8/31. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1538 — Istikhara Dua for Seeking Allah's Choice
Regarding Istikharah
Istikhara Dua Hadith: Seeking Allah's Choice Before a Decision
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1538
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1538
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ، خَالُ الْقَعْنَبِيِّ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى - الْمَعْنَى وَاحِدٌ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي الْمَوَالِ، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَلِّمُنَا الاِسْتِخَارَةَ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ لَنَا " إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ وَلْيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ - يُسَمِّيهِ بِعَيْنِهِ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ - خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَمَعَادِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُهُ شَرًّا لِي مِثْلَ الأَوَّلِ فَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ " . أَوْ قَالَ " فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ " . قَالَ ابْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ وَابْنُ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ .
Jabir b. 'Abd Allah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the supplication for isthikharah (seeking what us beneficial from Allah) as he would teach us a surah (chapter) from the Qur'an. He would tell us: When one of you intends to do a work, he should offer two supererogatory rak'ahs of prayer, and then say (at the end of the prayer): "O Allah, I seek Your choice on the better (of the two matters) based upon Your knowledge, and I seek Your decree based upon Your power, and I ask You for Your great bounties. For Indeed, You are the One Who Decrees, and I do not decree, and You know, and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the Unseen.O Allah, if you know this, and You are the Knower of the Unseen. O Allah, if you know this - here he should name exactly what he wishes - is better for me with regard to my religion, and my life, and my afterlife, and the end result of my affairs, then decree it to me, and make it easy for me, and bless me on it. O Allah, and if You know this to be evil for me - and he says just as he said the first time - then avert it for me, and avert me from it. And decree for me good wherever it might be, the make me content with it." A version goes: "If the work is good immediately or subsequently."Ibn Maslamah and Ibn 'Isa reported from Muhammad b. al-Munkadir on the authority of Jabir.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1538In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 123English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1533
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1538
This istikhara dua hadith gives a detailed way to seek what is beneficial from Allah. Jabir ibn Abdullah said the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught them istikhara as he taught a surah from the Qur'an. When a person intends to do a matter, he should pray two voluntary rak'ahs and then ask Allah for the better choice through His knowledge and power. The dua asks that if the matter is good for one's religion, life, afterlife, and end result, Allah decree it, make it easy, and bless it. If it is bad, the dua asks Allah to turn it away and give good wherever it may be, then make the person content with it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Istikhara is made when a person intends to do a matter.
- The hadith mentions two voluntary rak'ahs before the supplication.
- The dua asks Allah for what is good and for contentment with His decree.
