Importance of Istikhara for Marriage and the Right Way to Perform It

March 21, 2023
7:18 pm

Importance of Istikhara for Marriage

Marriage holds significant importance in Islam as it is considered one of the essential acts of worship. Islam encourages believers to get married and establish a family, as it is believed to be a means of seeking the advice of Allah and obtaining His blessings. Some of the reasons why marriage is considered necessary in Islam are:

Fulfillment of one’s natural instincts: Marriage provides a halal and permissible way to fulfill one’s natural desires and instincts.
Protection from sins: Marriage is a means of protection from sins such as fornication, adultery, and other immoral activities that can lead to the displeasure of Allah.
Building a family: Marriage allows one to establish a family, which is the foundation of society and helps raise children.
Completion of half of the faith: Marriage is considered half of faith in Islam, as it strengthens the believer’s faith and helps them fulfill their religious obligations.
Love and mercy: Marriage is a means of showing love and compassion towards one’s spouse, which is highly valued in Islam.

Some Hadiths About the Importance of Marriage

The Prophet (ﷺ) repeatedly emphasized the importance of marriage. There are numerous hadiths which talk about the importance of marriage. Some of these are mentioned below.

“The best among believers in faith are those with who have the best character, and the best among you are those who are the best to their women.” (Hadith narrated by Tirmidhi)
“Marry and do not delay, for delaying causes mischief.” (Hadith narrated by Tirmidhi)
“A believer should not hate (his wife) a believing woman; if he does not like one of her attributes, he will be pleased with another.” (Hadith narrated by Muslim)
“When a man gets married, he completes half of his faith, so let him fear Allah regarding the remaining half.” (Hadith narrated by Al-Bayhaqi)
“The perfect Muslim in the matter of faith is one who has excellent behaviour, and the best are those who are best towards their wives.” (Hadith narrated by Tirmidhi)
“The one who is best towards his wife is the best among you.” (Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah)
“No foundation built in Islam is more loved by Allah than marriage.” (Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah)
“The most blessed nikah is the one with the least expenses.” (Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah)
“The nikah is my sunnah (way). Whoever disregards my sunnah is not from amongst me.” (Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah)

What is Istikhara?

Istikhara is a prayer of guidance performed by Muslims before making an important decision or taking significant action. It is a way to seek Allah’s help and advice to make the right decision. The word “istikhara” itself means “seeking guidance from Allah”. It is usually performed after the two units of voluntary prayer (Salat-ul-Istikhara). It involves supplicating Allah to guide one to the right path and make the decision easy for them. After performing the prayer, one should trust in Allah’s wisdom and make the decision one feel is right.

What is the Right Way of Doing Istikhara?

The Right Way of Doing Istikhara is as Follows:

Make wudu (ablution) and perform two units of voluntary prayer.
After the prayer, recite the supplication of istikhara. The supplication can be found in various books of Islamic supplications or can be memorized.
Ask Allah for guidance and clarity in the matter you are seeking guidance for. Ask Him to make the decision easy for you and to guide you towards what is best for you in this life and the hereafter.
After supplication, sleep on your right side facing the qiblah.
If you have a dream, pay attention to it, as it may be a sign from Allah. However, it is essential to note that not all dreams have significance and that istikhara is not necessarily dependent on having a dream.
After performing istikhara, make the decision that you feel is best and trust Allah’s guidance and wisdom.

You should know that istikhara doesn’t guarantee a specific outcome but rather a means of seeking guidance from Allah. It is also recommended to consult with knowledgeable people and seek advice from trusted sources before making important decisions.

What Are the Wrong Ways of Doing Istikhara?

Some of the wrong ways of doing istikhara are:

Doing istikhara from Quran, i.e., opening a random page and making a conclusion by the first word you see.
Not performing wudu (ablution) before performing the prayer.
Not performing the two units of voluntary prayer before supplicating istikhara.
Not reciting the supplication of istikhara or reciting it incorrectly.
Seeking guidance from someone who claims to have the ability to interpret dreams or visions which they may have during istikhara.
Not making a decision after performing istikhara and waiting for a specific sign or outcome.
Not trusting in Allah’s guidance and wisdom after performing istikhara and deciding.
Repeating istikhara multiple times for the same matter without deciding or seeking advice from knowledgeable people.
Using istikhara to avoid personal responsibility and accountability for one’s decisions.

The Importance of Istikhara Through Ahadith?

Several hadiths mention istikhara, but one of the most well-known hadiths about istikhara is the following: Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If anyone of you has to take a decision, he should offer a two rakat other than the obligatory ones and say (after the prayer): —

Translation: Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) would teach us the istikhara (seeking guidance from Allah) for all matters as he would teach us a chapter from the Quran. He said:

Importance of Istikhara for Marriage and the Right Way to Perform It