"Combining Strategy and Faith: The Significance of ISTIKHARAHH in Everyday Life"

I tend to approach everything in life with careful planning. My planning process involves considering all future possibilities, outcomes, and associated risks. I explore multiple options and mentally prepare myself for various situations, hoping for the best while preparing for the worst. Planning is essential for both short-term and long-term goals, as it provides a clear direction on how to achieve them.

However, experience has shown that, no matter how good your planning is or how much expertise you have in a particular field, the actual outcome often differs from what you expected. This is a reality we must accept. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the results seem unfavorable.

Unfavorable outcomes can lead to negative emotions such as anxiety, distress, frustration, or demotivation. You may start to lose confidence in your ability to make sound decisions, which could lead you to seek external guidance blindly without self-awareness.

But what if I told you that there's one simple act that you can perform every day, before taking any major step, that can align your decisions with what is best for you? After planning and weighing the pros and cons of all future outcomes, this one act is crucial before you take the first step. That act is seeking guidance from the One who knows what is best for you—none other than Allah (SWT).

The question is: How can we seek His guidance? Through dua?? ?Supplication?? Prayer??

Yes, these are all valuable, but our beloved Prophet Muhammad ? taught us a specific practice for this: Salat-ul-Istikharah.

?What is Istikharah?

The literal meaning of Istikharah is "seeking goodness" or "choosing the best." In one sense, Istikharah can be performed before any significant task to seek goodness from Allah. In another sense, it can be performed when choosing between two options.

In a hadith, Prophet Muhammad ? said: "When any of you intends to undertake a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs and then say the Istikharah supplication."

This hadith makes it clear that Istikharah can be done for any significant matter, whether there are single or multiple options. How beautifully Islam simplifies our lives through this guidance! You plan with all the information and resources you have, pray two rak'ahs, and then proceed with your actions, leaving the outcome to Allah.

How to Perform Istikharah

To perform Istikharah, follow these steps:

1. Perform ablution (wudu) as per Sunnah.
2. Pray two rak'ahs with the intention of Istikharah.
3. Recite the Istikharah dua after the prayer, along with an opening and closing salawat (sending blessings upon the Prophet ?).

Here is the Istikharah dua:

?????????? ?????? ????????????? ??????????? ???????????????? ????????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ??????????? ????????? ???????? ????? ????????? ??????????? ????? ????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ?????????- ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????????? ??????????? ???????- ????????? ?????????- ??????????? ??? ??????????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????????? ??????????? ???????- ????????? ?????????- ??????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ????????? ???? ????????? ?????? ????? ????? ????????? ????

O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, You are Capable and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [then mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, - [or say: in this life and the afterlife] - then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, - [or say: in this life and the afterlife] - then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be and help me to be content with it. Whoever seeks the counsel of the Creator will not regret it and whoever seeks the advice of the believers will feel confident about his decisions. Allah said in the Qur'an: "And consult them in the affair. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah." (Al-Bukhari 7:162)

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Misconceptions About Istikharah

There are several misconceptions about Istikharah, such as:

• Dreams: Not necessary to receive an answer via dreams.
• Major decisions: Can be done for any decision, big or small.
• Immediate answer: Guidance may come overtime.
• Once only: Can be repeated until peace of mind is attained.
• Performed by others: You can do it yourself.

Hazrat Umar (RA) said: "If someone does something after performing Istikharah and does not see immediate goodness, he should trust Allah. He will see later that it is for the best."

Often, when you reflect on the past, you’ll realize how Allah's plan worked in your favor, even if it wasn’t immediately apparent.

When to Perform Istikharah

Istikharah can be performed for any decision—big or small. Whether you are buying a car, choosing a house, switching jobs, starting a business, or even scheduling a doctor's appointment or attending a meeting. Seeking goodness from Allah in everyday decisions strengthens your faith and connects you to Him on a deeper level.

A Powerful Morning Ritual

Given the numerous benefits of Istikharah, imagine starting your day with it. Perform two rak'ahs of Istikharah in the morning, seeking Allah's goodness for everything you plan to do that day. This will bring peace and strength to your daily routine, as you entrust your affairs to Allah, who will guide you from evil to good—Subhan'Allah.

How Istikharah Works: Real-Life Examples

Let’s understand how this small yet powerful toll can put goodness in your things.

A man came to his sheikh, seeking advice about marrying off his son. The man had already decided to agree to the marriage but was advised to perform Istikharah first. He did so and proceeded with the wedding preparations. On the day of the wedding, the bride ran away, leaving the groom and his family devastated. The man returned to his sheikh, saying, "I did Istikharah, yet I was humiliated in front of my relatives!" The sheikh smiled and said, "Istikharah worked for you. Your embarrassment now is far less than what it would have been if this had happened after the marriage."

Another example: An employee had worked for a month on a report and performed Istikharah before each scheduled meeting with his boss to present the findings. Each time, the meeting was canceled at the last moment. Frustrated, he tossed the report on his desk, only for a colleague to pick it up and discover serious errors. Thanks to this, the employee was able to correct the report before presenting it to his boss, saving himself from potential consequences.

In both cases, Istikharah served as a subtle guide, steering the individuals away from harm.

Conclusion

Istikharah is a profound practice that can guide us in making sound decisions, big or small. By connecting with Allah and seeking His guidance, we align our plans with His divine wisdom. Let us make Istikharah a regular part of our lives and trust in Allah’s plan, knowing that He will lead us to what is best.