And he has failed who instills it ˹with corruption˺.

وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسَّاهَا

And they requested victory from Allah, and disappointed, ˹therefore˺, was every obstinate tyrant.

وَاسْتَفْتَحُوا وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ

And ˹all˺ faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. And he will have failed who carries injustice.

وَعَنَتِ الْوُجُوهُ لِلْحَيِّ الْقَيُّومِ ۖ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ حَمَلَ ظُلْمًا

The hadith is narrated in full length.

«كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ» وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِطُولِهِ

Moses said to the magicians summoned by Pharaoh, "Woe to you! Do not invent a lie against Allah or He will exterminate you with a punishment; and he has failed who invents ˹such falsehood˺."

قَالَ لَهُمْ مُوسَىٰ وَيْلَكُمْ لَا تَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا فَيُسْحِتَكُمْ بِعَذَابٍ ۖ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ افْتَرَىٰ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "One of the happinesses of the son of Adam is to seek Allah's guidance (Istikhara), and one of the miseries of the son of Adam is to abandon seeking Allah's guidance (Istikhara)."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «مِنْ سَعَادَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ اسْتِخَارَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَمِنْ شَقَاوَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ تَرْكُهُ اسْتِخَارَةَ اللَّهِ»

الْأَضْحَى رَكْعَتَانِ وَصَلَاةُ الْجُمُعَةِ رَكْعَتَانِ وَصَلَاةُ الْفِطْرِ رَكْعَتَانِ وَصَلَاةُ الْمُسَافِرِ رَكْعَتَانِ تَمَامٌ غَيْرُ قَصْرٍ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكُمْ وَقَدْ خَابَ ... مَنِ افْتَرَى

The prayer when travelling is two rakʿahs, the prayer of [Eid] ul-Adha is two rakʿahs, the prayer of [Eid] ul-Fitr is two rakʿahs and the prayer of Jumuʿah is two rakʿahs, complete not shortened, as stated by Muhammad ﷺ, Sufyan said: On one occasion Zubaid said: I think he was narrating it from ʼUmar. ‘Abdur-Rahman said: Without a doubt. Yazeed - i.e., bin Haroon bin Abi Laila - said: l heard ʿUmar. (Using translation from Aḥmad 257)

الْأَضْحَى رَكْعَتَانِ وَصَلَاةُ الْفِطْرِ رَكْعَتَانِ وَصَلَاةُ الْجُمُعَةِ رَكْعَتَانِ وَصَلَاةُ الْمُسَافِرِ رَكْعَتَانِ تَمَامٌ غَيْرُ قَصْرٍ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيَّكُمْ ﷺ وَقَدْ خَابَ ... مَنِ افْتَرَى»

'From (the signs of) the son of Adam's prosperity, is his satisfaction with what Allah decreed for him, and from the son of Adam's misery is his avoiding to request guidance from Allah, and from the son of Adam's misery is his anger with what Allah decreed for him."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ رِضَاهُ بِمَا قَضَى اللَّهُ لَهُ وَمِنْ شَقَاوَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ تَرْكُهُ اسْتِخَارَةَ اللَّهِ وَمِنْ شَقَاوَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ سَخَطُهُ

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أول ما يحاسب به العبد صلاته فإن صلحت فقد أفلح وأنجح وإن أساء فقد خاب وخسر وَهَذَا الحديثُ لا نَعْلَمُ لَهُ طَرِيقًا عَنْ أبي هريرة ؓ أحسن من هذا الطريق

'From (the signs of) the son of Adam's prosperity, is his satisfaction with what Allah decreed for him, and from the son of Adam's misery is his avoiding to request guidance from Allah, and from the son of Adam's misery is his anger with what Allah decreed for him." (Using translation from Tirmidhī 2151)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ اسْتِخَارَتُهُ اللهَ وَمِنْ سَعَادَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ رِضَاهُ بِمَا قَضَى اللهُ وَمِنْ شِقْوَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ تَرْكُهُ اسْتِخَارَةَ اللهِ

[Machine] And by Allah, if I meet him, I do not expect you to find him on the Day of Judgment standing by the pool of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, warding off the hypocrites with a staff made of 'Ausaj'. This was narrated to me by the trustworthy and truthful one, peace be upon him. Woe to the one who fabricates such lies!

