Dua & Dhikr · AlMaghrib Journals

Can’t Sleep? Read This Dua…

AlMaghrib — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 19:20:13 GMT

How many times have you woken up at night because of a sound, pain, or even a bad dream?

It feels disturbing, right?

But what if that moment of restlessness could become one of the greatest opportunities of your life?

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us that when you wake up during the night, you can have all your sins forgiven, your supplications accepted, and even your night prayer guaranteed by Allah.

Yes, while you are half asleep! Let’s explore how.

The Prophet’s ﷺ Words

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Whoever awakens at night and says:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

Then says: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي (Allahumma ighfir li – O Allah, forgive me), he will be forgiven. And if he makes dua, his dua will be answered. If he then makes wudu and prays, his prayer will be accepted.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)

Three promises in one hadith:

Forgiveness of sins.
Guaranteed acceptance of dua.
Guaranteed acceptance of salah if you pray after wudu.

You have an incredible opportunity for massive reward here, so be sure to dedicate these 10 statements to memory!

The Ten Statements to Recite

When you wake up in the night, recite these powerful words:

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
La ilaha illallah
There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.
وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ
Wahdahu la sharika lah
He is alone, without any partner.
لَهُ الْمُلْكُ
Lahul-mulk
To Him belongs all sovereignty.
وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ
Walahul-hamd
To Him belongs all praise.
وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Wahuwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir
He is capable of all things.
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ
Subhānallah
Glory be to Allah, free from all imperfection.
وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Alhamdulillah
All praise is due to Allah.
وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
Wa la ilaha illallah
There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.
وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Wallahu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
There is no power nor might except through Allah.

After completing these ten statements, raise your hands and say:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Allahumma ighfir li
O Allah, forgive me.

And in sha Allah, your sins are forgiven.

Go Even Further

Want more? Add any dua you like right after, Allah guarantees acceptance.
Want even more? Make wudu, pray two rak‘ah, and that salah is for sure accepted.

Next time you wake up in the middle of the night, remember these ten statements, because forgiveness, answered dua, and accepted salah may all be waiting for you.

Back to School Duas For Your Kids

AlMaghrib — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:00:41 GMT

Summer is almost over, and that morning rush is on its way back.

Getting your kids to wake up, brush their teeth, dress, and then trying to beat the traffic just to get to school on time is a mission!

But with all that chaos comes a golden opportunity for you to bring an incredibly powerful sunnah to your child’s daily routine: the morning and evening adhkar.

Allah commands us:

“And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech – in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless.”
(Quran, 7:205)

We have countless dua and adhkar from the Quran and Sunnah for all situations, and the Prophet ﷺ placed great emphasis on seizing the morning and evening to seek Allah’s barakah and protection.

So as sunrise gets later, and sunset gets earlier, now is the time to instill this sunnah into your children.

Here are just a few adhkar to teach your children to recite before school.

The 3 Quls:

A great starting point is to work with what they know.

Chances are, your children are already familiar with the last 3 chapters of the Quran, and these verses carry such immense protection and blessing.

Surah al Ikhlas:

قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ ، اَللّٰهُ الصَّمَدُ ، لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُوْلَدْ ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

“Say [O Prophet] ‘He is Allah, The One. Allah, The Self-reliant. He begets not, nor was he begotten, and there is nothing like Him.'”

Surah al Falaq:

قُلْ أَعُوْذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ، مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ.

“Say [O Prophet] ‘I seek refuge in The Lord of Daybreak, from the evil of whatever He has created, and from the evil of the night when it grows dark, and from the evil of those [witches] blowing onto knots, and from the evil of an envier when they envy.”

Surah al Nas:

قُلْ أَعُوْذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ، مَلِكِ النَّاسِ ، إِلٰهِ النَّاسِ ، مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ ، اَلَّذِيْ يُوَسْوِسُ فِيْ صُدُوْرِ النَّاسِ ، مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ.

“Say [O Prophet] ‘I seek refuge in The Lord of mankind, The King of mankind, The God of mankind, from the evil, lurking whisperer, who whispers into the hearts of mankind. Of jinn and mankind.'”

The method:

Recite each of these surahs 3 times, blow or dry spit into your hands, and wipe your hands over yourself from head to toe.

Benefits:

Surah al Falaq and Nas (called the mu’awwidatayn) are powerful chapters that serve as ruqya and protection from black magic and the evil eye.

