Istikharah Notepad: A Practical Tool to Decide With Barakah

The Istikharah Notepad is simply a applicable instrumentality developed by The Productive Muslim Company to thief oneself deliberation done decisions alongside Barakah.

It is inspired by nan guidance of Prophet Muhammad (peace beryllium atop him). He taught his companions to activity istikharah (goodness) from Allah SWT and istisharah (counsel) from group whenever they person a determination to make.

The Barakah of making decisions alongside istikharah & istisharah is nan knowledge that contempt each nan unknowns and imaginable outcomes of belonging to you decision, oneself tin proceed lacking emotion regret because oneself did each oneself could astatine nan long of making a determination pursuing Prophetic guidance. 

Prophet Muhammad (peace beryllium atop him) said: ‘From (the signs of) nan boy of Adam’s prosperity, is his restitution alongside that Allah decreed for him, and from nan boy of Adam’s misery is his avoiding to petition guidance from Allah, and from nan boy of Adam’s misery is his anger alongside that Allah decreed for him.”

A-Tirmidhi

In this article, we’ll explicate for that logic making decisions is hard, nan process to make determination making easier, and really each mobility successful nan Istikharah Notepad is designed to thief oneself travel this process.

Making decisions is challenging for 2 reasons:

1. We don’t person cleanable knowledge of that intent hap successful nan early based connected our decisions.
2. We are not judge of nan opportunity costs of each determination ourselves make and if location are amended decisions ourselves could person made. 

Allah SWT says successful nan Quran: 

قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ لَٱسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِىَ ٱلسُّوٓءُ ۚ إِنْ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

“Say [Prophet], ‘I person nary power complete use aliases harm, [even] to myself, isolated from arsenic God whitethorn please: if I had knowledge of that is hidden, I could person abundant bully things, and nary harm could interaction me. I americium nary much than a bearer of informing and bully news to those that person believe.“

Quran 7:188

If oneself request to make a determination connected a occupation offer, a business proposition, aliases a matrimony proposal, oneself don’t person cleanable and complete knowledge of nan effect of this determination connected belonging to you life. Moreover, erstwhile oneself decide, oneself forgo different opportunities that whitethorn aliases whitethorn not beryllium amended for you. 

The indecision ourselves spell done because we’re not judge what’s bully for ourselves and nan opportunity costs of our decisions tin beryllium paralyzing, particularly astatine that long ourselves person a batch of bully choices successful beforehand of us. 

We deliberation that having much choices successful life is better; however, arsenic Dr.Barry Schwartz explained successful his TED Talk, nan much options oneself have, nan much analyzable a determination tin be, and nan much regret you’ll consciousness aft making a determination because oneself deliberation oneself could person made amended choices:

This abundance of prime and nan accompanying indecision is exasperated successful nan modern era compared to erstwhile generations. In nan past, uncovering a occupation aliases spouse was constricted to successful that spot oneself lived and which person oneself knew. Nowadays, alongside a click of a button, oneself tin hunt for endless options for jobs and imaginable spouses globally.

So, really do ourselves make determination making little stressful? How do ourselves not get paralyzed alongside nan abundance of choices and nan challenges of analyzing each our options? Below is simply a four-step process to thief successful this regard.

1. Understand nan decision: You request to inquire oneself powerful questions that springiness oneself clarity and position connected nan determination astatine hand.
2. Seek counsel from group you reliance aliases those that person person much knowledge and acquisition than oneself and that person tin springiness oneself good, sincere advice.
3. Pray istikharah dream and activity goodness and Barakah successful belonging to you determination from Allah SWT.
4. Take action based connected that belonging to you belief bosom is inclined towards and reliance Allah (Tawakkal) that He’ll springiness oneself what’s champion moreover if things don’t toil retired belonging to you way.

The Istikharah Notepad helps oneself systematically spell done nan supra process by completing 1 expanse of insubstantial per decision.

Step 1: Understand nan decision

The first fewer questions successful nan Istikharah Notepad are designed to thief oneself intelligibly deliberation done nan decisions. Here’s a breakdown of each mobility and really it tin thief you:

What determination do I request to make?

It’s unthinkable really asking a elemental mobility tin thief resoluteness a batch of indecision astir a topic. 

What is it precisely that you’re deciding on? Be specific. For example, let’s opportunity you’re considering starting a business. What determination are oneself making? Is it if aliases not to get into nan business? Or that benignant of business do oneself request to get into? Or nan business exemplary oneself should explore?

Being clear connected nan determination oneself request to make is nan first measurement towards making effective decisions and reducing nan uncertainty astir a decision.

Use this abstraction successful nan Istikharah Notepad to inscribe a clear connection connected nan determination you’re making.

What’s my niyyah (intention) for this decision?

Once oneself grasp that determination oneself request to make. Take a pause, and inquire oneself for that logic are oneself making this decision? What’s nan volition down it? 

For example, oneself mightiness recognize that nan logic you’re considering a occupation connection moreover though oneself already person a bully occupation is that you’re saturated and are looking for caller breathtaking occupation opportunities. Or nan logic for choosing a circumstantial assemblage grade is because it’ll look bully connected belonging to you CV moreover though you’re not willing successful studying that topic.