«وَاللَّهِ إِنْ لَقِيتُهُ وَمَا أَحْسَبُكَ تَلَقَّاهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَتَجِدَهُ قَائِمًا عَلَى حَوْضِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَذُودُ عَنْهُ رَايَاتِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ بِيَدِهِ عَصًا مِنْ ... عَوْسَجٍ» حَدَّثَنِيهِ الصَّادِقُ الْمَصْدُوقُ ﷺ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنَ افْتَرَى

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أول ما يحاسب به العبد صلاته فإن صلحت فقد أفلح وأنجح وإن أساء فقد خاب وخسر ولا نعلم يروى هذا الخبر إلاَّ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ وتميم الداري ؓ شُتَيْر بن

"إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا يُحَاسَبُ به الْعبْدُ يَوم الْقِيامةِ مِن عملِهِ صَلَاتُهُ، فَإِنْ صَلَحَتْ فَقَدْ أفْلَحَ وَنَجَحَ، وَإنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ، وَإنْ انْتَقَصَ مِنْ فَرِيضَتِهِ ... قَالَ الرَّبُّ: انْظُرُوا هَلْ لِعَبْدِى مِنْ تَطَوُّعُ فَيُكْمِل بِهَا مَا انْتَقَصَ منَ الفَريضَة، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ سَائِرُ عمَلِهِ عَلَى ذَلكَ".

[Machine] Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas and Abdullah ibn Umar, they said: The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , taught us Al-Istikharah (the prayer for seeking guidance) just as he taught us a chapter of the Qur'an. (O Allah, I seek Your guidance 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, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (mention your intention) is good for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge, this matter is bad for me both in this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs), then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it. And ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it).

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَعَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ «اللهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخْيِرُكَ ... بِعِلْمِكِ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللهُمَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ عَلِيَّ مِنْ قَضَاءٍ فَاجْعَلْ

ʿAli ؓ came to some of the people of Basrah who were Khawarij, among whom was a man called Al-Ja’d bin Ba’jah. He said to him: Fear Allah, O ‘Ali, for you are going to die ʿAli ؓ said: Rather I am going to be killed by a blow on this that will soak this - meaning his beard [would be soaked by blood from his head), a certain covenant and divine decree, And surely, he who invents a lie (against Allah) will fail miserably (cf 20:61). Then (the man) criticised ʿAli for the way he was dressed. He said: What does the way I am dressed have to do with you? It is furthest removed from arrogance and it is more appropriate for the Muslim to follow my example.

لَهُ اتَّقِ اللهَ يَا عَلِيُّ فَإِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ بَلْ مَقْتُولٌ ضَرْبَةٌ عَلَى هَذَا تَخْضِبُ هَذِهِ يَعْنِي لِحْيَتَهُ مِنْ رَأْسِهِ عَهْدٌ مَعْهُودٌ وَقَضَاءٌ مَقْضِيٌّ ... وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ افْتَرَى وَعَاتَبَهُ فِي لِبَاسِهِ فَقَالَ مَا لَكُمْ وَلِلِّبَاسِ هُوَ أَبْعَدُ مِنَ الْكِبْرِ وَأَجْدَرُ أَنْ يَقْتَدِيَ بِيَ الْمُسْلِمُ

"أتانى جبريلُ فقال: يا مُحمَّدُ: الإِسلامُ عشرة أَسْهمٍ، وخاب من لا سهمَ له، أوَّلها: شهادةُ أنْ لا إله إلَّا الله ، والثانى: الصلاةُ، وهى الطهْر ، والثالث: الزكاةُ وهى الفِطْرَةُ .

[Machine] The messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "A man will be pledged allegiance between the Rukn and the Maqam, with a number of the people of Badr. Then troops from the people of Iraq and the replaced ones from the people of Sham will come to him, and a group from the people of Sham will fight against them until they reach an open land, where they will be swallowed up. A man from the Quraysh, whose relatives are like dogs, will then come and fight against them, and he will defeat them." It was said that the one who fails is the one who fails in gaining the spoils of a dog.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُبَايَعُ لِرَجُلٍ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَالْمَقَامِ عِدَّةُ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَيَأْتِيهِ عَصَائِبُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَأَبْدَالُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَيَغْزُوَهُمْ جَيْشٌ مِنْ ... أَهْلِ الشَّامِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِالْبَيْدَاءِ خُسِفَ بِهِمْ يَغْزُوهُمْ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ أَخْوَالُهُ كَلْبٌ فَيَلْتَقُونَ فَيَهْزِمُهُمْ» فَكَانَ يُقَالُ الْخَائِبُ مَنْ ... خَابَ مِنْ غَنِيمَةِ كَلْبٍ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "A man will be pledged allegiance between the pillar and the Maqam with the number of the people of Badr. Then, the hordes of the people of Iraq and the replacements from Syria will come to him, and an army from Sham will attack them. They will continue fighting until they reach an open area where they will be swallowed up by the earth. Then, a man from Quraysh, his paternal uncles will be dogs, will come to them and they will be defeated by Allah." It was said that the one who fails in the share of the booty of a dog is called 'al-kha'ib.'

