Istikharah: This is not a magic 8-ball! [Part II]

 Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamualaikum.

Seperti yang dijanjikan dalam entri sebelum ini, maka aku akan teruskan niat untuk berkongsi ilmu yang disampaikan oleh Syaikh Abdul Nasir Jangda tentang topik "Istikharah: How to & Why?"

Pertama sekali, kita perlu tahu dan faham makna sebenar Istikharah itu sendiri. Kalau untuk langkah pertama nipun kita dah gagal untuk memproses makna hakiki Istikharah ini, maka bermula lah kefahaman yang lari dari konsep yang sebenar. Jadi, apa makna Istikharah?

Istikharah is the 3rd of the 3 steps of a decision making process. (Trans: Istikharah adalah merupakan yang ketiga dalam 3 langkah dalam proses membuat sesuatu keputusan.) Istikharah is also to seek which is good or to seek the good ones. In the process of decision making process, there is 3 steps; 1) thinking (which we are narrowing the options that we had), 2) Musyawarrah or discussing or seek the advice from the older, and 3) Istikharah itself where we are looking for the confidence in making a final decision.

"This is definitely not a magic 8-ball or dice! because it is more confusing and doesn't work neither." said Syaikh Abdul Nasir Jangda. So, everything that we do with these ridiculous things in making a decision, we will get absolutely nothing and yet, it will give more complex problems in future. As a Muslim, we believe that Allah swt is the greatest one. He heard every dua' or wishes, indeed He is the best planner and the most generous. So here, this is a reason of why the Istikharah is a must. This is one of the closer step to 'reach' Allah swt by sujood on him during the silent but in a peaceful midnight.

Ada 5 perkara untuk sampai ke tahap kefahaman konsep Istikharah itu.

1) Purpose (Tujuan);

• Melatih diri untuk meletakkan pengharapan yang sepenuhnya kepada Allah swt.
• Conviction (Keyakinan). Kita bersujud kepada Allah swt yang menciptakan setiap benda/perkara yang ada di atas muka bumi ini. Kita bersedia untuk meminta pertolongan dari Allah swt. Just like "You're knocking the door of the King and spread your hands for asking the help."

2) Pre-requisites (Pra-syarat);

• Diri dalam keadaan bersih dan suci dari sudut pemakaian dan bebas dari hadas besar mahupun kecil.
• Berwuduk dan menghadap kiblat.
• Jangan lakukan di dalam waktu yang terlarang (forbidden time) seperti ketika matahari terbit, ketika matahari berada di puncak atau its zenith (highest point)/at noon dan ketika matahari tenggelam.

3) Procedures (langkah-langkah)

•  2 rakaat; rukun sama seperti rukun solat harian, kerana Solat Istikharah adalah merupakan optional voluntary prayer atau sunat.
• Tiada surah atau bacaan yang khusus.
• Baca doa Istikharah dalam bahasa Arab. Jika tidak menghafal, dibolehkan membaca sambil melihat kertas. Jika tidak pandai menyebut dalam bahasa Arab, boleh menggunakan terjemahan doa dalam bahasa yang mudah kita fahami (selalunya khusus untuk Muallaf). Give the best of your ability to recite the supplication (Doa Istikharah).

4) Outcomes (Manfaat yang diperolehi?)

• Primary outcomes (manfaat yang paling penting) is the clarity of the mind (ketenangan minda/fikiran). Thereby, we have the confidence on making a decision which it is leaning to the best options. (Trans: kita mempunyai keyakinan yang utuh dalam membuat keputusan yang mana ianya membawa kita ke pilihan yang terbaik).
• To reflect internally, and feel the confidence naturally without any doubts. The reason of why the Istikharah has become complicated for us a lot of time, it is because we're looking for something out of this world, something that supernatural and beyond of the superior itself. Dreams (Mimpi) are something that believers derives inspiration from and this is not a basis of making the decisions.

2 miscellaneous issues;

• Confidence. If you feel nothing or don't feel anything even though after you're doing a lot of Istikharah, multiple of times. I suggest you Please, do it again and again! Keep doing until you feel that confidences. Until you feel that this is the best for you.
•  Ask someone to do the Istikharah for you? There is no precedent/no religious verification (hadith) for these. It is meant that this is need to be done by an individual itself, by him or her and that's a rule.

