Question

Please can you tell me how to pray the Istakhara salat. Is it permissible to read the dua that is written on paper or from mobile phone.

Answer

One should first pray two rak’at Nafl Salah. It is preferred (Mustahab) to pray Surah al-Kafirun after Surah al-Fatiha in the first rak’at and Surah al-Ikhlas after Surah al-Fatiha in the second rak’at.

Once the Salah is complete, read the following Dua, which has been mentioned in the Hadith. Jabir bin Abdullah narrated that the Messenger of Allah would teach the way of doing Istikhaarah, in all matters just as he taught us the chapters of the Qur’an. The Messenger of Allah said, "If any of you intends on doing any task, he should offer a two rak’at Nafl prayer and say (after the prayer) [Bukhari]:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِى أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِىْ فى دِينى وَمَعَاشِى وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِى وعَاجِلِ أَمْرِى وآجِلِهِ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِىْ وَيَسِّرْهُ لِىْ ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِىْ فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّلِىْ فِي دِينى وَمَعَاشِى وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِى وعَاجِلِ أَمْرِى وآجِلِهِ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّى وَاصْرِفْنِى عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِىْ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ رضِّنِى بِهِ

The two places in the Dua where the words Hadha al-Amra (highlighted in red) are mentioned, one should either straight after it or in place of these words, mention his need. For example, if it is for a journey, then one should pray Hadha al-Safaru… in both places. It is Mustahab to pray Surah al-Fatiha and Durood Sharif before and after reciting this Dua. After reciting the Dua, some scholars have stated that one should sleep in the Sunnah manner facing the Qibla with Wudu. It is permissible to read this Dua from a piece of paper or even from a mobile phone.

It is also better to do Istikhaarah seven times, as it has been stated in one Hadith,

“O Anas! When you intend to undertake a task, do Istikhaarah to your Lord seven times. Then look at what crossed your heart, as verily there is goodness in it.” [Kanzul Ummal].

If in the dream one sees whiteness or greenness then the task for which he/she did Istikhaarah is good, and if one sees redness or blackness then the task is bad and should be avoided. If one does not remember the dream or does not see any colours, then he/she should follow their heart. Whichever intention grows stronger in the heart for the intended task, follow it after completing seven days of Istikhaarah and Allah knows best.

Muhammad Kalim
13^th Ramadan Al-Kareem 1436AH

The answer is correct and it is important to note that Istikhaarah is only permissible for permissible matters. As for those matters which are forbidden or are the cause of Allah’s anger, it is not permissible to do Istikhaarah and Allah knows best.

Zahid Hussain Al-Qadiri
13^th Ramadan Al-Kareem 1436 AH

A collection of various du'a that may be recited while studying or working.

Du'as before/during study

اللَّهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلاً وَ إنْتَ تَحْعَلُ الْحزْنَ إذَا شِئْتَ سَهْ

O Allah! There is nothing easy except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy if it be Your Will

[Ibn Hibban]

اللَّهُمَّ الْطُفْ بِىْ فِىْ تَيْسِيْرِ كُلِّ عَسِيْرٍ فَاِنَّ تَيْسِيْرَ ; كُلِّ عَسِيْرٍ عَلَيْكَ يَسِيْرٌَ

 Allahumma Tufiltuf bi fi taysiri kulli 'asirin, fainna taysirra kuuli 'asirin 'alaika yassirun

O Allah! Make easy for me every difficult thing, with Your special favour and Kindness, for it is easy for You to make every difficult thing easy

أللِّهُم النّفَعنِي بِمَا عَلَّمتَنِي وَ عَلِّمنِيِ مَا يَنفَعنِي

Allahumma infa'nii bimaa 'allamtanii wa'allimnii maa yanfa' unii

O Allah! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me.

اللهم اني اسالك العفو والعافية

Allahumma inni as'alukal 'afuwawal-afiya

O Allah! I seek your forgiveness and well being (meaning in examination, memory, and concentration etc)

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا , وَ رِزْقًا طَيَّبًا , وَ عَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً

Allahumma inni as'aluka 'Ilman naafi'an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan

O Allah! I ask You for knowledge that is of benefit, a good provision and deeds that will be accepted.