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يُبَايَعُ لِرَجُلٍ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَالْمَقَامِ عِدَّةُ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَيَأْتِيهِ عَصَائِبُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَأَبْدَالُ الشَّامِ فَيَغْزُوَهُمْ جَيْشٌ مِنْ ... قِبَلِ الشَّامِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِالْبَيْدَاءِ خُسِفَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَغْزُوهُمْ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ أَخْوَالُهُ كَلْبٌ فَيَلْتَقُونَ فَيَهْزِمُهُمُ اللهُ» فَكَانَ يُقَالُ الْخَائِبُ ... مَنْ خَابَ مِنْ غَنِيمَةِ كَلْبٍ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught us istikhara and said: When one of you wants to make a decision, let them say, "O Allah, I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek Your assistance by virtue of Your power, and I ask You from Your immense favor. For You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, then decree it for me and simplify it for me, and bless me with it. And if You know that this matter is not good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs, 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." And he would say this and then make a firm decision.

عَلَّمَنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الِاسْتِخَارَةَ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَلْيَقُلِ اللهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "A man from my Ummah will be given allegiance between the Rukn and the Maqam, just like the number of the people of Badr. Then, the tribes of Iraq and the replacements from Sham (Greater Syria) will come to him, and an army from Sham will also join them. When they are in the desert, they will be swallowed by the earth, and then a man from the Quraysh, with his uncles as leaders, will defeat them by the will of Allah." It is said that on that day, the one who is disgraced is the one who fails to acquire any wealth except that of a dog. Abu Al-Awam Imran's weakness was not alone, and he was an outsider.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يُبَايِعُ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَالْمَقَامِ كَعِدَّةِ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَيَأْتِيهِ عَصَبُ الْعِرَاقِ وَأَبْدَالُ الشَّامِ فَيَأْتِيهِمْ جَيْشٌ ... مِنَ الشَّامِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِالْبَيْدَاءِ خُسِفَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَسِيرُ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ أَخْوَالُهُ كَلْبٌ فَيَهْزِمُهُمُ اللَّهُ» قَالَ وَكَانَ يُقَالُ إِنَّ الْخَائِبَ ... يَوْمَئِذٍ مَنْ خَابَ مِنْ غَنِيمَةِ كَلْبٍ أبوالعوام عمران ضعفه غير واحد وكان خارجيا

[Machine] I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "If any one of you wants to do something, let him say: 'O Allah, I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [mention it] is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, and bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is not good for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.'"

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «إِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَلْيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Part of a servant's happiness is istikharah (his seeking guidance from his Lord) and his being pleased with what He has decreed, and part of a servant's misery is his abandoning istikharah and his displeasure with what Allah has decreed, or after the decree."

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْعَبْدِ اسْتِخَارَتُهُ رَبَّهُ وَرِضَاهُ بِمَا قَضَى وَمِنْ شَقَاءِ الْعَبْدِ تَرَكُهُ الِاسْتِخَارَةَ وَسَخَطُهُ مَا قَضَى اللَّهُ أَوْ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us the istikhara prayer: "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, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge this matter is good for me, both in my religion and in my livelihood, and in the consequences of my affairs, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my livelihood and in the consequences of my affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it. And ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it."

