Complete Guide to Istikhara Prayer, Best Time and Virtues

Kapanlagi.com - Problems will surely come to every human being, and only Allah SWT can help us in the difficulties we face. There are many ways to seek help from Allah SWT, one of which is by performing sholat istikharah. Sholat istikharah becomes a way that can guide us in dealing with problems in life.

Sholat istikharah is a voluntary prayer performed to seek guidance from Allah SWT when faced with difficult problems, indecisiveness, and choices. For example, in choosing a life partner, choosing education, choosing a job, and other matters.

READ ALSO:  Doa Sholat Istikharah Arabic Latin with Meaning and How to Perform It

Through sholat istikharah, humans can consult directly with Allah. Thus, they obtain the right guidance according to the pleasure of Allah SWT. Therefore, as reported from various sources, here is the procedure for praying istikharah along with its legality, procedure, and virtues. Let's check it out, KLovers.

1. Ruling of Istikhara Prayer

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Before knowing the procedures and intentions of performing istikhara prayer, it is good for you to know the ruling of performing this voluntary prayer. Jabir bin Abdullah may Allah be pleased with him said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught us how to perform istikhara prayer in all matters, just as he taught us the Quran.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If one of you wants to do something, let him first perform two units of voluntary prayer other than the obligatory prayer" (Narrated by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, Ibn Hibban, Al-Baihaqi, and others)

Istikhara prayer is a voluntary prayer of 2 units that has been taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to determine urgent choices. Previously, the people of ignorance used to perform istikhara (determine choices) by using azlam (drawing lots). But Allah SWT prohibited that method and replaced it with istikhara prayer after appointing Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the Messenger of Allah.

After performing istikhara prayer, usually a sense of calm and certainty will arise in the heart to determine the available choices. Guidance obtained from istikhara can be in the form of dreams, with certain signs and symbols. Istikhara can be performed two or three times if there is still doubt in the heart.

From the above hadith, it can also be concluded that there is no ruling that prohibits when istikhara prayer should be performed. Whenever we feel the need for Allah's help, we can perform istikhara prayer.

2. Virtues or Benefits of Istikhara Prayer

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Then there are also the virtues or benefits of Istikharah prayer that you can know. Every worship commanded by Allah SWT certainly has benefits for human life, including this Istikharah prayer. And here are some virtues of Istikharah prayer:

- Providing Peace

For those who have problems in terms of choices, Istikharah prayer can be done to ask for guidance from Allah SWT. All things that will be chosen, we entrust them all to Allah SWT for the goodness of our lives. As stated in the words of Allah SWT in Surah At-Tawbah verse 51 which means:

"Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers rely."

Therefore, Istikharah prayer is basically to ask for guidance from Allah to be given a way for his efforts or endeavors so far. And to provide peace in life so as not to be wrong in choosing the path we will take.

- Keeping Away from Satan's Whispers

Yup! During the time of ignorance, people used to make decisions by using azlam (lottery). This will certainly become a form of gambling, and the choices made by the lottery can be influenced by the whispers of Satan. And to distance ourselves from evil, we must perform istikharah prayer to always remember Allah SWT and surrender all matters to Allah.

- Providing Peace of Mind

Istikharah prayer can also provide peace of mind regarding work or marriage. Therefore, performing istikharah prayer to seek guidance for marriage and work can be done at different times or repeatedly. Because the answer from istikharah prayer does not always come immediately, so surrender all your problems to Allah SWT.

3. Best Time for Istikhara Prayer

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Next is to know the best time to perform Istikhara prayer. We can do it whenever needed to make a decision for Istikhara prayer.

When confused in making a choice, Muslims are advised to perform the voluntary prayer of Istikhara. By performing Istikhara prayer, we seek guidance from Allah SWT for the best choice. However, you can perform Istikhara prayer at the following best times:

- First Third of the Night

When you want to perform Istikhara prayer, you can do it in the first third of the night, which is when the time for Isha enters until 10:00 PM.

