Prayer
How to Perform Salat al-Istikhara
Shaykh Muḥammad Nasir al-Dīn al-Albānī explains that istikhāra is for someone who has already made a decision, not for removing confusion. He clarifies that the duʿā is recited after the taslīm, and repeating the prayer is only permitted if the initial prayer lacked proper attention.
Questioner:
A student successfully passed his first year at High School. And, now, he wants to go to the second year in either branch of science or branch of literature. However, he does not tend to favour any of them i.e. he leans towards each of them with a percentage of 50%, 50%. So what should he say in his istikhāra (i.e. duʿā)?
Shaykh al-Albānī:
What I understand from your question is that he has no eagerness. Therefore, there is no istikhāra upon him. Then, if my understanding is correct, so my answer is correct. And if my understanding is incorrect, so correct it!
Questioner:
Jazāk Allāhū Khayran yā Shaykh (may Allāh reward you with good O’ Shaykh).
Shaykh al-Albānī:
Wa iyyāk.
Questioner:
But he is confused. Thus he is in need of Istikhāra, because he is confused.
Shaykh al-Albānī:
No! Al-istikhāra does not remove confusion. Al-istikhāra is after a person has firmly taken the decision to do a certain thing. So, here, the istikhāra can be performed.
Al-istikhāra is not legislated in order to dispel doubt or uncertainty concerning a matter which the Muslim has not yet taken a decision.
Is the answer clear?
Questioner:
Yes Shaykh.
Shaykh al-Albānī:
Ok.
Questioner:
Does the duʿā of istikhāra come before the taslīm (final salutation in the ṣalāt) or after?
Shaykh al-Albānī
After the taslīm.
Questioner:
After the taslīm?
Shaykh al-Albānī
Yes!
Questioner:
Jazāk Allāhū Khayran
Questioner:
A person wants to make istikhāra on a certain matter. Thus, is it permissible for him to repeat ṣalāt al-istikhāra?
Shaykh al-Albānī
It is authorized if his ṣalāt is not legislated. And it is sufficient for the ṣalāt to be not legislated that he makes istikhāra to Allāh with his words and not with his heart. And he, in himself, is aware of this lack of attention; therefore, he is forced to repeat it. And if he has not felt such thing so he has innovated (if he repeats it).
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