Dua-e-Istkhara
Way of doing Namaaz of Istikhara
TRANSLATION: “OAllah! I seek goodness from Your Knowledge and with Your Power (and Might) Iseek strength, and I ask from You Your Great Blessings, because You have thePower and I do not have the power. You Know everything and I do not know, andYou have knowledge of the unseen. Oh Allah! If in Your Knowledge this action———————————————— (which I intend to do) isbetter for my religion and faith, for my life and end [death], for here [inthis world] and the hereafter then make it destined for me and make it easy forme and then add blessings [baraka’] in it, for me. O Allah! In Your Knowledgeif this action is bad for me, bad for my religion and faith, for my life andend [death], for here [in this world] and the hereafter then turn it away fromme and turn me away from it and whatever is better for me, ordain [destine]that for me and then make me satisfied with it.”
How many times?
It depends. Sometimesit takes only once to get the answer and sometimes it takes longer. It isbetter to do istakhara seven (7) times. If you have received an answer , stopdoing istikhara. You do not have to continue to do isitkhara for 7 days. It isbetter that right after reciting the supplication, , sleep with ablution(people who cannot keep the ablution for longer times due to health problems donot have to worry about ablution before falling asleep) facing the direction ofthe Qibla (facing the Qibla is not required but it is a Sunnat of our belovedProphet Peace Be Upon Him). recite salutations (durood/ salawat) on the ProphetAllah’s Grace and Peace be upon him before and after the above Dua(supplication).
Answer:
If in the dream onesees whiteness (means any thing white in color, for example: milk, white paper,white sky, white clothes, white light etc.) or greenness (means any thing greenin color, for example: grass, plants, trees, green clothes, green light etc.)then understand that this task is better and if one sees redness (means anything red in color, for example: blood, red clothing, red fruit, red lightetc.) or blackness (means any thing black in color, for example: black water,black light, black clothings, black sky, black wall etc. ) then understand itis bad and avoid it.
If do not rememberany dream or do not see any colors then follow your heart. Whatever intentiongrows stronger in your heart regarding your targated work follow it after sevendays of Istakhara
It is narrated from Hazrat Jaabir that Rasulullah (saw) used to teach us the dua of istikharah for important matters in the same manner as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Qur’an. He (saw) used to say, ”When you intend doing any important work, then read two rakaats nafl salaat and thereafter read this dua.” (which is mentioned below) (Bukhari-pg. 944)
Rasulullah (saw) once remarked to Anas “O Anas! When you are undecided with regards to any matter, then seek counsel from your Rabb and do this seven times. Thereafter, whatever decision prevails in your heart regard it to be beneficial.” (Shaami-Vol. 1, pg. 507)
Translation: (O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O, Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter–( or said: If it is better for my present and later needs)–Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter–( or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)–Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it).