Additionally, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Recite, ‘He is Allah, the One,’ (Surah al Ikhlas) and the two chapters of refuge, every evening and morning three times. They will be enough for you against everything.” [Tirmidhi]

Gain The Best of The Day

أَصْبَحْنَا وَأَصْبَحَ الْمُلْكُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هٰذَا الْيَوْمِ ، فَتْحَهُ وَنَصْرَهُ وَنُوْرَهُ وَبَرَكَتَهُ وَهُدَاهُ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا فِيْهِ وَشَرِّ مَا بَعْدَهُ.

“We have reached the morning, and at this very time unto Allah belongs all sovereignty, Lord of the worlds. O Allah, I ask You for the good of this day, its triumphs, its victories, its light, its blessings, and its guidance. And I take refuge in You from the evil of this day and the evil that follows it.” [Abu Dawud]

Benefits:

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged his companions to recite this in the mornings and in the evenings [Sahih Muslim]. It is a reminder that success can only come from Allah, and is a means of seeking His blessing before major and minor events of the day.

Protection From Major or Sudden Harm:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الَّذِيْ لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ ، وَهُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ.

‘In the name of Allah with whose Name nothing is harmed on earth nor in the heavens, and He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing’

The method:

Recite 3 times

Benefits:

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Any slave of Allah who says [the above] in the morning of every day and in the evening of every night three times shall be safe from the reach of anything evil or harmful.” [Tirmidhi]

The Best Repentance:

اَللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّيْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، خَلَقْتَنِيْ وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ ، وَأَنَا عَلَىٰ عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ ، أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ ، أَبُوْءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوْءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِيْ ، فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.

“O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.”

Benefit:

The Prophet ﷺ said regarding this dua that, “…Whoever says it during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise…” [Sahih al Bukhari]

These are just a few of the powerful morning adhkar from the Sunnah, but they are a great starting point for our children! You can recite them together after fajr, at breakfast, or on the way to school. Just be sure to make dua & dhikr a daily routine, because these are essential habits that will bring barakah to your child’s life.

Why Your Dua Feels Empty (And How to Fix It)

AlMaghrib — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:16:53 GMT

This piece is adapted from Shaykh Waleed Basyouni’s AlMaghrib Institute seminar, 24/7: Fiqh of Dhikr & Dua.

Maybe it’s guilt, maybe it’s burnout from years of trying and not seeing the result you hoped for, but sometimes your duas just feel hollow.

The truth is, you’re not alone, and many Muslims feel this way.

In his class on the fiqh of dua & dhikr, Shaykh Waleed shared the story of a convert lady who said:

“What I miss most about my Christianity is dua. When I was Christian, prayer meant so much to my family and me. Before we ate, we would hold hands and pray. When I was young, every day before I went to bed, my father would kneel with me in front of the bed and we would pray together. I always prayed to God, and that is one of the reasons I became Muslim. But I don’t see this concept of dua in my Muslim sisters and mothers.”

She came to Islam because of prayer, but what she found was that Muslims don’t value it as they should.

This is the crisis. Dua is the most direct connection between you and your Creator. It is the most honorable act a human being can perform.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“There is nothing more honoring than dua.”

(Tirmidhi)

And yet, for so many of us, dua has become something we rush through, mumble without meaning, or skip entirely.

With the final nights of Ramadan here, and the chance to catch Laylatul Qadr in any one of these nights, now is the time to invest in your dua.

So how do you get past this emptiness and find sweetness in your dua and dhikr in these 10 nights?

Here are a few reasons why your dua feels empty, and how to fix it in the last 10 nights of Ramadan.

You don’t know what you’re saying.

Dua and dhikr are about your connection to Allah ﷻ. If you don’t understand what you are saying, then there is no connection. So learn the meanings.

The point is to know what you are saying, not to repeat words you do not understand.

You think it takes too long.

It takes less than two minutes to say SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi 100 times. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever says SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi 100 times, his sins will be forgiven even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.”

(Bukhari and Muslim)

Two minutes. That’s it. We spend more time than that scrolling through our phones every hour.

You procrastinate.

You tell yourself you’ll make your adhkar later. And then later never comes.

You don’t know the reward.

The Prophet ﷺ came to his companions and said:

“Is one of you unable to earn one thousand good deeds each day? Let him glorify Allah one hundred times. Thus, it will be recorded for him as one thousand good deeds, or one thousand bad deeds will be erased.”

(Muslim)

Those 1000 rewards will take care of those many sins you committed that day. It is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to purify yourself, and it costs you almost nothing.

