Salatul Istikhara

The Salatul Istikhara is a Muslim prayer for guidance. A translation of the prayer is

Oh Allah! I ask goodness from You from Your Knowledge and Power.

I ask for Your blessings because You have Power and I do not.

You Know everything that I do not know, and You Know the unknown.

Oh Allah! If this action is good for my religion and faith, for mylife and death, for here and hereafter, then make it destined for me. Make it easy for me and give me Your blessing.

Oh Allah! If you know that this action is bad for my religion and faith, for mylife and death, for here and hereafter, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it.

Whatever is better for me, destine that for me and then make me satisfied with it.

Those seeking guidance are advised to repeat this prayer, typically seven times. Some scholars hold that the prayer will be answered with a dream, or by elements of a dream (for example seeing white or green to indicate a positive response, black or red to indicate a negative). However, the majority opinion is that the unfolding of events will naturally reveal the answer to the prayer. For example, if this prayer is made in order to seek guidance as to whether one should travel abroad or not, the fact after the prayer that all flights were booked (or any other situation which would make traveling abroad very difficult) is in fact thought to be the answer to the prayer, telling one that it was in one's best interest not to go. If instead, it was found that the travel plans went very smoothly, that instead would be interpreted as the answer to the prayer, telling one that it was in one's best interests. Some hold that one would simply have a feeling that would urge one to make the correct choice.

In Shia Islam, there is also an Istikhara using the Quran. This is similar to an ancient practice in Judaism where the Holy Book is used as a guide in the practice of your free will in decisions. The Istikhara is usually performed by an ulema and a prayer is said before the Book is opened for interpretation.

External links

* [http://www.nazmay.com/istikhara/ Sunnah way of doing Istikhara]

* [http://madani.16.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1218 MandaiForum]
* [http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=1056&CATE=4 Sunni Path -- Istikhara: The Guidance Prayer]