NAMAAZ e ISTIKHARA (nafil)
Namaaz asking Allah Ta'ala to help make a choice.
Istikhaar means to seek goodness from Allah Ta'ala. When anyone intends to do an important task, they do istikhaara before the task, as if they request Allah Ta'ala,
'O the knower of unseen guide me if this task is better for me or not?'
Method of performing Namaaz e Istikhara
Perform two rakaat Namaaz (preferably before sleeping) in such a way that in the first rakaat recite Surah Fateha and then recite Qul Ya Aiy-yuhal Kaafiroon and in the second rakaat, after Surah Fateha recite Qul Huwal Laahu Ahad and after salaam recite the dua facing the qibla:
Hazrat Jabir Bin Abdullah(Radi Allahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to teach us the way of doing istikhara, in all matters as he ﷺ taught us the surah of the Quran. Prophet ﷺ said, 'if anyone of you think of doing any job, he should offer two rakaat Namaaz other than the obligatory ones and recite the dua after the Namaaz':
Al-Laahum-ma' In-nee As-takheeruka Bi'ilmika Wa As-taqdiruka Bi Qudrtika Wa As'aluka Min Fadlikal 'Azeem. Fa'in-naka Taqdiru Wa Laa Aqdiru Wa Ta'lamu. Wa Laa A'lamu Wa Anta 'Al-laamul Ghuyoob. Al-Laahum-ma In Kunta Ta'lamu An-na Haazal Amra Khaierul-Lee' Fee Deene Wa Ma'aa Shee Wa 'Aaqibati Amree Wa'Aajili Amree Wa 'Aajilihi Faqdurhu Lee Wa Yas-sirhu Lee Sum-ma Baarik Lee Feehi- Al-Laahum-ma In Kunta Ta'lamu An-na Haazal Amra Shar-ul-Lee Fee Deene Wa Ma'aa Shee Wa 'Aaqibati Amree Wa'Aajili Amree Wa 'Aajilihi Fasrifhu 'An-nee Wasrifnee 'Anhu Waqdur Lee-al Khaiera Haiesu Kaana Sum-ma Ardinee Bihi.
O Allah! Verily I seek the better [of either choice] from You, by Your knowledge, and I seek ability from You, by Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. For indeed You have power, and I am powerless; You have knowledge and I know not; You are the knower of the unseen realms. O Allah! If You know that this matter is good for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood and the end of my affair then decree it for me, facilitate it for me, and grant me blessing in it. And if You know that this matter is not good for me with regard to my religion, my livelihood and the end of my affair then turn it away from me and me from it; and decree for me better than it, wherever it may be, and make me content with it.
(Bukhari)
After doing istikhara, one should suspend their own judgement or inclination about the particular matter, and wait for Allah Ta'ala to show a sign or to make things happen in a way that indicates what to do. If it is not clear about the result of the istikhara, the Islamic jurist (fuqaha) mention that it is recommended to repeat the istikhara, up to seven times if necessary, on separate occasions. (Raddul Muhtar)
It is not necessary that you get a dream or a feeling. Rather, istikhara is a Namaaz that Allah guides you towards that, which is best for you. If you do istikhara with proper manners, then truly consign the matter to Allah Ta'ala and suspend your own inclinations, then Allah Ta'ala will make events unfold in the direction that is the best for your worldly affairs and the hereafter.'