You’re involved in sin.

Sin creates a barrier between you and Allah ﷻ. It clouds the heart and makes dhikr feel heavy on the tongue.

So if you know you are involved in haram, then don’t expect dua and dhikr to come naturally.

But don’t think that Allah ﷻ will reject your duas just because you’re sinful!

Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah said, “Allah accepted the dua of Iblis, so He will most likely accept your dua.”

If Allah ﷻ answered the request of the most wretched creature in existence, what makes you think He will not answer yours?

How to Bring Your Dua Back to Life

The good news is that fixing your dua doesn’t require some massive spiritual overhaul.

It starts with the basics.

1. Start with sincerity and ask Allah to help you remember Him

Dua is an act of worship, and every act of worship begins with sincerity. But here is what most people miss: you should ask Allah ﷻ to help you make dhikr. The Prophet ﷺ taught Mu’adh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه to say after every salah:

“Allahumma a’inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ‘ibadatik.”

“O Allah, help me to remember You, to thank You, and to worship You well.”

(Abu Dawud)

If even the companions رضي الله عنهم needed help staying consistent, what about us?

2. Praise Allah before you ask

The Prophet ﷺ heard a man making dua without praising Allah ﷻ or sending salah and salam upon the Prophet ﷺ. When the man finished, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“This man rushed his dua. When one of you wants to make dua, he should start with praising his Lord.”

(Musnad of Imam Ahmad)

Look at Surat al-Fatihah. It is all praising before one single request: ihdinas siratal mustaqeem. That is the model. Praise first. Then ask.

The best format, as the scholars described, is to praise Allah ﷻ at the beginning, the middle, and the end of your dua. The least you should do is praise Him at the beginning or the end. ‘Umar رضي الله عنه is reported to have said:

“Your dua is stuck between the heavens and earth until you say Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad.” [Tirmidhi]

3. Repeat your dua

Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه said that when the Prophet ﷺ asked for something, he would repeat it three times (Bukhari). In some cases, he made dua five times (Bukhari). Repetition is not a sign of desperation. It is a sunnah.

4. Make dua with firm conviction

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Let not any one of you say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You will, O Allah, have mercy on me if You will.’ Let him be resolute in the matter, whilst knowing that no one can compel Allah to do anything.”

(Bukhari and Muslim)

Don’t sit on the fence when you make dua. Ask Allah ﷻ as you know He is capable of everything, because He is.

5. Choose the right time

Not all moments are equal. The Prophet ﷺ taught us that dua is most likely to be accepted at specific times: the last third of the night, the hour before Maghrib on Friday, right before salam in your salah, while in sujud, when breaking your fast, and during the month of Ramadan.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The closest one of you comes to his Lord is while he is prostrating. Therefore, make many supplications therein.”

(Muslim)

And he ﷺ said:

“After you finish tashahhud, make dua with whatever you wish.”

(Bukhari)

Right before you say salam is one of the most overlooked moments in the entire prayer. The Prophet ﷺ told us to choose the most beloved dua to our hearts and say it right there.

6. Learn the meanings and vary your adhkar

Many people only know one dhikr. But the Sunnah is filled with variety. In ruku’, you can say Subhana Rabbi al-Azeem, or you can say SubhanakAllahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika Allahumma’ghfirli. This variety keeps you engaged. It keeps the dhikr fresh. The more you know and memorize from different adhkar, the more you will actually do them.

7. Fix your relationship with Allah

‘Umar رضي الله عنه said something that should reframe how we think about dua entirely:

“I was never concerned with the answer of the dua. My concern was always with the dua itself.”

When your focus shifts from “Will Allah give me what I want?” to “Am I connecting with Allah the way He deserves?”, the entire experience transforms.

And if you feel distant, if your heart feels hard, if you can’t seem to find the words, then make that the dua itself. Say: “Ya Rabb, for whatever reason, I don’t enjoy my dua as before. Ya Allah, if You are not angry with me, I don’t care about anything else. Ya Rabb, I know that You have so many other creations other than me, but I have only one Creator — You.”

Beg Allah ﷻ. Ask Him. He is always there for you. 24/7. You can call on Him any time.

A Reminder for the Last Ten Nights

Everyone on the face of this earth makes dua at the same time, in different languages and with different requests, and Allah ﷻ hears every single one of them as if each person were the only one asking, and He has the ability to give every single one of them what they asked for, at the same time.

