“The Messenger of
Allah
(ﷺ) used to teach us Istikharah, just as he used to teach us a
Surah of the Quran. 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).’”
Sunan Ibn Majah Book 5, Hadith 581
My Companions sent me to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to ask him for some animals to ride on as they were
accompanying him in the army of Al-Usra, and that was the Ghazwa (Battle) of Tabuk, I said, "O
Allah's Prophet! My companions have sent me to you to provide them with means of transportation."
He said, "By Allah! I will not make you ride anything." It happened that when I reached him, he was
in an angry mood, and I didn't notice it. So I returned in a sad mood because of the refusal the Prophet (ﷺ)
and for the fear that the Prophet (ﷺ) might have become 'angry with me. So I returned to my companions
and informed them of what the Prophet (ﷺ) had said. Only a short while had passed when I heard Bilal
calling, "O `Abdullah bin Qais!" I replied to his call. Bilal said, "Respond to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who is
calling you." When I went to him (i.e. the Prophet), he said, "Take these two camels tied together and
also these two camels tied together,"' referring to six camels he had brought them from Sa`d at that
time. The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "Take them to your companions and say, 'Allah (or Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ) allows
you to ride on these,' so ride on them." So I took those camels to them and said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) allows
you to ride on these (camels) but by Allah, I will not leave you till some of you proceed with me to
somebody who heard the statement of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Do not think that I narrate to you a thing which
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has not said." They said to me, "We consider you truthful, and we will do what you
like." The sub-narrator added: So Abu Musa proceeded along with some of them till they came to
those who have heard the statement of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) wherein he denied them (some animals to ride
on) and (his statement) whereby he gave them the same. So these people told them the same
information as Abu Musa had told them.
Sahih al-Bukhari Book 64, Hadith 437
(the son of Muhib) An Egyptian who came and performed the Hajj to the Ka`ba saw some people
sitting. He enquire, "Who are these people?" Somebody said, "They are the tribe of Quraish." He said,
"Who is the old man sitting amongst them?" The people replied, "He is `Abdullah bin `Umar." He
said, "O Ibn `Umar! I want to ask you about something; please tell me about it. Do you know that
`Uthman fled away on the day (of the battle) of Uhud?" Ibn `Umar said, "Yes." The (Egyptian) man
said, "Do you know that `Uthman was absent on the day (of the battle) of Badr and did not join it?"
Ibn `Umar said, "Yes." The man said, "Do you know that he failed to attend the Ar Ridwan pledge and
did not witness it (i.e. Hudaibiya pledge of allegiance)?" Ibn `Umar said, "Yes." The man said,
"Allahu Akbar!" Ibn `Umar said, "Let me explain to you (all these three things). As for his flight on
the day of Uhud, I testify that Allah has excused him and forgiven him; and as for his absence from
the battle of Badr, it was due to the fact that the daughter of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was his wife and she was
sick then. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him, "You will receive the same reward and share (of the booty) as
anyone of those who participated in the battle of Badr (if you stay with her).' As for his absence from
the Ar-Ridwan pledge of allegiance, had there been any person in Mecca more respectable than
`Uthman (to be sent as a representative). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) would have sent him instead of him. No
doubt, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had sent him, and the incident of the Ar-Ridwan pledge of Allegiance
happened after `Uthman had gone to Mecca. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) held out his right hand saying, 'This is
`Uthman's hand.' He stroke his (other) hand with it saying, 'This (pledge of allegiance) is on the behalf
of `Uthman.' Then Ibn `Umar said to the man, 'Bear (these) excuses in mind with you.'
Sahih al-Bukhari Book 62, Hadith 48
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you sees a dream that he likes, then it is from Allah, and he should
thank Allah for it and narrate it to others; but if he sees something else, i.e., a dream that he dislikes,
then it is from Satan, and he should seek refuge with Allah from its evil, and he should not mention it
to anybody, for it will not harm him."
Sahih al-Bukhari Book 91, Hadith 4