[Ibn Majah and others]

اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى اَسْئَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّه عَاجِله وَ اجِلِه مَا عَلِمْتُ مِنْهُ وَ مَا لَمْ اَعْلَمْ

Allahumma inni as'aluka min al khairi kullihi 'ajilihi wa ajilihi, ma 'alimtu minhu wa ma lam a'alam

O Allah! I ask You for all the good which is in the present or in the future, which I know and which I do not know

[a comprehensive du'a taught to Aisha by the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam)]

 

Du'as for anxiety/difficulty

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَ الْحَزَنِ ، وَ الْعَجْزِ وَ الْكَسَلِ ، وَ الْبُخْلِ وَ الْجُبْنِ ، وَ ضَلَعِ الدِّيْنِ وَ غَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Allahumma inni a'udhubika minal hammi wal hazan, wal 'ajzi wal kasal, wal bukhli wal jubn, wa dhala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir rijaal

O Allah! I seek refuge in You from grief and sadness, from weakness and from laziness, from miserliness and from cowardice, from being overcome by debt and from being overpowered by men (other people)

[Sahih al-Bukhari 7:158]

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي اُنْزِلُ بِكَ حَاجَتِىْ وَ اِنْ قَصُرَ رَابِىْ وَ ضُعْفَ عَمَلِى افْتَقَرْت ;ُ اِلى رَحمَتِكَ

Allahumma inni unzila bika haajati wa-in qasuura rubbi wa du'fa 'amali iftaqartu illa Rahmatika

O Allah! I ask You to answer my needs, though my intellect is weak, and my actions are defective, O Allah! I am in need of Your Mercy

حَسْبِيَ اللهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

HasbiyAllahu wa ni'mal wakeel

Allah is my availer and protector and the best of aids. 

رَبِّ اِنِّىْ مَغْلُوْبٌ فَانْتَصِرْ

O Allah! I am overpowered, so help me.

[surah al-Qamar, 54:10]

This was the du'a of sayyidna Nuh (alayhis salam) after 950 years of preaching to a stubborn people.

 

Du'as for Knowledge

اللَّهُم¡ اِنِّى اَسْئَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَجِيْحًا

Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman-naaji'han

O Allah! I ask You for useful Knowledge

سُبْحَانَكَ لاَ عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلاَّ مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

Glory be to you, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise

[surah Baqarah; 2:32]

رَبِّ زدْنيِ عِلْماً وَ رْزُقْنيِ فَهْماً

Rabbi zidni 'ilman war zuqni fahman

O Allah! Advance me in Knowledge and true understanding 

يَا عَلِيمُ عَلِّمْنِىْ

Ya Alimu, alimni

O All-Knowing, grant me knowledge

رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا

O my Lord! Advance me in Knowledge

[surah Ta-Ha; 20:114]

 

Du'as after studying

اَللَّهُمَّ ذَكِّرْنِِىْ مِنْهَ ، وَ عَلِّمْنِىْ مِنْهُ مَا جَهِلْتُ

Allahumma zakkirni minhu, wa 'alimni minhu ma jahiltu

O Allah! Assist me to remember it, and teach me whatever I am ignorant of it

Allahhumma inni astaodeeuka ma qara'tu wama hafaz-tu. Faradduhu 'allaya inda hagati elayhi

O Allah! I entrust You with what I have read and I have studied. (O Allah!) Bring it back to me when I am in need of it. 

صلى الله على محمد وال محمد اللهم اني أسألك يا مدخر الخير وفاعله والآمر به ذكرني ما انسانيه الشيطان

SallAllahu 'ala Muhammad wa 'aali Muhammad. Allahumma inni as'aluka ya Mudhakkiral khayr wa faa'ilahu wal-aamimira bihi dhakirni ma ansaanihi-shaytan

Blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and his progeny. O Allah! I ask You, The One who mentions goodness and actualizes it and commands it, Remind me of that which the shaytan makes me forget

 اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعَنِىْ بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِىْ وَ عَلِّمْنِىْ مَا يَنْفَعَنِىْ

Allahummanf'ani bima 'allamtani, wa 'allimni ma yaufa'uni

O Allah! Let the knowledge that You have granted me, be useful for me, and teach me whatever can be fruitful for me

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Our Rabb! accept from us. You indeed, You are the all-Hearing, the all-Knowing.

[Surah Baqarah, 2:127]

 

Study Tips:

1. Do the prayers at their correct times.

2. Pray a 2 rakat nafl prior to exam

3. Remember its all in Allahs will if you are to pass

4. Say بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind) - before commencing the exam - indeed before anything that you do.

5. Recite some du'as (like the ones listed above), and keep in constant dhikrullah (i.e. the daily dhikrs when waking, dressing, eating, sleeping, etc)

6. Come home and pray 2 rakat nafl after the exam for shukr (offer thanks to Allah) for granting you the strength and persistence and ability to complete the exam and accomplish goals inshaAllah

7. Increase in your reading and listening of the Qur'an and performing more ibadah (worship) (i.e. nafilah (voluntary) prayers and deeds). Keep away from bad actions and deeds - Follow up a bad deed with a good deed, to cancel it out.

8. Recite salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad sallAllahu alayhi wa salllam [durud] in abundance