The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah ﷻ said:

“O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you, stood in one place and asked Me, and I gave each one of them what they requested, that would not decrease what I have any more than a needle decreases the sea when it is dipped into it.”

(Muslim)

This is who you are calling upon in these last ten nights. Don’t let them pass while your tongue is still and your hands are down. Don’t let another Ramadan go by where dua was just something you rushed through before iftar.

Keep your tongue moist with the dhikr of Allah ﷻ. Learn what you are saying. Praise Him before you ask. Repeat your requests. Be resolute. Choose the best times. And never, ever give up.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Keep your tongue always moist with dhikrullah.”

(Tirmidhi)

That is the advice of a lifetime. And these are the nights to start living by it.

Recite This To Get Hours of Reward!

AlMaghrib — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:49:13 GMT

One morning, Rasulullah ﷺ left his home for Fajr prayer. His wife, Juwayriya bint al-Harith (RA), was sitting in her place of worship, remembering Allah and making dhikr.

Rasulullah ﷺ prayed Fajr at the masjid and stayed there until around Duḥa time—an hour or two later. When he returned home, he found Juwayriya (RA) still sitting in the same spot, continuing her dhikr.

He asked her:
“Have you been in this same position since I left you?”

She replied:
“Yes, O Messenger of Allah, I have remained here remembering Allah.”

Rasulullah ﷺ then said:
“I recited four phrases three times after I left you, and if they were weighed against all that you have said today, they would outweigh them.”

This hadith is narrated in Sahih Muslim.

What are these powerful words?

The Prophet ﷺ said:

1.

سُبْحَانَ ٱللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ

Glory and praise be to Allah as many times as the number of His creation

This includes every human, jinn, angel, drop of water, grain of sand—an infinite count.

2.

وَرِضَىٰ نَفْسِهِ

By His pleasure

This Dua continues until Allah’s pleasure is reached, and nothing is greater than that.

3.

وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ

By the weight of His Throne

The Prophet ﷺ explained the magnitude of Allah’s Throne: the distance between the earlobe and the shoulder of one of the angels carrying it is a journey of 700 years. That is the weight this dhikr acknowledges.

4.

وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ

And by the extent of His words

Allah’s wisdom and knowledge are infinite. This dhikr matches that endless measure.

These four statements take less than 30 seconds to say three times, yet they outweigh hours of continuous dhikr. This is the mercy and generosity of Allah, and the wisdom of our beloved Prophet ﷺ in teaching us the most beneficial ways to worship.

Make the commitment:

Say this dhikr every morning.

سُبْحَانَ ٱللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ، وَرِضَىٰ نَفْسِهِ، وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ، وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ

Glory and praise be to Allah: by the number of His creation, by His pleasure, by the weight of His Throne, and by the extent of His words.

Write it down. Share it with your family. Teach it to your children, and make it a part of daily routine for hours of reward!

Recite This When You Owe Someone Money

AlMaghrib — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:32:44 GMT

Are you facing financial debt or know someone that is going through it?

This dua will be one of your biggest means of relief, with Allah’s permission.

Here’s the story:

One time, a man came to Ali bin Abi Talib (R.A) and he complained to Ali of an incredibly burdensome debt, and asked for a helping hand.

Ali (R.A) himself was not very wealthy at that time, but he told the man that he could instead teach him something far more valuable than actual money and that would, in sha Allah, aid him in his troubles.

It’s something Ali learned directly from Rasulullah ﷺ , and said that if the man were to recite it, Allah would relieve his debt even if it was the size of a mountain!

So he told him to recite the following:

‏اللهم اكفني بحلالك عن حرامك، وأغنني بفضلك عمن سواك

O Allah, suffice me with that which is halal over that which is haram, and make me independent of all except you.

[Tirmidhi]

This dua asserts your reliance upon Allah, and your desire to only depend on Him.

It’s not just a means of seeking provision, but an affirmation of your faith and tawakkul.

For whenever you fall on hard times, remind yourself of who your Lord and ultimate provider is.

Another powerful dua that can deliver you from not only financial hardship but also emotional stess and anxiety is:

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ
O Allah, I seek Your protection from anxiety and grief, and I seek Your protection from inability and laziness, and I seek Your protection from cowardice and greed, and I seek Your protection from being overwhelmed by debt and being oppressed by men.
[Abu Dawud]

Make the intention to recite these adhkar regularly, not only in times of hardship, and remind yourself constantly that Allah is Ar-Razzaq; The Provider.

