The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was keen to teach the believers the Du’aa' (supplication) for Istikharah (seeking Allah’s guidance). Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: "The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) would instruct us to pray for guidance in all of our concerns, just as he would teach us a chapter from the Quran. He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) would say: “If any of you intends to undertake a matter, then let him pray two supererogatory Ra’kahs (units of prayer) after which he should supplicate: “Allahumma innee astakheeruka bi'ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa asáluka min fadhlikal-'Atheem, fa innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa laa a'lam, wa anta 'allaamul-Ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta'lam inna– and here he mentions his need – khayrun lee fee deenee wa dunyay wa 'aaqibatu amree wa 'aajilihi wa aajilihi faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee thumma baarik lee feeh, wa in kunta ta'lam inna haatha al-Amra sharrun lee fee deenee wa dunyay wa 'aaqibatu amree wa 'aajilihi wa aajilihi fasrifhu 'annee wasrifnee 'anhu waqdur lee al-Khayru haythu kaan thumma radh-Dhinee bih” (O Allah! I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge and by Your power I seek strength and I ask You from Your immense favour, for indeed You are able while I am not and indeed You know while I do not and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah! If You know this affair – and here he mentions his need – to be good for me in relation to my religion, my life, and end, then decree and facilitate it for me, and bless me with it; and if You know this affair to be ill for me towards my religion, my life, and end, 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 such.)” [Al-Bukhari]


The benefits and rulings of Istikhaarah:


1. This Hadeeth tells us the precise words with which to invoke Allah for guidance. There is, therefore, absolutely no doubt left about how to seek guidance.


2. It is recommended to perform a two-Rak'ah prayer before the Istikharah Du’aa' (supplication) is recited. Imam Ibn Abu Jamrah  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him who was one of the early scholars, stated: "The wisdom behind the performance of the two-Rak'ah prayer before supplicating lies in the fact that the purpose of Istikharah is to achieve success, both in this life and in the Hereafter. For this purpose, the servant needs to knock at the door of the King (i.e., Allah) and nothing is better and more effective in this regard than praying to and glorifying Allah and showing one’s need for His bounty and constant assistance.”


3- The believer should then praise Allah Almighty as He deserves to be praised, for Allah loves that His servants do this.


4- An important rule for any Du’aa' is that one should ask Allah by His sublime Attributes; he should select that attribute which reflects Allah’s power and ability to do the thing being asked of Him; one should therefore supplicate by saying, for example: ‘O Razzaq (i.e., Provider)! Sustain me.”


5- As with every Du’aa', the supplicant should have humility before His Lord. The slave recognises that Allah alone can do everything and that there is no strength or power except His, and that he is utterly helpless without His Lord’s help.


6- The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) would teach his companions to begin their supplications by asking Allah for benefit and safety in their religion, for indeed nothing is more precious than that and no calamity worse than its loss.


7- The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were extremely diligent in performing Istikharah. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) would teach his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, to pray for guidance in all of their concerns, just as he would teach them a chapter from the Quran. Imam Ibn Hajar  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him stated that this shows the great importance of consulting Allah through supplication because it was mentioned here, in the same breath, with the importance and necessity of reciting the Quran in prayer.


What matters should Istikhaarah be performed for?


The Hadeeth states that we should consult Allah about all matters. Imam Ibn Abu Jamrah  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him stated: “This is a general statement pertaining to something specific. Istikharah should not be about things understood to be an obligation, nor about things that are known to be Haram (forbidden). For example, Salat, (Prayer), is compulsory and so we should not ask Allah whether to perform it or not; when Allah and His Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) have made something clear to us we must accept it completely.”


Allah confirms this by saying (what means): “It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair.” [Quran 33:36]


This tells us that before we act, we should find out the Islamic position regarding it and then comply accordingly. Istikharah is performed for matters where we have a choice, (such as marrying a particular person, buying a car, etc…) regardless of whether they are small or big matters or whether one finds them to be good or not. Yet some people only resort to Istikharah when they are confused about a matter; if they see good in it, they proceed, relying on their own judgement, thus forgetting the Sunnah.


What does one do after performing Istikharah?


Once the Muslim has consulted his Creator about a particular matter through Istikharah, he should proceed to undertake what he is content with, relying on Allah to achieve his purpose, fully convinced that whatever Allah wills happens, and whatever He does not will, never happens.


It is not a condition that after Istikharah has been made, one should expect a dream relating to something unusual happening, even though Allah may choose to make such things occur. Therefore, Istikharah is, in essence, a form of faith-education, after which the Muslim should proceed to undertake a matter with full confidence of his success, having consulted his Creator in whom he has full confidence and trust.


