Concept of Istikhara
Istikhara is an Arabic word which is originated from a word “khair” (goodness) and it means “asking for the good or seeking goodness”. Allah says in Quran multiple times to call upon him for help and He will surely respond us in better ways. As He says in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 153:
“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient”.
In the above verse the word “patience” implies that a Muslim must be patient and put his trust in Allah, showing courage and faith in difficult times.
Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah:
Allah’s Apostle used to teach his companions that how to perform the prayer of Istikhara for each and every matter just as he used to teach them the verses from the Quran. He used to say, if anyone of you intends to do something, then you should offer a two rakat prayer other than the compulsory prayers, and after finishing it, you should say:
Translation:
“O Allah! I consult You, for You have all knowledge, and appeal to You to support me with Your Power and ask for Your Bounty, for You are able to do things while I am not, and You know while I do not; and You are the Knower of the Unseen. O Allah! If You know that if this matter (name your matter) is good for me both at present and in the future, (or in my religion), in this life and in the Hereafter, then fulfill it for me and make it easy for me, and then bestow Your Blessings on me in that matter. O Allah! If You know that this matter is not good for me in my religion, in my this life and in my coming Hereafter (or at present or in the future), then divert me from it and choose for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me be pleased with it.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 487 Book 9, Vol. 93)
So, when a Muslim plans to take a decision he must follow the same practice in order to include Allah’s will in the decision, and there is no chance to go wrong if a person gets Allah’s will in his decision. It would be much better if the istikhara prayer is done in the midnight, the reason is simply that there is less chance of distractions at that time because most people are sleeping and you feel yourself much closer to Allah. In various verses of Quran, Allah Himself promotes night prayers, some verses are as follow:
Surah Muzzammil, verse 6:
“Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words”. [73:6]
Surah Isra, verse 79:
“And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station”. [17:79]
Surah Ali-Imran, verse 17:
The patient, the true, the obedient, those who spend [in the way of Allah ], and those who seek forgiveness before dawn. [3:17]
Surah Al-Furqan, verse: 64
“And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer]”. [25:64]
Surah As-Sajdah, verse: 16
“They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend”. [32:16]
Interpreting the dreams after the prayer of istikhara is not the right practice and it was not the concept at the time of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H). Such concepts are constructed later on, by people. Dreams are not always the valid source to rely on. Decisions should not be made accordance with dreams. Istikhara means to seek goodness from Allah and if a Muslim offers the prayer by all his heart and soul then he must be guided right by the grace of Almighty Allah.
