 My brothers and sisters in life. We need to make some big decisions sometimes. I'm sure we've all Had decisions whereby we don't really know exactly which way to go Whether it's marriage. Sometimes you don't know if it's going to be successful sometimes it's a Decision of a huge business sometimes shifting from one area or city to another These are major decisions. Sometimes it is to do with the health matter I don't know should I or shouldn't I go for the operation for example? And so on so these type of decisions as Muslim in What is the guidance we have in this regard? It's a very important issue because it affects every single one of us We should be knowing that there has to be something in the Quran that guides us in this regard So primarily we believe in Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala we believe in Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. We call ourselves muslimin We should be understanding that Islam is a way of life So therefore if we lead our lives in accordance with the teachings of Islam We will be able to make a decision that is not Contradictory to the law of Allah point number one Which means no matter how important this matter is if it is against the instruction of Allah. I'm not interested That's the first step first thing we should think about. I want to do something Is it against Allah's instruction if it is no matter how crucial the deal is no matter How many millions of rands I may be making if it is against the decree of Allah? I don't even want to consult anyone and I don't even want to do anything else I will block it and stop it there because I know this is no-go area May Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala protect us all and may he grant us a very deep understanding I mean secondly if it is permissible now I need to know what to do So there is difference of opinion amongst the scholars as to the first step to take But it's not a major difference in the sense that they will both lead you to the same thing. What is it? two main things one is known as Mashwara or consultation and Two is istikhara istikhara is a type of consultation But it means to seek guidance Regarding the better of two issues to seek from Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala The guidance as to which of these two things is better. That's the meaning of istikhara to ask Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala guidance where you are confused and you are trying to say oh Allah guide me towards one of the two I want to talk on this because I believe many people don't know how to do the istikhara or what to look at after that or Whether or not your venture would be successful people don't know so the first step is the consultation for example And like I said some of the scholars say no consultation comes after the istikhara I for one would like to believe that it's more important to consult Initially, and then if you'd like you can engage in the istikhara if you are still confused So when I want to consult what is the meaning of consultation? I need to present the exact situation I mean to certain people whom I trust number one What do I trust about them? I trust their knowledge. I trust Their genuineness towards me sometimes you have a knowledgeable person say a lawyer if a lawyer is not Genuine towards you or does not fear Allah. He becomes in Urdu. They call them liar I don't know if you've known about that he becomes a liar because he just wants to make money So you need to know mashallah as much as we need lawyers We need honest lawyers the same applies to accountants the same applies to a plumber the same applies to an electrician Someone might come in and give you wrong advice. Why because he just wants to make money So when you ask someone's opinion, he needs to be genuine towards you That's something common. You need to ask someone who has a feeling for you He's not going to rob you steal you and at the same time He's an expert in the field that you have a problem in or you are confused about So if you are going to go for example to a plumber with all due respect to plumbers Or let's change the example in case someone feels bad if you're going to go for example to a pilot and ask him about how to Drive a Ferrari I think you're making a mistake unless you know that he's a pilot was also a really really good driver of these fancy Vehicles, but subhanallah the point I'm raising is you need to ask the expert of the field and he needs to be genuine At the same time if it is something really just you need to know the person needs to be close to Allah as well You can't have a sinful person giving you guidance on a matter where he's not even bothered about what's In transgression of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala or in conformity to the Dean He doesn't even bother about that So sometimes you might want to seek the counsel of a non-muslim, but you will have to add to it Something what is that? You'll have to ask yourself this advice. He's given me maybe genuine. Maybe he's a good guy Maybe he feels for me. Maybe he's an expert, but I need to make sure that it's Islamic as well When you want for example to make a decision of IVF and so on yes, you will get advice sometimes even from a non-muslim But Islam has certain restrictions in that regard. It's permissible with certain rules and conditions We're not saying it's totally not permissible But you need to have the guidance from a person who knows the Dean or