- Category: - DUA-ZIKR
- Language: ENGLISH
- Format: PDF
Today, Istikhârah has become as difficult as the decision one wishes to make. People hesitate to perform this great act of worship and turn to some innovated act that has no basis in the Hadîth. Asking another person to make Istikhârah on one’s behalf is not substantiated from any Hadîth. They believe that Istikhârah will only be correct if it is carried out by certain persons, and that a dream is necessary. This is extremism and obstinacy, and is not the command of Allâh nor His Rasûl.
Istikhârah is a cause of confusion because of the widespread notion that the person performing Istikhârah will either see a dream, or find a certain inclination within his heart.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen explains the Hadîth of Istikhârah that it does not contain anything pertaining to the inclination or satisfaction of the heart. Had it been such, Rasûlullâh would have taught us, in the duâ, to ask Allâh to incline the heart towards the most appropriate decision, whereas the Hadîth does not say that. The duâ only contains this much, that Allâh should protect him from harm, and He should determine a good fate for him, whatever it may be. And the words (of the duâ): وَاصْرِفْنِيْ عَنْه “and turn me away from it” refers to the situation when the heart desires and inclines towards it. (This means that when the heart is desirous to go ahead with the matter regarding which Istikhârah is being made, then Allâh should turn the heart away from it by removing this desire and inclination from the heart). And the words: فاصْرِفْه عَنيْ “And turn it away from me” is when that inclination is not found, (then Allâh should save him from being forced into it.) “Therefore ‘protection’ and ‘predestination’, both are by the Almighty, as He alone does as He wills. As far as the slave of Allâh is concerned, his responsibility is to make duâ, and then proceed in the direction of his choice, as that will be best for him. This means that he will be granted the ‘towfîq’ (ability) for the best only, and only the best will be made easy for him. Thus Istikhârah is an ‘`amal’ (deed) that helps to determine the best for a person.