- Second Third of the Night

The next best time is the second third of the night, which starts from 10:00 PM until 01:00 AM. During this time, the atmosphere of the night is usually calmer, so when performing Istikhara prayer, it will be more focused and concentrated.

- Third Third of the Night

The third third of the night begins at 01:00 AM and ends before the time of Fajr prayer. Not only Istikhara, but the best time to perform other voluntary night prayers is also during this time.

4. Intention for Istikharah Prayer

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Intention is a part of the obligatory prayer that must be done. This includes voluntary prayers such as Istikharah prayer. In Istikharah prayer, the wording of the intention is as follows:

"Ushalli sunatan istikharati ro'ataini lillahi ta'ala"

which means: I intend to perform Istikharah prayer, two rak'ahs, for the sake of Allah Ta'ala.

5. Procedure for Istikharah Prayer

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The procedure for Istikharah prayer is the same as the obligatory or voluntary 2-rak'ah prayers. Here is the procedure for Istikharah prayer that you can follow:

- Recite the intention for Istikharah prayer

- Recite takbiratul ihram, followed by the recitation of the opening supplication

- Recite Surah Al-Fatihah

- Recite a short surah from the Quran, but it is preferable to recite Surah Al-Kafirun

- Perform ruku' with tranquility

- Perform itidal with tranquility

- Perform sujud with tranquility

- Sit between the two prostrations with tranquility

- Perform the second prostration with tranquility

Procedure for the second rak'ah of Istikharah prayer

- Recite Surah Al-Fatihah

- Recite a surah from the Quran, preferably Surah Al-Ikhlas

- Perform ruku' with tranquility

- Perform itidal with tranquility

- Perform sujud with tranquility

- Sit between the two prostrations

- Perform the second prostration with tranquility

- Perform the final sitting with tranquility

- Conclude with the Salam

6. Prayer of Istikhara

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After performing istikharah prayer, it is recommended to recite the istikharah prayer supplication in order to obtain guidance from Allah. Here is the supplication for istikharah prayer:

"Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as-aluka min fadhlika, fa innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa laa a'lamu, wa anta 'allaamul ghuyub."

"Allahumma fa-in kunta ta'lamu hadzal amro (mention the issue faced) khoiron lii fii 'aajili amrii wa aajilih (aw fii diinii wa ma'aasyi wa 'aqibati amrii) faqdur lii, wa yassirhu lii, tsumma baarik lii fiihi."

"Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu annahu syarrun lii fii diini wa ma'aasyi wa 'aqibati amrii (fii 'aajili amri wa aajilih) fash-rifnii 'anhu, waqdur liil khoiro haitsu kaana tsumma rodh-dhinii bih."

Meaning: O Allah, indeed, I seek goodness from You with Your knowledge, I seek ability from You with Your power, and I ask from You by Your Great bounty. Indeed, You have power and I have no power, You have knowledge and I have no knowledge, You are the One who knows the unseen matters.

O Allah, if You know that this matter (mention the issue faced) is good for me in my religion, my life, and the outcome of my affairs, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it.

And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my life, and the outcome of my affairs, then distance it from me, distance me from it, and decree for me whatever is best, then make me content with it.

7. Signs of Allah's Answer after Prayer of Istikhara

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The solution or answer to the problem faced cannot immediately appear. Instead, it comes through a process that can provide the best guidance for the difficult problem or choice. Many people think that the signal or sign of the answer to the problem faced comes through dreams after performing the prayer of Istikhara.

However, this assumption is actually not quite accurate, because the answer to the prayer of Istikhara is actually already contained in the prayer itself. The prayer of Istikhara includes phrases like 'make the path easy', 'distance it from me and distance me from it'. Yes, that is actually the signal of the answer from the prayer of Istikhara.

So if after performing the prayer of Istikhara, the problem becomes easy, the problem becomes close and smooth, and one feels peaceful, that is the signal of the answer given by Allah SWT in the problem being faced.

That is the procedure of the prayer of Istikhara along with its intention, virtues, and signals from Allah SWT. May all the problems you face receive the best guidance from HIM.

(kpl/dhm)