Indeed, if you questions by self such as that you thinks that you're not a good enough because you don't pray, and feel so distant from Allah swt. Then, make it this Istikharah as one of your ways to rebuild your relationship with Allah swt. Remember that Allah swt is just accessible & available to everyone, to anyone of you. Put this Solat/Pray as your biggest step in a way of change as a good Muslim. Whoever he/herself wanna make any of decisions, he/she needs to do their own Istikharah. Besides, don't ever make Solat Istikharah for something impermissible or obligatory thing (Perkara yang tidak baik/haram).

5) Implications (Implikasi/Tujuan) - for supplication of Istikharah (Doa)

• Emphasized the importance of memorizing.
• To read in Arabic language
• After the prayer complete or be done.

Jika kita baca dan faham doa Istikharah ini, betapa kita akan sedar yang sememangnya kita benar-benar meletakkan pengharapan yang penuh kepada Allah swt. Masya-Allah. Kerana itulah, kita digalakkan untuk membaca doa ini dalam bahasa Arab dan memahami setiap bait makna doa yang dilafazkan.

Doa Istikharah (the supplication of Istikharah):

Allahumma Innii Astakhiiruka bi’ilmika

"O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge (which is good from Allah)."

Wa Astaqdiruka Biqudrotika

"And power from Your might (And I seek the ability to do what I need to do by means the power of you)." 

Wa As-aluka Min Fadhlikal Azhiim

"And I ask for Your great blessings (And I ask you to grant me from Your great blessing)"

 Fainnaka Taqdiiru Wa Laa Aqdiru

 " You are capable and I'm not (because definitely you're fully capable and I'm completely incapable)."

Wata’lamu Wa Laa A’lamu

"You know and I do not (You know everything & I don't know anything)." 

Wa Anta ‘allaamul Ghuyuub

"And You know the unseen (You're complete nowhere inside out of all these things that are unseen/hidden/unknown)." 

Allaahumma In Kunta Ta’lamu  Anna Haadzal Amro Khoirun Lii Fii Diinii Wa Ma’aasyii Wa ‘aaqibati Amri

"O Allah! If you know this issue* is good for my religion, and my subsistence and in my hereafter(akhirah)" 

Faqdurhu lii Wayassirhu lii Tsumma Baarikli Fiihi

"Then You ordain it for me & make it easy for me, and then bless me in it (make it possible for me//make it happens for me//make it easy for me//make it accessible for me, then put blessing in it for me)." 

Allaahumma Wa In Kunta Ta’lamu Anna Haadzal Amro Syarrun Lii Fii Diini

Wa Ma’aasyii Wa ‘aaqibati Amri

"And if you know that this issue* is harmful to me in my religion, and subsistence and in the hereafter(akhirah)" 

Fashrifhu ‘annii Washrifnii ‘anhu

"Then keep it away from me & let me be away from it (turn me away from it and turn it away from me)." 

Waqdur Liyal Khairahaytsu Kaana

"And ordain for me whatever is good for me (make then possible for me which is good for me, whatever, whenever and however it may be)."

Tsumma Aor Dhinii Bih

"And make me satisfied with it (Make me pleased with it, satisfied//content with it)."

EXTRA:

In terms of Arabic verbs;

i) Aor Dhinii Bih ==> make me all at once completely satisfied and fulfilled with it.

ii) Ro Dhinii Bih ==> for something that happens continuously, Don't just make me pleased with it but keep me pleased with constantly reassure about the decisions.

*the matters/affairs (can say it in own language, visualize or conceptualize or just thinks of what they needs/decision-making purposes.

Alhamdulillah. Semoga setiap Istikharah yang dilakukan dapat memberikan impak yang positif dalam kehidupan. Yakinlah (sepenuh hati tanpa syak wasangka) dengan segala perancangan dan takdir yang Allah swt tentukan untuk kita adalah yang terbaik dariNya.

Sesungguhnya Allah swt jua yang sebaik-baik perancang. Hanya dia, Allah swt yang Maha Mengetahui. In shaa Allah. 💕