Minimum you need to then ask an Aalim or a scholar or a knowledgeable person to say look I've been given this guidance all I want to know from you Is it permissible or prohibited because you might not be an expert in this but halal haram you're an expert But exactly what I should do. I've got that advice already. I just want to get the green light may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala guide us So that is consultation you consult and you ask one person two people five people ten people There is no limited to that not at all in fact Even if you're a chairman or a leader or an Amir of a society community even if you're a president of a nation for example You need to ask and consult the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam himself was told to consult his Companions not because he needed it because he had to show the importance of consultation to us. That's why He could have got revelation straight and he did get revelation as to what to do and what not to do But when you listen to people's opinions especially as a leader and when you want to give them importance to say look I just need to consult you on a matter It doesn't mean I'm going to adopt what you're going to say But at least I've got an opinion in my mind at least I now know that you know what this is what someone said This is what another person said and myself then who has to make the decision can be enlightened regarding the various Opinions and make a decision based on that which would be enlightened make a decision perhaps not according to anyone's opinion But it's derived from snippets of what everyone has said and I came up with a master plan subhanallah That's what it is. So this is consultation. There are so many benefits of it I want to move on Thereafter if you're still confused and you still don't know do you know what should I or shouldn't I marry? That's I think one of the biggest things that people do is Tihara about is marriage should I or shouldn't I sometimes? I don't know why they do it because they've made their minds up anyway may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala protect us I had a young man. He told me I need you to make istikhara for me And I told him the Sunnah is you make an istikhara yourself It is against the Sunnah to ask someone else to make an istikhara for you no matter who they are The Sunnah is to ask them to make dua that you are guided in your istikhara But the pure Sunnah is that you yourself do the istikhara You do not ask anyone else to do your istikhara the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam was never ever not once in his life Asked to make an istikhara on behalf of someone else, but he was asked to make dua Oh Allah. Oh messenger sallallahu alaihi wa sallam We are good want to do this and that make dua that we are rightly guided and so on or They asked his opinion or they asked his instruction, but they never ever asked him to make an istikhara So I told the young man look it's better for you to do it alone But anyway, what's it about he says you know I want to get married I said have you are you still confused because istikhara is when you don't know what to do if you know what to do What's the point? He says no, you know I've been going out with her for eight years But now I want to think whether to settle down or not come on come on my brother eight years The party is over you could have had ten walimas already and look at where you are today May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala forgive us may he strengthen us may he grant us ease So let's not play the fool with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. You've been doing haram You either quit the haram and everything or you can seek forgiveness and do something halal about it May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant us an understanding. So now Jabir radiallahu anhu says in a hadith a powerful hadith in Bukhari Where he says the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam used to teach us the dua of istikhara Just like he used to teach us a surah of the Quran What that means is to use the wording of the hadith is ideal preferable and even most befitting Because if the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam taught this dua to the companions like he would teach a verse of or a surah of the Quran It means I need to know that dua. I need to know the supplication istikhara. I want the guidance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala So what was the dua? It is mentioned beautifully. Allahumma. Oh Allah Oh Allah now you're asking Allah. So when do I ask Allah? I need to ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala after having engaged in two units of Voluntary prayer or I could say this is the prayer of istikhara I am reading two units of voluntary prayer in order for me to be asking the guidance of Allah regarding this matter I'm confused in should I or shouldn't I that's what it is. So I made the intention I read the two raka'at of salat this is as per the hadith of Jabir radiallahu anhu and What did I do after that after I made my salam some of the scholars say before you made the salam because it is a sunnah It is a sunnah dua anyway, and there's no there's no debate about it But let's say after the Salah you then ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. What am I saying? Allahumma Oh Allah in me astakhiruka. I am Seeking your guidance regarding this matter as to