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ «اللهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ؛ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ

[Machine] "The light of it" (And the moon when it follows it) [The Sun 2] "It follows it" (And the daylight when it illuminates it) [The Sun 3] He said, "He lit it" (And the sky and He built it) [The Sun 5] He said, "Allah built the sky" (And the earth and what He spread) [The Sun 6] He said, "He spread it" He said, (And the soul and what He proportioned for it. Then He inspired it to its wickedness and righteousness) [The Sun 8] He said, "He knew its misery and happiness" (Indeed, successful is he who purifies it, and indeed, failed is he who corrupts it) [The Sun 9] He said, "He misled it"

وَمَا طَحَاهَا} [الشمس 6] قَالَ «دَحَاهَا» قَالَ {وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا} [الشمس 8] قَالَ «عَرَفَ شَقَاءَهَا وَسَعَادَتَهَا» {قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ ... زَكَّاهَا وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسَّاهَا} [الشمس 9] قَالَ «أَغْوَاهَا»

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Islam is composed of ten parts, and he who possesses no part of them has failed. The first part is the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and it is the foundation. The second is prayer, and it is the natural disposition. The third is the giving of zakat, and it is purification. The fourth is fasting, and it is protection. The fifth is Hajj, and it is the legislation. The sixth is jihad, and it is warfare. The seventh is enjoining what is right, and it is loyalty. The eighth is forbidding what is wrong, and it is proof. The ninth is the congregation, and it is unity. The tenth is obedience, and it is preservation.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْإِسْلَامُ عَشَرَةُ أَسْهُمٍ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ لَا سَهْمَ لَهُ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَهِيَ الْمِلَّةُ وَالثَّانِي الصَّلَاةُ وَهِيَ الْفِطْرَةُ

[Machine] On the authority of the Prophet, ﷺ , that whenever he sought guidance from Allah in a matter he intended to do, he would say, "O Allah, I seek Your guidance through Your knowledge, I seek Your capability through Your power, and I ask for Your favor. For You are capable and I am not, and You know and I do not know. You have knowledge of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in terms of my religion, my life, and the consequences of my affairs, then decree it for me and make it easy for me. And bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is not good for me, then divert me from it and ordain for me the goodness wherever it may be."

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا اسْتَخَارَ فِي الْأَمْرِ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَصْنَعَهُ يَقُولُ «اللهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ

He said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us istikharah: "O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge, and I seek ability by Your power, and I ask You from Your bounty and Your mercy, for it is in Your hand; no one besides You possesses it. Indeed, You know and I do not know, and You are able and I am not able, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if this matter that he intends is good for me, then grant him success and make it easy for him. But if it is otherwise, then decree good for me wherever it may be. Indeed, You know and I do not know, and You are able and I am not able, and You are the Knower of the unseen."

قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ وَرَحْمَتِكَ فَإِنَّهَا ... غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَاقْضِ لِي بِالْخَيْرِ حَيْثُ كَانَ فَإِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَتَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ وَهَذَا الْحَدِيثُ لَا نَعْلَمُهُ يُرْوَى مِنْ ... حَدِيثِ عَلْقَمَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مُسْنَدًا

[Machine] "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Keep the sermon secret, then perform ablution and perfect your ablution, then perform the prayer that Allah prescribed for you, then praise and glorify your Lord, then say: O Allah, You are able and I am not able, You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. So if You know that this matter (mention the matter) is good for me in my religion, my life, and the Hereafter, then decree it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is not good for me in my religion, my life, and the Hereafter, then divert it from me and divert me from it. And decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me satisfied with it." This is the Sunnah of the Istikhara prayer, a precious tradition that the people of Egypt have exclusively practiced, and their narrators until the end are trustworthy and have not been disputed."

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ اكْتُمِ الْخِطْبَةَ ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأْ فَأَحْسِنْ وُضُوءَكَ ثُمَّ صَلِّ مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكَ ثُمَّ احْمَدْ رَبَّكَ وَمَجِّدْهُ ثُمَّ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ ... وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ لِي فُلَانَةً تُسَمِّيهَا بِاسْمِهَا خَيْرًا لِي فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَايَ وَآخِرَتِي فَاقْدُرْهَا لِي وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرُهَا خَيْرًا لِي مِنْهَا ... فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَايَ وَآخِرَتِي فَاقْضِ لِي بِهَا أَوْ قُلْ «فَاقْدُرْهَا لِي» هَذِهِ سُنَّةُ صَلَاةِ الِاسْتِخَارَةِ عَزِيزَةٌ تَفَرَّدَ بِهَا أَهْلُ مِصْرَ ورُوَاتُهُ عَنْ آخِرِهِمْ

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." (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1538)

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ «إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالْأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ ... الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ لِيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ

وَالزَّكَاةُ سَهْمٌ وَحَجُّ الْبَيْتِ سَهْمٌ وَالصِّيَامُ سَهْمٌ وَالْأَمْرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ سَهْمٌ وَالنَّهْيُ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ سَهْمٌ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ سَهْمٌ وَقَدْ خَابَ ... مَنْ لَا سَهْمَ لَهُ وَأَخْبَرَنَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ صِلَةَ بْنِ زُفَرَ عَنْ

Jabir said, "The Prophet. may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to teach us the istikhara in matters just as if it was a sura of the Qur'an. He said, 'When someone is concerned about something, he should pray two rak'ats and then say, 'O Allah, I ask You for the good by Your knowledge and I ask You for strength by Your power and I ask You for some of Your immense abundant favour, You have the power and I do not. You know and I do not know. You are the Knower of the Unseen Worlds. O Allah, if You know that this affair is good for me in my deen, my livelihood and the end of my affair (or he said 'in the beginning of my affair') and its conclusion, then avert it from me and avert me from it. Decree for me the good wherever it is and then make me content." Then he should state what he needs.'"

عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الأُمُورِ كَالسُّورَةِ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ إِذَا هَمَّ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ ... إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ

The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us the istikharah for each and every matter as he used to teach us the Surahs from the Quran: ˹he said,˺ "If anyone of you intends to do something, he should offer a two-rakah prayer and then say:

allāhumma inni astakhīruka bi-ʿilmika, wa-astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa-asʾaluka min fadlik al-ʿaẓīm, fa-innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa-taʿlamu wa-la aʿlamu, wa anta ʿallām al-ghuyūb;

allāhumma in kunta taʿlamu anna [hādhā al-amra] khayrun lī fī dīni wa-maʿāshī wa-ʿāqibati amrī," or said, "fi ʿājili amrī wa-ājilihī, fa-uqdurhu lī, wa-in kunta taʿlamu anna [hādhā al-amra] sharrun lī fī dīni wa-maʿāshī wa-ʿāqibati amrī," or said, "fī ʿājili amri wa-ʿājilihī fa-iṣrifhu ʿannī wa-iṣrifnī ʿanhu wa-uqdur līya al-khayra ḥaythu kāna, thumma raḍḍini bi-hī."

(O Allah! I seek ˹Your help˺ in making a choice through Your knowledge, and seek the ability ˹to do so˺ through Your Power, and I ask You for Your Great Blessings. For You are capable and I am not. You know ˹better˺, and I do not, and You know the ˹matters of the˺ unseen.

O Allah! If You know that [such a matter] is good for me, my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter..." or he said, "for my short-term ˹goals˺ as well as the long-term ˹goals˺, then ordain it for me and make its ˹path˺ easy for me and then bestow Your blessings upon it. If You know that [such a matter] is bad for me, my religion, my livelihood, and for my Hereafter..." or he said, "for my short-term ˹goals˺ as well as my long-term ˹goals˺, then remove it from ˹my path,˺ and remove me from ˹its path˺ and ˹instead˺ ordain for me good, whatever it may be, and let me be content with it.)"

and he should name his need. (in place of what is mentioned in brackets.

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الاِسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا كَالسُّورَةِ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ: «إِذَا هَمَّ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ:

***اللَّهُمَّ ... إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ؛ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ

Part of a person's happiness is istikharah (his seeking guidance from his Lord) and his being pleased with what He has decreed, and part of a person's misery is his abandoning istikharah and his displeasure after the decree.

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمَرْءِ اسْتِخَارَتُهُ رَبَّهُ وَرِضَاهُ بِمَا قَضَى وَمِنْ شَقَاءِ الْمَرْءِ تَرْكُهُ الِاسْتِخَارَةَ وَسَخَطُهُ بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ وَهَذَا ... عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَحَدَّثَنَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى قَالَ نَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ نَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us istikharah: "O Allah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge, and I seek ability by Your power, and I ask You from Your bounty and Your mercy, for both are in Your hand; no one possesses them besides You. Indeed, You know and I do not know, You are able and I am not able, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if this matter—the matter that You want—is good for me in my religion and in my worldly life" I think he said: "and the outcome of my affair." "Then direct it and make it easy. And if other than that is better, then direct me to the good" I think he said: "wherever it may be."

قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ وَرَحْمَتِكَ فَإِنَّهُمَا ... وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَوَفِّقْهُ وَسَهِّلْهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ خَيْرًا فَوَفِّقْنِي لِلْخَيْرِ أَحْسَبُهُ قَالَ حَيْثُ كَانَ وَهَذَا الْحَدِيثُ لَا نَعْلَمُ رَوَاهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ ... حَدِيثِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا صَالِحُ بْنُ مُوسَى وَلَمْ نَسْمَعْهُ إِلَّا مِنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ وَصَالِحٌ فَلَيْسَ بِالْقَوِيِّ

[Machine] He inherits her in terms of inheritance, but she does not inherit him. This is a discontinued narration that Maghira did not hear from anyone except from Ibrahim. It is only mentioned by Ubaydah from Ibrahim, and Ubaydah ad-Dabbabi is weak and Ubaydah did not mention it to Umar in the narration of Yahya al-Qattan from him. It was only mentioned by Ibrahim and Ash-Sha'bi from Shurayh, but Umar is not mentioned in it. Abu Sa'id ibn Abi Amr informed us, Abu al-Abbas al-Asamm said, that Ar-Rabi' said, that Ash-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him, sought guidance from Allah concerning it, meaning the Mabtuta. Ar-Rabi' said, and this is the statement of Ibn az-Zubayr and Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf. He divorced her with the condition that she does not inherit him if Allah wills, and Allah knows best.

تَرِثُهُ فِي الْعِدَّةِ وَلَا يَرِثُهَا وَهَذَا مُنْقَطِعٌ وَلَمْ يَسْمَعْهُ مُغِيرَةُ مِنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّمَا قَالَ ذَكَرَ عُبَيْدَةُ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عُمَرَ وَعُبَيْدَةُ ... عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالشَّعْبِيِّ عَنْ شُرَيْحٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ عُمَرُ ؓ 15132 أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدِ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرٍو نا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ الْأَصَمُّ قَالَ قَالَ الرَّبِيعُ قَدِ اسْتَخَارَ

[Machine] A delegation from the people of Basra arrived to Ali, and among them was a man from the Khawarij known as Al-Jaad bin Na'jah. He praised and thanked Allah and sent blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , then he said, "Fear Allah, O Ali, for indeed you are going to die." Ali replied, "No, but I am going to be killed by a blow on this head that will stain this turban." Ali pointed towards his head and beard with his hand and said, "It is a predestined fate and a promised covenant, and whoever claims otherwise is mistaken." Then he criticized Ali's clothing, to which Ali replied, "If I had worn clothing better than this, it would have made me more distant from humility, and I am more deserving that Muslims follow my example." Al-Dhahabi remained silent about this incident in his summary.

قَدِمَ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ وَفْدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ وَفِيهِمْ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْخَوَارِجِ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْجَعْدُ بْنُ نَعْجَةَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَصَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ... عَلِيٌّ «لَا وَلَكِنِّي مَقْتُولٌ ضَرْبَةً عَلَى هَذَا تُخَضِّبُ هَذِهِ» قَالَ وَأَشَارَ عَلِيٌّ إِلَى رَأْسِهِ وَلِحْيَتِهِ بِيَدِهِ «قَضَاءٌ مَقْضِيٌّ وَعَهْدٌ مَعْهُودٌ وَقَدْ خَابَ ... مَنَ افْتَرَى» ثُمَّ عَابَ عَلِيًّا فِي لِبَاسِهِ فَقَالَ لَوْ لَبِسْتُ لِبَاسًا خَيْرًا مِنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ «إِنَّ لِبَاسِي هَذَا أَبْعَدُ لِي مِنَ الْكِبْرِ وَأَجْدَرُ أَنْ يَقْتَدِيَ

So narrate a hadith to me which you heard from Messenger of Allah ﷺ so that perhaps Allah would cause me to benefit from it.'

رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَنْفَعَنِي بِهِ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ صَلاَتُهُ ... فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ وَأَنْجَحَ وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ فَإِنِ انْتَقَصَ مِنْ فَرِيضَتِهِ شَيْءٌ قَالَ الرَّبُّ ﷻ انْظُرُوا هَلْ لِعَبْدِي مِنْ تَطَوُّعٍ فَيُكَمَّلَ ... بِهَا مَا انْتَقَصَ مِنَ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ يَكُونُ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ تَمِيمٍ الدَّارِيِّ

So tell me a Hadith that you heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, so that Allah might benefit me from it.

رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَنْفَعَنِي بِهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ بِصَلاَتِهِ فَإِنْ صَلَحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ ... وَأَنْجَحَ وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ قَالَ هَمَّامٌ لاَ أَدْرِي هَذَا مِنْ كَلاَمِ قَتَادَةَ أَوْ مِنَ الرِّوَايَةِ فَإِنِ انْتَقَصَ مِنْ فَرِيضَتِهِ شَىْءٌ قَالَ انْظُرُوا ... هَلْ لِعَبْدِي مِنْ تَطَوُّعٍ فَيُكَمَّلُ بِهِ مَا نَقَصَ مِنَ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ يَكُونُ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ عَلَى نَحْوِ ذَلِكَ خَالَفَهُ أَبُو الْعَوَّامِ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "There will be disputes upon the death of a caliph, and a man from the Banu Hashim tribe will come out from Madinah to Mecca. People will come to him and pledge allegiance to him between the corner and the Maqam (in Mecca), although he will not be willing. He will prepare an army from Sham (Greater Syria) until they reach the open desert, where they will be swallowed by the earth. Then, the battalions of the people of Iraq and the replacements from Sham will come to him, and a man from Sham will gather his relatives. He will prepare an army against them, but Allah will defeat them, and the circle (of power) will be around them. This will be the Day of Kalb (the tribe). Those who fail from the spoils of war of Kalb will be disappointed, and he will unearth treasures and distribute wealth. Islam will be thrown down by him to the ground and live like that for seven or six years." Ubaidullah said: "So, I reported it to Laith, and he said: Mujaheed narrated it to me."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يَكُونُ اخْتِلَافٌ عِنْدَ مَوْتِ خَلِيفَةٍ فَيَخْرُجُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَيَجِيئُهُ نَاسٌ فَيُبَايِعُونَهُ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ ... وَالْمَقَامِ وَهُوَ كَارِهٌ فَيُجَهَّزُ لَهُمْ جَيْشًا مِنَ الشَّامِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِالْبَيْدَاءِ خُسِفَ بِهِمْ فَيَأْتِيهِمْ عَصَائِبُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَأَبْدَالُ الشَّامِ ... وَيَنْشُو رَجُلٌ بِالشَّامِ أَخْوَالُهُ كَلْبٌ فَيُجَهِّزُ إِلَيْهِمْ جَيْشًا فَيَهْزِمُهُمُ اللهُ وَتَكُونُ الدَّائِرَةُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَذَلِكَ يَوْمُ كَلْبٍ وَالْخَائِبُ مَنْ خَابَ

So tell me a Hadith that you heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, so that Allah might benefit me from it.

رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ لَعَلَّ اللهَ أَنْ يَنْفَعَنِي بِهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ الْعَبْدُ بِصَلَاتِهِ فَإِنْ صَلَحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ وَأَنْجَحَ وَإِنْ ... فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ» قَالَ هَمَّامٌ لَا أَدْرِي هَذَا مِنْ كَلَامِ قَتَادَةَ أَوْ مِنَ الرِّوَايَةِ وَإِنِ انْتَقَصَ مِنْ فَرِيضَتِهِ شَيْئًا قَالَ انْظُرُوا هَلْ لِعَبْدِي ... مِنْ تَطَوُّعٍ؟ فَيُكَمَّلُ مَا نَقَصَ مِنَ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ يَكُونُ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ عَلَى نَحْوٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ

[Machine] A delegation from the people of Basra, including a man from the leaders of the Khawarij called Al-Ja'd ibn Ba'jat arrived to see Ali (may Allah have mercy on him). This man addressed the people and praised and glorified Allah. Then he said, "O Ali, fear Allah for you are going to die, and you know the path of the righteous, meaning Umar." Ali (may ﷺ ) replied, "No, by the One whose hand my soul is in, I am not going to die. Rather, I was killed with a strike here (pointing to his head) that will forever make this a known and settled matter, and there is a promised covenant. Whoever claims otherwise has indeed been deceived." Then he rebuked him about his attire and asked, "What prevents you from wearing proper clothing?" The man replied, "What concern is it of yours if I wear this attire?" Ali said, "This attire of mine is far from arrogance, and it is more fitting that Muslims should follow my example."

