Chapter: The Prayer of Seeking Guidance (Istikhara) and Mutual Consultation

Allah the Exalted says, “Consult them in the matter” (3:159), and He also says, “Their affairs are decided by mutual consultation among them” (42:38)—meaning that they confer with one another about their concerns.

718 – Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us the prayer of istikhara in all matters just as he would teach us a surah from the Quran. He would say: “When any one of you is deliberating over a matter, let him perform two rakʿas other than the obligatory prayer, and then say:

‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka biʿilmik, wa-astaqdiruka biqudratik, wa-as’aluka min fadlika al-ʿazim (O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, I seek ability through Your power, and I ask You of Your tremendous bounty. For You are able and I am not; You know and I do not; and You are the Knower of the unseen). Allahumma in kunta taʿlamu anna hadha al-amr khayrun li fi dini wa-maʿashi wa-ʿaqibati amri—aw qal: ʿajili amri wa-ajilihi—fa-qdurhu li wa-yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi (O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair—or he said: in its immediate and distant consequences—then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me). Wa-in kunta taʿlamu anna hadha al-amr sharrun li fi dini wa-maʿashi wa-ʿaqibati amri—aw qal: ʿajili amri wa-ajilihi—fa-srifhu ʿanni wa-srifni ʿanhu, wa-qdur li al-khayr haythu kan, thumma raddi-ni bihi (But if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair—or he said: in its immediate and distant consequences—then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it).’”

He added, “Then he should state his specific need.” Reported by al-Bukhari.

[Explanation]
Al-Nawawi (d. 676 AH) said: (Chapter