what is better for me. These two issues Khiyar I want to know what is better for me from the two should I or shouldn't I I'm seeking your guidance Oh Allah in me astakhiruka be ill mika from your knowledge. You are the knowledgeable Allah is the one who knows what I stick to your capability your power your divine power that you have I am seeking from it. What is the power of Allah? Absolutely everything. Allah is all-powerful. I'm asking you oh Allah now Before I continue translating the rest of it What's the point of making this dua when your life is not even led on the same page as Allah wants it to be What's the point? Imagine you you are transgressing against Allah day and night and then you say all I need your guidance regarding a matter Allah says hang on there are so many matters that I told you to not to participate in you did now You're asking me my guidance so then the result will probably be lopsided the result will probably be wrong Why because you are not on the right page therefore start off with a lot of is still far start off with a charity with good Deeds lot of is still far. I ask Allah. Oh, Allah forgive me La ilaha illa anta subhanaka in me couldn't mean of the only mean there is none worthy of worship besides you I have definitely been from amongst those who are wrongdoers who have oppressed myself. Oh, Allah forgive me Oh, Allah grant me mercy. Oh, Allah. Don't hold against me the sins. I've committed. I sought forgiveness now I'm seeking your guidance. I really need your help. Oh, Allah and promise Allah that you will change your ways and habits What's the point of saying? Oh, Allah. I need to know whether I should do this business or not But you don't read your Salah you perhaps gamble you perhaps have a lot of other bad habits Let's not mention all of them But at the same time if that is the case and we do say oh, Allah my heart is softened. I need your help I need your guidance. Oh, Allah. That's the mercy of Allah soften your heart then you make the dua then you make the Salah You know Salah of Istikhara is voluntary. You are missing out obligatory prayer Which one is more important obligatory even if you never made Salatul Istikhara your whole life But you continued making your obligatory prayer There is a greater chance of Allah guiding you to what is right by the mere fact that you are close to him Subhanallah So let's understand that some people play the fool their lives are far away from what we would know as the Dean They are called Jumu'ah and Eid Muslims. You know what that means I guess but at the same time when it comes to Istikhara, they passionately religiously believe that no ways I'm going to get the guidance of Allah, but where where is your taqwa? Where is your closeness to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala so if we take a look at this? We will find that you making the dua you saying oh, Allah. I'm asking for your help To make a decision here to guide me your power. I'm asking you from your power Well as I look at me in fatherly cal Azeem, and I'm asking you from the great Virtue that you bestow upon all the creatures that you have made Allah is has definitely bestowed upon all of us great mercy. We're asking Allah have mercy on me Why am I asking Allah to have mercy on me a lot of the times? We are not even fit for the mercy of Allah the way we lead our lives is very very wrong So we are saying oh Allah forgive us. We are human. We make mistakes. We falter. I'm asking you from your mercy I know oh Allah. You're going to give me Then we say Allahumma in kana haathal amra Oh Allah if this thing that I would like to do and you either think of it or you either mention it You think of what you're taught what you want the guidance regarding or you mention it if it is better for me in kana haathal amra If it is better for me in what way in what way did the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam say if it is if I'm going to be successful in this if the business is going to boom if the marriage is going to flourish He never said that he said if it is better for me in what way Fee dini in my deal Wa maashi in this livelihood in my life So let's say Dean and Dunya we let's interpret it that way for us to understand right so in my religion in my Spirituality closeness to you and in my livelihood my sustenance my living in this world Wa aqiba to Amri and My Akhirah my my Hereafter if it is better for me in every way of these three ways Then faqdir huli make it possible for me make it happen for me and Make it easy for me why a sir huli Thumma barik li fee then grant me baraka baraka means blessings in it grant me baraka in it Okay, and then the dua continues to say and all life. This is bad for me my Dean my livelihood my Akhirah then Keep it away from me create a barrier between me and that item and at the same time Make me happy with your decree for me your decision for me Grant me that which is best for me and make me happy with your decision for me and The dua inshallah. I will mention it later on in the khutbah But I would like you to learn it as a sunnah as Jabir of the Allah who says wallahi the prophet Sallam used to teach us this dua as though he taught us a surah from the Quran How you know what teeny was a tune or how you know for example? Alam nasrah or cool who Allah who I had you should be knowing this dua of istikhara It is a dua you are asking the guidance of Allah. So now after that I've made the dua What do I do? I continue