Istikhara: Your Step-by-Step Guide

AlMaghrib — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 21:34:47 GMT

All of us have to make decisions in our daily lives:

Should I take this job? Should I apply to this university? Am I marrying the right person?

The choices can be overwhelming, leading to decision anxiety, burnout, and much more.

Alhamdulillah, Allah has given us clear guidance on how to approach all our big and small decisions in life with the barakah of His divine support, and that is istikhara. Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah said:

“The Prophet ﷺ used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara, in all matters, as he taught us the chapters of the Quran.”

[Sahih al Bukhari]

Many people can be confused about the manner in which to perform this act of worship, and many more have misconceptions about how it works. So here is a simple, step-by-step guide to Istikhara, and how to know if it has been answered:

How to perform Istikhara:

The hadith of Jabir (R.A) details exactly how to perform this act of worship:

Pray 2 units of voluntary prayer (nafl)

This can be part of the night prayer (qiyam al layl) or another occasion, but should not be during the prohibited times of prayer (i.e. during the sunrise, zenith, or sunset).

After performing these two units of prayer, read the istikhara dua:

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْتَخِيْرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيْمِ ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوْبِ . اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ (…) خَيْرٌ لِّيْ فِيْ دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِيْ وَيَسِّرْهُ لِيْ ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْهِ ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هٰذَا الْأَمْرَ (…) شَرٌّ لِّيْ فِيْ دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّيْ وَاصْرِفْنِيْ عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِيْ بِهِ
O Allah, I ask of You by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek strength by virtue of Your power, and I ask of You from Your benevolence. You have power, and I do not. You know, and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [specify the matter here] is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter [specify the matter here] is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.

Misconceptions about Istikhara:

Istikhara is not about “making” choices…

Many make the mistake of thinking that Istikhara is to help you arrive at a decision, but that is not the case.

Istikhara is not a magic 8-ball that you shake and patiently wait for an answer without action. Istikhara is about seeking Allah’s blessing after you’ve made your decision; it is about the outcome, not the choice.

2. “I didn’t see any dream. Was my istikhara negative?”

There is nothing from the Sunnah which specifically ties the answer to one’s istikhara to dreams.

While we know that good dreams come from Allah, and bad dreams come from Shaytan [hadith in Sahih Bukhari], this does not necessitate that you should delay an action waiting for some kind of sign in your sleep.

So, how do I know my istikhara was answered?

It’s quite simple: If your istikhara is done correctly, your answer is already given. Istikhara is asking Allah, Subhanahu wa ta’ala, for guidance after you’ve made a decision that you believe is correct for you.

Do your due diligence, consult people you trust, weigh the benefits and harms of your decision, and when you are ready to act, seek Allah’s blessing in the matter.

If the outcome you hoped for comes to fruition. You landed that job, married that person, etc., then you know that Allah willed for it to happen.

If you’re diverted, rejected, or delayed by something outside of your control, then you know that it was not meant for you, and you can rest assured that Allah protected you from potential disaster.

Now, it could be that you take that job, but you’re fired six months later, or that you got married, but things didn’t work out, and you divorced down the line. That is still an answer to your istikhara.

Your istikhara was answered by receiving what you hoped for and learning from it. Allah knows that experiencing what you hoped for, even if brief, was better for you than not having chosen at all.

May Allah bless you in every decision!

The Happy Ending of ‘Umar b. ‘Abd’l-‘Aziz (r)

AlMaghrib — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Al-Tabari narrates in Tārīkh’l-Tabari (4/72):

Fātimah the wife of ‘Umar b. ‘Abd’l-‘Azīz said about his illness, “That night, his shivering became uncontrollable and he couldn’t sleep, so we kept a vigil over him and didn’t sleep either. In the morning, I told a servant of his known as Marthad, “O Marthad, stay with the Amīr’l-Mu’minīn and if he has any single need then at least you are at hand.”

We left and fell into a deep sleep due to the previous night spent awake. It was well into the day once we awoke and we went to see (‘Umar) and found Marthad sleeping outside the house. I woke him up and said, “What are you doing outside Marthad?!”

Marthad replied, “He told me to get out! He said to me, “Marthad, leave me! By Allāh, I see something which is neither human or jinn!”

When I came out, I heard him recite:

تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآَخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

We grant the Home in the Hereafter to those who do not seek superiority on earth or spread corruption: the happy ending is awarded to those who are mindful of God. (al-Qasas, 83)

So I entered the room again and I saw his face turned and his eyes were closed. He had passed away.””

May Allāh have mercy upon him.