ON ISTIKHARAH (REQUESTING FOR WHAT IS BEST)
In this chapter, we will discuss such points which will enlighten our eyes and give a sense of peace to the hearts of the respected readers.[1] ‘Breezes from a hidden world’[2] which will result in obtaining ‘The Keys to Relief’[3] and attaining the position of ‘Illumination’[4] and will provide you with the power and capability for ‘Opening the Doors’[5] that were shut.
Almighty Allah granted this favour upon us so that we attain ‘Guidance of the Seekers of Truth’[6]. And those narrations that have been narrated from the Master and Leader of the Material and Spiritual World regarding ‘Istekhara’[7]will be mentioned here for the ‘Guidance of those who seek guidance’[8]. And if you are among those who have interest, these are the ‘Keys of the Unseen’[9] which are now in your hands. Take it and consider it a great opportunity.
Though, its necessity is that you should learn the conditions of ‘Istekhara’[10] in order to understand the ‘Methods of the seeker of Istekhara’[11] and make use of the ‘Hidden Keys and the Lamps of Revelation’[12].
As Istekhara is also a form of supplication, and we have mentioned the ethics of supplication in the book’s preface, you may refer to the Preface to gain additional information regarding it. The following points should be mentioned with the intention of emphasising on this issue:
One of the important issues which must be necessarily observed by a person who supplicates or performs Istekhara is the purification of heart from those things which result in the wrath of Allah, and one should obtain certainty and satisfaction because this is the very basis of supplication and seeking means. If Istekhara is performed observing its ethics and conditions, then it should be understood that holding the units of the beads is not in the hands of the one who seeks Istekhara but is in the hands of Allah himself, from whom the best is sought.
Hence, if Istekhara is performed in the correct way, then the holding of beads, selection of one of the letters, or opening of one of the pages of Quran, all of these will be done by the will and choice of Allah, not by the choice and selection of the person seeking Istekhara; and if it is not performed as per the ethics and necessary conditions, then it will be reckoned valueless.
Therefore, the seeker of Istekhara must clean his heart and gain certainty so that he becomes capable of turning towards Allah (S.W.T.); without certainty and satisfaction, his Istekhara will be worthless.
Honorable Sayyid, Ali bin Taoos (R.A.), writes regarding the conditions of a few men that:
A few common people do not have certainty and the power of cognition and satisfaction in their hearts towards the Owner of the Day of Resurrection; because their inner souls only accept the suggestion of someone they can witness by naked eyes and whom they are familiar with, and such a person should live between the people; and as we cannot witness Allah with naked eyes and such people cannot recognize him or gain familiarity with him, they remain deprived of obtaining the taste of relying upon Allah. Most importantly, they are so narrow-minded that they do not find any benefit in seeking the advice of Allah (S.W.T.).
ومَن يكُ ذا فم مرّ مريض يجد مرّاً به الماء الزلالا
(One whose tongue is bitter, pure and clean water will also taste bitter to him).
These are the ones whom Imam Ali (A.S.) has described in one of his sermons saying:
همجٌ رعاع ، لايعبأ اللَّه بهم ، أتباع كلّ ناعق وناعقة .
These disgraced and inferior men, may Allah not pay attention towards them, go after each and every voice and begin show obedience towards it.[13]
[1] In the introduction of this chapter, the respected author has made use of the art of ‘Barat’at e Istehlaal’ like the Arts of Eloquence, and in the context of this introduction, he has mentioned the names of the books of those Islamic scholars who have penned down books regarding Istekhara.
[2]Rawa’ehul Ghayb fi Raf’it Tardeed war Rayb; written by: Maula Abdun Nabi bin Abdur Razzaq (R.A.).
[3]Miftahul Faraj fil Istekharaat; written by: Ameer Mohamamad Husain Khatoon Abadi (R.A.)
[4]Al Inaaratu an Ma’aaniyal Istekhara; Sheikh Mohammad bin Faiz Kashani (R.A.)
[5]Fat’hul Abwaab baina Zawil Albab wa baina Rabbil Arbaab fil Istekharaat; Ali bin Taoos (R.A.)
[6]Irshadul Mus’tabsireen fil Istekharaat; Sayyid Abdullah Shabbar (R.A.)
[7]Al Istekharaat; It’s the name of a number of books written by different Islamic scholars and clerics, namely:
- Sheikh Ahmad bin Salih Bahrani (R.A.)
- Ahmad bin Abdus Salaam Bahrani (R.A.)
- Sheikh Abul Hasan Sulayman Mahawzi Bahrani (R.A.)
- Sayyid Ali bin Mohammad Husaini Maybdi Yazdi (R.A.)
- Sheikh Mirza Abul Ma’aali Kalbasi (R.A.)
- Sayyid Mirza Mohammad Husain Mar’ashi, known as Shahristani (R.A.)
[8]Hidayatul Mustarshideen fil Istesharah wal Istekhara; Hasan bin Mohammad Salih Naseeri Toosi (R.A.)
[9]Mafatihul Ghayb fil Istekhara; Allama Majlisi
[10]Al Istekhara; Abun Nazr Mohammad bin Mas’ood Ayyashi (R.A.) (Author of Tafseer e Ayyashi)
[11]Minhajul Mustakheer; Haj Mirza Mohammad Husain Husaini Tabrizi (R.A.)
[12]Miftahul Ghayb wa Misbahul Wahy; Sayyid Mahdi Ghurayfi (R.A.)
For further knowledge regarding the books written on ‘Istekhara’, please refer to the preface of the book ‘Fathul Abwaab’.
[13] Fathul Abwaab: p. 300
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