in the obedience of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. So where does a dream come in? I'm sure you and I have heard that. Hey, you're gonna see a dream after that Nowhere in the Sunnah of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi sallam is a dream mentioned not at all not once He does not mention a dream, but you may see the dream. Yes, it's one of the ways But it's not necessarily the way it is reported that you continue in your life The biggest way that you will achieve a result of your istikhara is the feeling you have I will start getting a positive vibe within me Suddenly in my mind I will feel good about things when I talk to people every step something positive is said It's just facilitated I want to do a business deal and I'm thinking about it and one man phones me and he tells me you know what? There's a really good deal. Hey, you're talking about the same thing. I was making istikhara about last night That's a sign for example or someone else phones you and gives you negative vibes You want to marry someone and in the morning without knowing someone phones you and starts telling you long stories wait wait wait You need to authenticate before you believe stories today a quick way You know you want to marry this the princess of santan for example I don't know who she is, but I'm just saying there's another ten guys who want to marry the same princess when they know you're interested They're going to phone you and say that princess. She's no longer princess. You know that she's been whatever may Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala forgive us what he's trying to do is get you away so that he can come into the scene So you need to be alert the same applies in business people will call you to tell you things that are Not true because they want the deal for themselves be alert, but Allah will enlighten you Allah will guide you Allah will facilitate things Your mind your you will feel so good. You may see a dream. What type of a dream? If there is anything positive that you see anything it could be I want to get married But I'm busy seeing a beautiful scenery somewhere in Phuket for example may Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala grant us The ability to appreciate the goodness and nature that he has yes It may be a positive sign and suddenly I notice a snake or a fire or something those are negative signs These are just signs, but primarily you will be feeling this feeling and it will be a strong feeling May Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala make it easy for us Then when you when that thing happens Allah did not guarantee that your business will flourish nor did he guarantee that you are even going to marry the person He's only telling you it's better for you your Dean your Dunya your Akhirah to go for this. We know it's gonna Fail we know it's gonna end in divorce, but we telling you it's better for you your Dean your Dunya your Akhirah Let's understand this many people come to me and I'm sure to other ulama. They say I did istikhara and Then I proposed But when she did istikhara it was negative she rejected why how come this confusion between the two of us Well, I say my brother Allah didn't say that both of you are gonna be positive It's better for you to propose and be rejected. Maybe for your ego Maybe for something else maybe to cut you down to size whatever it is Allah wants you to go through that for some reason to understand Do you really be happy with the degree of Allah Allah didn't say when you do an istikhara? Then the other person will also have a positive result and you both will flourish Similarly people come through and say, you know, we're going through marital crisis We're on the verge of divorce, but I did istikhara. She did istikhara. We were supposed to get married I saw the prophet peace be upon him in my dream telling me to get married to this person Wow, mashallah it happens. Well, I hear it happens. I Say that that doesn't mean did he say marry her it will be successful married her you'll never divorce her That's not what he said you did an istikhara. You said oh, Allah is better for my myself my Dean my Dunya Maybe Allah knows that it's best for your Dean and your Akhira to go to paradise that you go through a divorce Perhaps through that divorce you might then end up with another person who is a hundred times better Or you might be saved from something. This is why Never ever misinterpret an istikhara as being a license where you are guaranteed This is successful normally when people say please can you do an istikhara for me? I tell them number one It's wrong meaning it's not strictly the sunnah in the sunnah you do it yourself like I said Istikhara is to be done by the person affected and nobody else no matter who they are that's the proper sunnah Yes, your mother makes dua for you your father makes dua for you everyone makes dua You say look I'm doing istikhara make dua that Allah guides me we make dua may Allah guide you But when you're coming to tell me half the time it's just to pass the buck because I'm gonna tell you go for it For example, and when you go for it divorce you say that was that guy there he told me to go for it Look he's istikhara's are all invalid. They are wrong. Why pass the buck Develop your link with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and come forth. Alhamdulillah. So we ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's guidance and really It's