| Fiqh - Islaamic Rulings |
Salaah
al-Istikharah - The Prayer for seeking Guidance
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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
(Istihaarah)?
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 al-Istikharah and Istihaarah (seeking the
advice of the people) because al-Istikharah is from Allah and Istihaarah is
from the people.
Istikharah
is an action based on one’s eeman whereas Istihaarah 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 Islaam.
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-Imra (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 the Hadeeth of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam):
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
