Best Alternatives* [[-- Episode 2 --]]

 *Best Alternatives*

[[-- Episode 2 --]]
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

We have seen many people not getting what they wanted even by patronizing those who claim to have the knowledge of unseen. Yes. This goes to tell us that everything can only occur by Allah's permission.

And,

We have read that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Whoever goes to a fortune teller and asks him about something, his prayers will not be accepted for forty days” 📚Sahih Muslim

Muslim Faithful,

ISTIKHARAH is the only permissible way to seek for Allah's guidance in taking or making decisions. While ISTIKHARAH is permissible, patronizing anyone who claims to have the knowledge of unseen is shirk.

What's Istikharah?

Istikharah means seeking guidance as to what Allah knows is the best and most appropriate choice. Istikharah implies submission to the command of Allah and a practical demonstration that one has no power and no strength of one’s own.

It’s narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to teach the sahaba the istikhara for each and every matter as he used to teach the sahaba surahs from the Holy Qur'an 📚[Sahih al-Bukhari 6382]. The early generations would seek Allah’s guidance for many matters, including things that we may consider small.

How to pray istikhara
Istikhara involves praying two non-obligatory rak'ahs followed by a specific du'a, seeking Allah’s guidance after personal effort and consultation with others.

Now,

Below is the istikhara du’a in Arabic and English translation:

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 خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ

*Translation of the du’a of istikhara:*

O Allah, I seek Your guidance (in making a choice) by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, and I do not. You know, and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be and make me content with it 📚[Sahih al-Bukhari #6382]

*Note:*

If you can not say istikharah Du'a in Arabic, you can say it in English or any language (as translated above).

Now,

*Dream interpretation and istikhara*

Many cultures have linked dreams with answers to......

To be continued