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The simple meaning of Istikharah
Istikharah is a special kind of Salat which was recommended by the Prophet (P.B.U.H) to seek guidance from Allah in any matter. The Arabic word Istikharah means “seeking goodness from Allah”.
Firstly, let us remove the misconception attached to Istikhara which emphasizes that it is required to be performed by some Mufti or an elderly person. Anyone can perform the Salat-al-Istikharah on our normal days along with any prayer except Fajr and Asar. It is a Du’a that a Muslim makes to guide him/her towards the right decision.
Nikah is such a crucial decision of our lives and even after consulting our elders and our family, we find it difficult to make the final choice. We are constantly occupied by nervousness and anxiety, unsure if we are making the right choice. Since Allah has made everything so easy for us through Islam, so he has given us the power to perform Istikharah and free ourselves of the ongoing anxiety regarding Nikah decisions. Although, Istikharah is performed by Muslims in every small and big decision, but its importance before Nikah is irreplaceable.
Dua for Istekhara
Sahih Al-Bukhari; Book- 21; Hadith- 263
The importance of this Du’a for Nikah lies in its beautiful meaning. Surely, we are unsure of our decisions. We do not know the unknown and that is why it is wise to seek guidance from Allah. The Nikah guided by Allah is the best of all. While performing the Salat, you obligate yourself to agree to the decision of Allah as He knows better what is right and what is wrong for you. You should be ready to accept the choice of Allah against your will and even if you dislike it in the present. However, do not fret because Allah is the best story writer.
“And it is very possible that you dislike something whereas it is good for you; and (similarly) it is very possible that you like something whereas it is bad for you”. (Baqarah 16)
Now after performing the Salat-al-Istikharah, you will be seeing related dreams that will show you signs related to your decision. Dreams play a very important role and they are one of the greatest blessings from Allah. dreams are the gateway through which Allah communicates directly.
Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said, “True dreams are one of the forty-six parts of Prophethood.” (al-Bukhaari, 6472; Muslim, 4201)
So, through Istekhara you will receive guidance in the form of a dream. In case you do not dream about anything, continue the Salat for 7 days and then leave the rest to Allah. He will ease the situations and change the circumstances int the direction which is best for you.
We request al our Muslim brothers and sisters to perform Salat-al-Istikharah before Nikah. There is nothing better than sticking with the choice of Allah.