up to us. It's absolutely important that we develop a link with Allah so that the guidance we receive is actually That which will make us happy It will make us happy and this is why right at the end of that dua and I want you to go through its meaning It's beautiful at the end Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has taught Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wasallam to teach us that oh Allah make me happy with the taqdeer you've chosen for me Primarily the destiny you've chosen something for me. I went into a business I put in 20 million rands and I came out with zero I it was a loss while I tell you what now you're in the masjid five times a day crying to Allah to bring you Back on your feet. So wasn't it better for your Dean that you had that loss Allah says we brought you to the masjid we brought you to your knees so that you came closer to us Didn't you say oh Allah if it's better for my Dean my dunya my Akhirah Allah says well It definitely was you used to have 20 girlfriends now you got no money to oil that bad habit So you at home saying my darling my darling that's all she wanted all along So Allah says you suffered the loss you it brought you closer to your family It brought you to the masjid it developed your Akhirah you died a good man close to Allah But with zero rands surely that was the best thing possible. Allah Akbar. I hope you get the point So the point here is many of us used to think that is Tihara means when once I get a response Everything's going to be you know hanky Dory as they say no way not at all. It's not it just means this is better for you You may go positive negative in terms of you know flourishing of this world But perhaps Allah knows what is best may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala guide us similarly this if you Do not want to engage in the istikhara itself or you have you have engaged in istikhara regarding major matters But you would like guidance regarding all your affairs. There is a way. What is the way that do our of istikhara use? It as a do I there's nothing wrong with that so it's not specifically an istikhara for a matter But through the day I say oh Allah I'm making this do I while I'm driving while I'm walking why oh Allah guide me You know Allah open the door. There's nothing wrong. It's a Sunnah do I you can make that do I just as a do I by the will of Allah If you have the consciousness of Allah in you Allah will guide you regarding all your affairs to what is best for you not necessarily to what is most successful in terms of Business or your social life, but it will be best for you may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala open our doors My brothers and sisters Again, it's extremely important for us to know that consultation is also of vital importance You know many people think okay I'll just do the istikhara and see how it goes You don't know speak to people ask those speak to your parents speak to your family members or Experts in the field speak to doctors say for example, and I'm sure a lot of us have been through this Where as you grow older sometimes your health begins to fail here and there it's part of Allah's plan to bring you closer to him And then you talk to this doctor and he says go for the op and you talk to the other one And he says don't go for the op and you talk to a Cairo practice And he says the doctors don't know and you talk to the doctors And they say don't ever you dare go to a Cairo practice and so on well you are confused once again So we ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to help us. I'm not swiping at my friends here who are doctors But it's a reality. It's a reality that you are confused sometimes Remember if you are a person who fulfill Salah, you are a person who engages in istighfar Look, we all commit sin minor sometimes some people even major sin may Allah forgive us all Seek forgiveness. Don't lose hope in the mercy of Allah seek forgiveness of Allah because that's how you get back onto the same page Oh Allah I was weak. I did something wrong. I'm changing my life. I'm not doing it again. I promise you all I'm not doing it again. Who knows some people have sought forgiveness and they've died a few days later Some people have gone for Hajj. They came back and they passed away and they changed their lives Brothers and sisters don't wait for Hajj. You might never see it. Don't wait for Ramadan You might never witness it seek Allah's forgiveness here and now and Allah will guide you in your affairs Be happy when something goes seemingly wrong in your life Thank Allah it might just be Allah saving you from something major Allah doesn't want you to go into the business. Allah doesn't want you to marry someone Allah doesn't want you for example to participate in something perhaps He is protecting you without you knowing from something major major later on may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala Help us to be convinced at whatever he guides us towards Wa sallallahu wa sallam wa baraka ala nabina Muhammad Wa as-taqdiruka bi-qudratik wa as-saluka min-fadlika al-Azeem Allahumma in kunda ta'alamu Inna hadal amra khayrulli fideeni wa ma'ashi wa a'aqibati amri a'u aajili amri wa aajilihi Faddur huli wa yassir huli thumma baareklifih Wa in kunda ta'alamu Inna hadal amra khayrulli fideeni wa ma'ashi wa a'aqibati amri wa a'aajili amri wa aajilihi Fasrifu anni wa usrifni anhu wa qadr liya al-khayra haythu kana thummar deeni bihi