Question Summary:
If I open the Qur’an and pick an Ayat, is that a way of doing Istikhara?

Question Detail:

I have been taught istikhara you make by open the Holy Qur’an randomly, then look for any sign or verse in the page that I have choose to give  a hint to help make a decision. Is this shortened version of istikhara?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Istikhara means to seek Divine guidance. It is a dua in which a person seeks the guidance of Allah. The procedure of Istikhara is;
 
•        Make ablution (wudhu)
•        Observe two Rak`aat voluntary Salaah
•        Recite the following dua:
 
 
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدِرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ (البخارى ج12 ص515 #6382 دار البشائر الإسلامية)
Transliteration: Allaahumma inni astakheeruka bi ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, Wa as’aluka min fadlikal azeem Fa innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu wa laa a’lamu, Wa anta allaamul ghuyoob. Allaahumma, in kunta ta’lamu anna haadhal amra* khairun lee fee deenee wa ma’aashi wa aaqibati amree faqdirhu lee wa yas sirhu lee thumma barik lee feehi, Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadhal amra* shar-run lee fee deenee wa ma’ashee wa aaqibati amree fasrifhu annee wasrifnee anhu. Waqdir liyal khayra haithu kaana thumma ardinee bihi.’
Translation: O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this matter* is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter, then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this matter* is harmful to me in my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter, then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, and make me satisfied with it. (Bukhari Vol.12 Pg.515 #6382 Darul Bashairl Islamiyya)
It is not necessary but recommended that Istikhara be repeated for seven days until the person feels an inclination towards a specific decision. It is not necessary to see a dream. If one is unable to perform the Salah, the dua will suffice. It is also recommended that one sleeps whilst in the state of wudhu facing the Qiblah after reciting the dua[1].
Note: * When making the dua and reaching the words “hadhal amra” (this matter), you should think deliberate on the actual issue and decision in question.
 
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Immad Bin Arshad
Student Darul Iftaa
California, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net