Thereafter, even if he faces difficulties, he never loses faith in the wisdom of Allah, because as a Muslim he does not see success merely in worldly terms, for he is more concerned with the rewards and blessings of the Hereafter. Part of his faith is the belief that calamities may be of benefit to him in the sense that Allah forgives his sins if he is patient through them. When the believer reaches this level of understanding of Istikharah and the results it brings about, his satisfaction will be great, as will be his contentment and perseverance, Allah willing, since he fully believes, having consulted his Creator, that whatever the situation is, it is his Lord’s chosen one.


This increases his faith and he will never feel regret for anything he misses in life, nor will he indulge in the use of the expression: “If only this or that happened…” This level of understanding is subsequently reflected in his personality to such an extent that he will always appear firm and self-confident.


These etiquettes are derived from the aforementioned Hadeeth, which many Muslims have unfortunately turned their backs to in lethargy and absent mindedness.


The Prayer is the first pillar of Islam that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) mentioned after that of uttering the Testimony of Faith, by which one becomes a Muslim. It is a form of worship consisting of specific statements and actions. It begins by pronouncing the words ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is the Greatest), and concludes with the salutation As-Salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah (May the peace and mercy of Allah be with you).


The Prayer was the only order that was commanded by Allah directly to His Messenger  may  Allah  exalt  his  mention during his night journey. Allah Says (what means): {Exalted is He who took His slave [i.e. Prophet Muhammad] by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing} [Quran 17: 1] Prayer was also obligatory upon all the prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, and their nations.


Additionally, it was the first act of worship that was made obligatory by Allah on every believer.


The status and virtue of the Prayer:


The Prayer has a great status in Islam; a status which no other act of worship holds. It is the spinal cord of the religion, without which the religion itself cannot be established. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said regarding it: “The head of the matter is Islam, its spinal cord is the prayer, and its highest pinnacle is ‘Jihaad’ in the way of Allah.” [Muslim]


In the Quran, Allah ordains us hundreds of times to establish the Prayer. Allah Says (what means): {…Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times…} [Quran 4: 103] And (what means): {Establish the Prayer, and give Zakat (poor-due) and bow with those who bow (in worship and obedience).} [Quran 2: 43]


The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: "Islam is built upon five pillars: Bearing witness that none is worthy of worship but Allah and that Prophet Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) is His Messenger, establishing the Prayer, paying Zakah, observing Fast in Ramadan and performing Hajj.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


The significance of Prayer is so great that one is ordered to observe it whether traveling or not, in safety or in fear. Allah Says (what means): {Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah. And if you go in fear, then (pray) standing or on horseback. And when you are again in safety, remember Allah, as He has taught you that which (heretofore) you knew not.} [Quran 2: 238-239]


Moreover, it is the first act that the person will be held accountable for on the Day of Recompense. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The first act that the slave will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment will be the Prayer. If it is good, then the rest of his deeds will be good. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad.” [At-Tabaraani]


The Prayer is the best and most noble of deeds. It is the link between the believer and his Lord. Through the Prayer, the slave communicates with his Lord five times a day. To demonstrate the greatness and virtues of performing prayer, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “If the time for a prescribed prayer comes, and a Muslim performs ablution properly, (and then offers his prayer) with humbleness and bowing (to Allah), it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin; and this is applicable to all times.” [Muslim]


The Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) beautifully gave a similitude, to the one who performs the Prayer in the prescribed manner and time, by these great words: “The five daily prayers are like a deep river flowing by the door of any of you, in which he bathes five times every day.” [Muslim]


The Prayer is the last thing that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) reminded his nation with before he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) died, saying: “Keep your Prayer, keep your prayer and fear Allah regarding what your right hand possesses (i.e. slaves).” [Imam Ahmad]


The impact of praying:


The relationship with Allah is demonstrated and put into practice, as well as improved and increased by the prayer. Therefore, if the prayers are sound and proper, the rest of the deeds will be sound and proper; and if the prayers are not sound and proper, then the rest of the deeds will not be sound and proper.


The spirit of the Prayer should be sincerity, devotion and contemplation. It is meant to strengthen the faith, purify and chasten the soul, qualify the believer for salvation in this life and the Hereafter and to make him shun immorality and evil deeds. Allah Says (what means): {Recite [O Muhammad] what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish the Prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.} [Quran 29: 45]


Moreover, its aim is to generate within the subliminal self of man such spiritual power, light of faith and awareness of Allah as can enable him to strive successfully against all kinds of evils and temptations and remain steadfast at times of trial and adversity. The Prayer is so effective and soothing to the heart that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) would resort to it whenever anything grieved him  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) and would say to Bilal  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him: “O Bilal! Comfort our hearts with it (i.e. call Iqamah for Prayer).” [Ahmad]


The overall effect that the properly performed prayers should have upon humans is described by Allah in many verses of the Quran. For example, Allah Says (what means): {Indeed, mankind was created anxious. When evil touches him, impatient, and when good touches him, withholding [of it], except the observers of prayer —those who are constant in their prayer.} [Quran 70: 19-23]