Monday 17 October 2011

Salaathul Isthikhara (For Guidance from Allah)

Salaathul Isthikhara
(The Prayer, Seeking Guidance from Allah)


The decision making process is getting more complex and less of a gamble as the science of information crosses new frontiers every day. The success of every commercial, financial or service institution today depends increasingly on its leader’s unerring judgment and high expetise.

To err is human; to suffer losses routine. For the economy to stay healthy and a company to be making profits, the decision making has to be in the right hands. It is a difficult and awesome responsibility. The stress is excessive on the person's heart. The toll is heavy in leadership ranks.

Fortunately for Muslims, the Prophet S.A.W.S. has shown us the best way to arrive at the right decision.  We just refer our problem to Allah, the Omniscient, the Omnipotent. 

We plead our lack of foresight and pray to Allah to show us the way out of any impending crisis and to help us select the best of the options before us.  In the process we earn some sawaab too.  What more can we ask for?

We have this Hadith from the blessed companions Syedina Jabir and Anas R.A.A. (the latter preferring seven times the following process) and the former just once. 

Ulemas have counseled us to repeat the Isthikhara again and again until the right guidance is received.  Some of them suggest that if we see greenery in our dream after the Isthikhara, that is a signal to us to go ahead with whatever project we have in mind; and if we see red or black, it is better to drop the idea.

In a state of cleanliness, preferably after performing all the Salaah’s due upto the moment, we make the appropriate Niy’yath: that we are performing this Salaah for Allah and seeking Allah's guidance in the problem we have before us.

We pray two rakaah’s Sunnah as Salaathul Isthikhara.

Immediately on conclusion of the Salaah, we make the following Du’aa, reciting the Darood-e-Shareef before and after it:

ALLAHUMMA INNEE ASTHAKHEERUKA BI ILMIKA VA ASTHAKH'DIRUKA BI QUD'RATHIKA VA AS'ALUKA MIN FAD'LIKAL AZEEM.
FA INNAKA THAQDIRU VALAA AQDIRU VA THA'ALAMU VA LAA A'ALAMU VA ANTHA ALLAAMUL GHUYOOB
ALLAHUMMA IN KUNTHA THA'ALAMU ANNA HAAZAL AM'RA (here think of the problem on hand and continue) KHAI'YRUN'L LEE FEE DEENEE VA MA'AASHEE VA AAQIBATHI AMREE  FA'QDIR’HU LEE VA YASSIRHU LEE SUMMA BAARIK'LEE FEEHI
VA IN KUNTHA THAALAMU ANNA HAAZAL AM'RA (here also, think of the problem on hand and continue) SHARRUN LEE FEE DEENEE VA MA'AASHEE VA AAQIBATHI AMREE FAS'RIF'HU ANNEE VASRIF’NEE AN'HU VA AKQ’DIR LI'YAL KHAIRA HAIY'SU KAANA SUMMA ARDINEE BIHEE.

Ya Allah, I seek the blessing of positive guidance from Your Vast Knowledge (and the blessing) of higher competence from Your Limitless Power and (I) beg You for increasing favors from Your Infinite Bounty.  For You Alone have the Ultimate Power and I have none. You Alone know everything.  I have no knowledge beyond what You kindly endow on me. You Alone are the Supreme Knower of all things hidden (and unknown to man).
 
Ya Allah, (I beseech You), if it is in Your Knowledge that this matter (state here the problem on hand) will be beneficial to my Faith, to my livelihood and to the ultimate good of all my affairs, then (kindly) grant me success in it and bless me.

(On the other hand) if in Your Great Knowledge this matter, (here, state your problem) be harmful to my Faith, to my livelihood and to the ultimate good of my affairs, then (kindly) move it away from me and move me away from it and destine for me the good result, whatever it be, and bless me to be well pleased with it.
               
Insha Allah, we will receive the inspiration from Allah and our decision will be the right one.