Chapter on the Prayer of Seeking Guidance
Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām|Volume 3|Book 1|Chapter 16
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ اَلنَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى اَلْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ حُرَيْثٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ:« صَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ اِسْتَخِرِ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَوَاَللَّهِ مَا اِسْتَخَارَ اَللَّهَ مُسْلِمٌ إِلاَّ خَارَ اَللَّهُ لَهُ اَلْبَتَّةَ»
Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from Amr ibn Hurayth. He said:
Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “Pray two rak’ahs and seek guidance (istikharah) from Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, for by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, no Muslim ever seeks guidance from Allah سبحانه وتعالى except that Allah سبحانه وتعالى surely grants him the best outcome.”
- Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām fī Sharḥ al-Muqniʿah, vol. 3, p. 197
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tahdhīb
اَلْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ:« كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ اَلْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِمَا اَلسَّلاَمُ إِذَا هَمَّ بِأَمْرِ حَجٍّ أَوْ عُمْرَةٍ أَوْ بَيْعٍ أَوْ شِرَاءٍ أَوْ عِتْقٍ تَطَهَّرَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيِ اَلاِسْتِخَارَةِ يَقْرَأُ فِيهِمَا سُورَةَ اَلْحَشْرِ وَ سُورَةَ اَلرَّحْمَنِ ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ اَلْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ وَ« قُلْ هُوَ اَللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ« اَللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا خَيْراً لِي فِي دِينِي وَ دُنْيَايَ وَ آخِرَتِي وَ عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَ آجِلِهِ فَيَسِّرْهُ لِي عَلَى أَحْسَنِ اَلْوُجُوهِ وَ أَجْمَلِهَا اَللَّهُمَّ وَإِنْ كَانَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا شَرّاً لِي فِي دِينِي وَ دُنْيَايَ وَآخِرَتِي وَعَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي عَلَى أَحْسَنِ اَلْوُجُوهِ رَبِّ اِعْزِمْ لِي عَلَى رُشْدِي وَ إِنْ كَرِهْتُ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَبَتْهُ نَفْسِي»»
Al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Uthman ibn Isa from ‘Amru ibn Shimr from Jabir from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said:
Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام said: “When Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn عليه السلام, peace be upon them both, intended to perform the Hajj, or the ‘Umrah, or to engage in buying, or selling, or manumission (of a slave); Imam al-Husayn عليه السلام would perform ablution, then he would pray the two units (rak‘ahs) of the prayer of Istikharah, in which He عليه السلام would recite Surah al-Hashr and Surah al-Rahman. Then He عليه السلام would recite ‘al-Mu‘awwidhatayn’ (the two chapters of refuge) and ‘Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad’ (Surah al-Ikhlas). Then Imam al-Husayn عليه السلام would say: “O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, if such and such a matter is good for me in my religion, my worldly life, my hereafter, my immediate affairs, and my future ones, then facilitate it for me in the best and most beautiful manner. O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and if such and such a matter is bad for me in my religion, my worldly life, my hereafter, my immediate affairs, and my future ones, then turn it away from me in the best manner. My Lord سبحانه وتعالى, determine for me what is right, even if I dislike it or my soul refuses it.”
- Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām fī Sharḥ al-Muqniʿah, vol. 3, p. 197
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tahdhīb
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ اِبْنِ فَضَّالٍ قَالَ: سَأَلَ اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ اَلْجَهْمِ أَبَا اَلْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لاِبْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا تَرَى لَهُ وَ اِبْنُ أَسْبَاطٍ حَاضِرٌ وَ نَحْنُ جَمِيعاً يَرْكَبُ اَلْبَحْرَ أَوِ اَلْبَرَّ إِلَى مِصْرَ وَ أَخْبَرَهُ بِخَبَرِ طَرِيقِ اَلْبَرِّ فَقَالَ« فَأْتِ اَلْمَسْجِدَ فِي غَيْرِ وَقْتِ صَلاَةٍ فَرِيضَةٍ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ اِسْتَخِرِ اَللَّهَ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ ثُمَّ اُنْظُرْ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ يَقَعُ فِي قَلْبِكَ فَاعْمَلْ بِهِ» قَالَ لَهُ اَلْحَسَنُ اَلْبَرُّ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ لَهُ قَالَ« وَ إِلَيَّ»
Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Faddal, who said:
Al-Hasan ibn al-Jahm asked Aba al-Hasan عليه السلام on behalf of Ibn Asbat. He (Al-Hasan) said to Imam عليه السلام: “What do you see for him?”, and Ibn Asbat was present, and we were all together, (Al-Hasan asked) “Should he (ibn Asbat) travel by sea or by land to Egypt?” Then he (Al-Hasan) informed Imam عليه السلام about the condition of the land route. Imam عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “Go to the mosque at a time other than the time of obligatory prayer. Then pray two units (rak‘ahs) and seek the guidance of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (istikharah) one hundred times. Then look at what settles in your heart, and act upon it.” Al-Hasan said to Imam عليه السلام: “The land route is more beloved to me for him (ibn Asbat).” Imam عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “And to me as well.”
- Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām fī Sharḥ al-Muqniʿah, vol. 3, p. 198
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tahdhīb
وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَدِيدٍ عَنْ مُرَازِمٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ :«إِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ شَيْئاً فَلْيُصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ لْيَحْمَدِ اَللَّهَ وَ لْيُثْنِ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ يَقُولُ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ هَذَا اَلْأَمْرُ خَيْراً لِي فِي دِينِي وَ دُنْيَايَ فَيَسِّرْهُ لِي وَقَدِّرْهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ عَلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي» فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ أَقْرَأُ فِيهِمَا فَقَالَ« اِقْرَأْ فِيهِمَا مَا شِئْتَ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ قَرَأْتَ« قُلْ هُوَ اَللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ» وَ« قُلْ يٰا أَيُّهَا اَلْكٰافِرُونَ»
From him, from Muhammad ibn Yahya, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Ali ibn Hadid, from Murazim said:
Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: “When one of you intends something, let him pray two units (rak’ahs), then praise Allah سبحانه وتعالى and commend Him عز وجل, then send blessings upon (Prophet) Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and his family عليه السلام, and then say: ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, if this matter is good for me in my religion and my worldly life, then facilitate it for me and ordain it for me; and if it is otherwise, then turn it away from me.’” I asked Imam عليه السلام: “What should I recite in them (the two rak’ahs)?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Recite in them whatever you wish, and if you wish, you may recite ‘Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad’ (Surah al-Ikhlas) and ‘Qul Ya Ayyuha al-Kafirun’ (Surah al-Kafirun).”
- Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām fī Sharḥ al-Muqniʿah, vol. 3, p. 198
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tahdhīb
وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ خَلَفِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ: قُلْتُ لَهُ رُبَّمَا أَرَدْتُ اَلْأَمْرَ فَيَفْرُقُ مِنِّي فَرِيقَانِ أَحَدُهُمَا يَأْمُرُنِي وَ اَلْآخَرُ يَنْهَانِي فَقَالَ« إِذَا كُنْتَ كَذَلِكَ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ اِسْتَخِرِ اَللَّهَ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ وَ مَرَّةً ثُمَّ اُنْظُرْ أَحْزَمَ اَلْأَمْرَيْنِ لَكَ فَافْعَلْهُ فَإِنَّ اَلْخَيْرَ فِيهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اَللَّهُ وَ لْتَكُنِ اِسْتِخَارَتُكَ فِي عَافِيَةٍ فَإِنَّهُ رُبَّمَا خِيرَ لِلرَّجُلِ فِي قَطْعِ يَدِهِ وَ مَوْتِ وَلَدِهِ وَ ذَهَابِ مَالِهِ»
From him, from Ali ibn Muhammad, from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Isa, from Amru ibn Ibrahim, from Khalaf ibn Hammad, from Ishaq ibn Ammar, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said:
I said to Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام: “At times I intend to do something, but two thoughts arise within me; one commands me to proceed, and the other forbids me.” Imam عليه السلام said: “When you are in such a situation, then pray two units (rak‘ahs) and seek Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى guidance (istikharah) one hundred and one times. Then look to whichever of the two matters is more prudent for you, and do it, for indeed the good is in it, if Allah سبحانه وتعالى wills. And let your istikharah be in a state of well-being, for indeed it may happen that a man’s best outcome lies in cutting off of his hand, death of his child, or loss of wealth.”
- Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām fī Sharḥ al-Muqniʿah, vol. 3, p. 198
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tahdhīb
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ اَلْبَصْرِيِّ عَنِ اَلْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اَلرَّحْمَنِ اَلْهَاشِمِيِّ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ خَارِجَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ:« إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَمْراً فَخُذْسِتَّ رِقَاعٍ فَاكْتُبْ فِي ثَلاَثٍ مِنْهَا« بِسْمِ اَللّٰهِ اَلرَّحْمٰنِ اَلرَّحِيمِ» خِيَرَةٌ« مِنَ اَللّٰهِ اَلْعَزِيزِ اَلْحَكِيمِ» لِفُلاَنِ بْنِ فُلاَنَةَ اِفْعَلْهُ وَ فِي ثَلاَثٍ مِنْهَا «بِسْمِ اَللّٰهِ اَلرَّحْمٰنِ اَلرَّحِيمِ» خِيَرَةٌ« مِنَ اَللّٰهِ اَلْعَزِيزِ اَلْحَكِيمِ» لِفُلاَنِ بْنِ فُلاَنَةَ لاَ تَفْعَلْ ثُمَّ ضَعْهَا تَحْتَ مُصَلاَّكَ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَاسْجُدْ سَجْدَةً وَ قُلْ فِيهَا مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ أَسْتَخِيرُ اَللَّهَ بِرَحْمَتِهِ خِيَرَةً فِي عَافِيَةٍ ثُمَّ اِسْتَوِ جَالِساً وَ قُلِ اَللَّهُمَّ خِرْ لِي فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِي فِي يُسْرٍ مِنْكَ وَ عَافِيَةٍ ثُمَّ اِضْرِبْ بِيَدِكَ إِلَى اَلرِّقَاعِ فَشَوِّشْهَا وَ أَخْرِجْ وَاحِدَةً فَإِنْ خَرَجَ ثَلاَثٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ اِفْعَلْ فَافْعَلْ ذَلِكَ اَلْأَمْرَ اَلَّذِي تُرِيدُهُ وَ إِنْ خَرَجَ ثَلاَثٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ لاَ تَفْعَلْ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْهُ وَ إِنْ خَرَجَتْ وَاحِدَةٌ اِفْعَلْ وَ اَلْأُخْرَى لاَ تَفْعَلْ فَأَخْرِجْ مِنَ اَلرِّقَاعِ إِلَى خَمْسٍ فَانْظُرْ أَكْثَرَهَا فَاعْمَلْ بِهِ وَ دَعِ اَلسَّادِسَةَ لاَ تَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهَا»
Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub from more than one person, from Sahl ibn Ziyad, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Basri, from al-Qasim ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Hashimi, from Harun ibn Kharijah, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said:
Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “When you intend to undertake a matter, take six slips (of paper). Write on three of them: ‘In the Name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful. A choice (khirah) from Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty, the Wise, for (so-and-so) son of (so-and-so): Do it.’ And on the other three write: ‘In the Name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful. A choice (khirah) from Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty, the Wise, for (so-and-so) son of (so-and-so): Do not do it.’ Then place them beneath your prayer mat. When you finish, perform a prostration and say in it one hundred times: ‘I seek the best (khirah) from Allah سبحانه وتعالى through His عز وجل mercy a choice in well-being.’ Then sit upright and say: “O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, choose for me in all of my affairs with ease from You عز وجل and with well-being.” Then reach your hand toward the slips, mix them up thoroughly, and draw one out. If three consecutive slips come out that say ‘Do it,’ then proceed with the matter you intended. And if three consecutive slips come out that say ‘Do not do it,’ then do not proceed with it. And if one says ‘Do it’ and the other says ‘Do not do it,’ then continue drawing from the slips until you have drawn five. Then look at the majority among them and act according to it. Leave the sixth; you do not need it.”
- Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām fī Sharḥ al-Muqniʿah, vol. 3, p. 199
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tahdhīb
وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْهُمْ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ: أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِبَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ وَ قَدْ سَأَلَهُ عَنِ اَلْأَمْرِ يَمْضِي فِيهِ وَ لاَ يَجِدُ أَحَداً يُشَاوِرُهُ فَكَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ« شَاوِرْ رَبَّكَ» قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ كَيْفَ قَالَ« اِنْوِ اَلْحَاجَةَ فِي نَفْسِكَ وَ اُكْتُبْ رُقْعَتَيْنِ فِي وَاحِدَةٍ لاَ وَ فِي وَاحِدَةٍ نَعَمْ وَ اِجْعَلْهُمَا فِي بُنْدُقَتَيْنِ مِنْ طِينٍ ثُمَّ صَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ اِجْعَلْهُمَا تَحْتَ ذَيْلِكَ وَ قُلْ يَا اَللَّهُ إِنِّي أُشَاوِرُكَ فِي أَمْرِي هَذَا وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مُسْتَشَارٍ وَ مُشِيرٍ فَأَشِرْ عَلَيَّ مَا فِيهِ صَلاَحٌ وَ حُسْنُ عَاقِبَةٍ ثُمَّ أَدْخِلْ يَدَكَ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهَا نَعَمْ فَافْعَلْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهَا لاَ لاَ تَفْعَلْ هَكَذَا تُشَاوِرُ رَبَّكَ»
From him, from Ali ibn Muhammad, who transmitted it with a raised chain from the Imams عليه السلام:
Imam عليه السلام said to one of his companions, who had asked Imam عليه السلام about a matter he wished to proceed in, but could not find anyone to consult so what should he do? Imam عليه السلام said: “Consult your Lord عز وجل.” He said to Imam عليه السلام: “How?” Imam عليه السلام replied: “Intend the need within yourself, and write two slips on one write ‘No’ and on the other write ‘Yes.’ Place them into two pellets of clay. Then pray two units (rak’ahs) and place the two pellets beneath your prayer garment, and say: ‘O’ Allah سبحانه وتعالى, I consult You عز وجل regarding this matter of mine, and You عز وجل are the best of those who are consulted and who give counsel. So guide me to that which contains righteousness and a good outcome.’ Then insert your hand (into the pellets). If the one you draw says ‘Yes’, then proceed with it. And if it says ‘No’, then do not proceed. This is how you consult your Lord عز وجل.”
- Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām fī Sharḥ al-Muqniʿah, vol. 3, p. 199
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tahdhīb
وَ رَوَى مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ عَنْهُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ:« مَا اِسْتَخَارَ اَللَّهَ عَبْدٌ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً بِهَذِهِ اَلاِسْتِخَارَةِ إِلاَّ رَمَاهُ اَللَّهُ بِالْخَيْرِ يَقُولُ يَا أَبْصَرَ اَلنَّاظِرِينَ وَ يَا أَسْمَعَ اَلسَّامِعِينَ وَ يَا أَسْرَعَ اَلْحَاسِبِينَ وَ يَا أَرْحَمَ اَلرَّاحِمِينَ وَ يَا أَحْكَمَ اَلْحَاكِمِينَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ خِرْ لِي فِي كَذَا وَ كَذَا»
Muawiyah ibn Mayasrah narrated from Imam عليه السلام, peace be upon him, that he said:
Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “No servant seeks Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى guidance (istikharah) seventy times, with this form of istikharah, except Allah سبحانه وتعالى directs him toward what is good. He (the seeker) should say: ‘O’ Most Seeing of those who see, O’ Most Hearing of those who hear, O’ Swiftest of those who take account, O’ Most Merciful of the merciful, O’ Wisest of those who judge, send blessings upon (Prophet) Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and the people of his household, and choose for me in such and such matter.’”
- Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām fī Sharḥ al-Muqniʿah, vol. 3, p. 200
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tahdhīb