is good for ones own sake though one may not be able to see it immediately. It is not necessary that one must experience or see an evident change or vision. Allah Ta'ala alone knows what is best for His servants. It is related in the Hadith that "Success and good tidings for the son of Adam (Insan) is in performing Istikharah and his misfortune lies in not making Istikharah." Method Of Istikharah When making Istikharah begin with performing two Rakats Nafl Salat. Then with all sincerity recite the following Du'a.

Allaahumma innee astakheeruka bi ilmika wa-astaqdiruka biqudratika wa-as'aluka min fadhlika al-adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru walaa aqdiru. Wa ta'lamu walaa a'alamu wa anta allaamul ghuyoob. Allaahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal-amr khayrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma'aashiy wa-aaqibat amriy, fa'qdruhliy wa-yassirh liy thumma baarik liy feehi. Wa in-kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal amr sharrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma'aashiy was-'aaqibat amriy. Fa asrifh annee wa-srif 'anhu. Wa aqdurh liyal khayr hayth kaana thumma ardhiniy bihee Translation: O Allah!! Behold I ask You the good through Your Knowledge, and ability through Your Power, and beg (Your favour) out of Your infinite Bounty. For surely You have Power; I have none. You know all; I know not. You are the Great Knower of all things. O Allah! If in Your Knowledge this matter be good for my faith (Deen), for my livelihood, and for the consequences of my affairs, then ordain it for me, and make it easy for me, and bless me therein. But if in Your Knowledge, this matter be bad for my faith (Deen) for my livelihood, and for the consequences of my affairs, then turn it away from me, and turn me away therefrom, and ordain for me the good wherever it be, and cause me to be pleased therewith. While reciting this du'a when one reaches Haadhal Amr (this matter) at both places he should think of his problem. May Allah guide and assist us all, Ameen.