قَدِمَ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ وَفْدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ مِنْهُمْ رَجُلٌ مِنْ رُءُوسِ الْخَوَارِجِ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْجَعْدُ بْنُ بَعْجَةَ فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ ... مَيِّتٌ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَا وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ بَلْ مَقْتُولًا قَتْلًا ضَرْبَةٌ عَلَى هَذَا تَخْضِبُ هَذِهِ قَضَاءٌ مَقْضِيٌّ وَعَهْدٌ مَعْهُودٌ وَقَدْ خَابَ ... مَنِ افْتَرَى ثُمَّ عَاتَبَهُ فِي لُبُوسِهِ فَقَالَ مَا يَمْنَعُكَ أَنْ تَلْبَسَ؟ قَالَ مَا لَكَ وَلِلِبُوسِي إِنَّ لُبُوسِي هَذَا أَبْعَدُ مِنَ الْكِبْرِ وَأَجْدَرُ أَنْ يَقْتَدِيَ

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us Istikharah, just as he used to teach us a Surah of the Qur’an. He said: ‘If anyone of you is deliberating about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two Rak’ah of non- obligatory prayer, then say: Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’aluka min fadlikal-‘azim, fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta’lamu wa la a’lam, wa Anta ‘allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu hadhal-amra (then the matter should be mentioned by name) ma kan min shay’in khairan li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri, aw khairanli fi ‘ajili amri wa ajilihi, faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li wa barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta’lamu [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, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, or both in this world and in the Hereafter then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge]. Then saying similar to what he said the first time, except: Wa in kana sharran li fasrifhu ‘anni wasrifni ‘anhu waqdur li al-khair haithuma kana thumma raddini bihi (If it is bad for me then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it).’”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الاِسْتِخَارَةَ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ... وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ هَذَا الأَمْرَ فَيُسَمِّيهِ مَا كَانَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ خَيْرًا لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ خَيْرًا لِي ... فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ يَقُولُ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ فِي الْمَرَّةِ الأُولَى وَإِنْ كَانَ شَرًّا لِي فَاصْرِفْهُ

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." (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1538)

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الْأَمْرِ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ لَنَا إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالْأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ... مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللهُمَّ إِنَّى أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us the way of doing istikhārah (seeking Allah's help while making a choice), in all matters as he taught us the Surahs of the Quran. He said, "If anyone of you is concerned regarding a matter, he should offer a two-rakʿah Ṣalāh outside of the obligatory ones and should say:

allāhumma inni astakhīruka bi-ʿilmika, wa-astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa-asʾaluka min fadlik al-ʿaẓīm, fa-innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa-taʿlamu wa-la aʿlamu, wa anta ʿallām al-ghuyūb.

allāhumma in kunta taʿlamu anna {hādhā al-amra} khayrun lī fī dīni wa-maʿāshī wa-ʿāqibati amrī," or said, "fi ʿājili amrī wa-ājilihī, fa-uqdurhu lī wa-yassirhu lī, thumma bārik lī fīh; wa-in kunta taʿlamu anna {hādhā al-amra} sharrun lī fī dīni wa-maʿāshī wa-ʿāqibati amrī," or said, "fī ʿājili amri wa-ʿājilihī fa-iṣrifhu ʿannī wa-iṣrifnī ʿanhu, wa-uqdur līya al-khayra ḥaythu kāna, thumma arḍini bi-hī.

(O Allah! I seek ˹Your help˺ in making a choice through Your knowledge and seek the ability ˹to do so˺ through Your Power, and I ask You for Your Great Blessings. For You are capable and I am not. You know ˹better˺, and I do not, and You know the ˹matters of the˺ unseen."

O Allah! If You know that {such a matter} is good for me, my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter..." or he said, "for my short-term ˹goals˺ as well as my long-term ˹goals˺, then ordain it for me and make its ˹path˺ easy for me and then bestow Your blessings upon it. If You know that {such a matter} is bad for me, my religion, my livelihood, and for my Hereafter..." or he said, "for my short-term ˹goals˺ as well as my long-term ˹goals˺, then remove it from ˹my path,˺ and remove me from ˹its path˺ and ˹instead˺ ordain for me good, whatever it may be, and let me be content with it.)"

He said: he should name his need (in place of what is mentioned in brackets).

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُنَا الاِسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الأُمُورِ كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ: «إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ... مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ لِيَقُلِ:

***اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ۔ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ

(See Hadith No. 391, Vol. 8)

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعَلِّمُ أَصْحَابَهُ الاِسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا كَمَا يُعَلِّمُ السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ ... رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ لِيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ

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."

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ 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