Intentions are subtle, and they commencement from nan heart. Our situation is to purify nan intentions down each determination and make them for Allah SWT (we screen this taxable extensively successful our How to Use Barakah Journal webinar and successful nan introductory conception of nan Barakah Journal).

Understanding our intentions and trying to purify them truthful that they are for nan liking of Allah SWT is simply a powerful measurement to get clarity connected decisions and guarantee that oneself make spiritually-intelligent decisions. Therefore, successful this conception of nan Istikharah Notepad, inscribe down that belonging to you niyyah (intention) is and measure belonging to you intention:

• Is it for Allah SWT?
• Can oneself enhance belonging to you volition from a Dunya (worldly) attraction to an Akhira focus?
• What is belonging to you for that logic telling oneself astir this decision?

These reflective questions are basal arsenic they’ll thief region immoderate of nan layers of indecision surrounding nan decision. You mightiness get clarity connected that belonging to you determination should beryllium simply by reasoning astir belonging to you intentions.

When do I request to make this decision?

The astir stressful portion astir making a determination isn’t nan decision-making process; it’s being stuck successful nan play earlier making nan decision. We telephone this The Stress of Indecision. That’s for that logic adding a deadline is important to thief oneself determine by a circumstantial day and not springiness oneself nan action to procrastinate connected nan decision-making process.

Some decisions person clear deadlines – e.g., oneself request to judge a occupation connection wrong 2 weeks, for example. Other decisions don’t person a clear deadline, and this is successful that spot ourselves urge that oneself put a deadline and instrumentality to it.

As portion of our #GoHijri run – ourselves urge that oneself put a Hijri day first earlier a Gregorian date. Perhaps there’s a subtle belief value to a circumstantial day that could animate oneself to make a determination connected that day, e.g., oneself mightiness determine connected an important task connected nan Day of Arafat.

Which areas of my life intent this determination impact nan most?

Every determination oneself make intent effect aggregate areas of belonging to you life. The mobility is: that area intent beryllium affected nan most?

For example, if oneself crave to commencement a business, oneself mightiness recognize that nan astir affected area is belonging to you finances since it’ll return long for nan startup to get disconnected nan ground, and oneself won’t person nan information of a monthly paycheck. Knowing this, you’d request to make financial arrangements to guarantee that oneself person a 6-12 months runway to screen belonging to you expenses during oneself toil connected belonging to you business and a backup scheme successful lawsuit belonging to you business fails.

Or oneself mightiness recognize that accepting that adjacent promotion intent impact belonging to you wellness and family life since it requires changeless walking and tons of late-night meetings.

Understanding that areas of belonging to you life intent beryllium affected by a determination helps oneself deliberation done ways to mitigate nan effect of a determination and/or person applicable conversations alongside those who’ll beryllium affected truthful oneself tin amended work together connected really champion to negociate nan effect of a decision.

Which portion of this determination is my nafs (self) attached to and why?

This is possibly nan astir challenging mobility to inquire oneself successful nan notepad because it requires heavy introspection and self-accountability. 

Before I stock really to reply this question, a speedy preview of that ourselves mean by nafs (self) present from an Islamic psycho-spiritual position truthful oneself tin grasp really to reply this question.

Your nafs is simply a subtle constituent that comes into beingness astatine that long our souls and bodies meet successful this world. It is nan portion of ourselves that has desires, likes and dislikes, and peculiar inclinations based connected pleasance and pain. As Dr. Abdallah Rothman outlines successful this article, during nan nafs is not bad successful and of itself, it has nan inclination to lead ourselves distant from Allah SWT because it tends to beryllium attached to this world. Our situation – arsenic belief beings – is to amended and subject nan nafs to rotate towards Allah and not beryllium connected to this temporal world truthful that it tin beryllium successful successful nan hereafter.

Disciplining our nafs tin beryllium difficult, particularly since our nafs is for illustration a child. If it wants something, it wants it now (instant gratification) sloppy of nan consequences, and if it doesn’t crave something, it’ll defy and propulsion ‘tantrums’ if oneself endeavor to unit it to do thing that it doesn’t like.

Therefore, astatine that long it comes to decision-making, ourselves request to beryllium careful. Sometimes ourselves make decisions that our nafs is inclined towards moreover though it mightiness harm ourselves spiritually and lead ourselves distant from Allah SWT. For example, let’s opportunity you’re a hiring head astatine a institution and oneself person to determine betwixt 2 candidates. Objectively, campaigner A is amended than campaigner B, and belonging to you squad thinks that campaigner A is nan champion wide choice. However, belonging to you nafs is attached to campaigner B because they travel from nan aforesaid inheritance arsenic you, aliases they are much charismatic (this is sometimes referred to arsenic implicit bias). 

We request to beryllium wary of making decisions that entreaty to our nafs alternatively of what’s champion for ourselves (or nan organization) successful nan agelong run.

So deliberation profoundly and introspectively astir that portion of a determination is belonging to you nafs attached to and why. Perhaps, for example, you’re attached to an idea/project because it was belonging to you idea, and moreover though objectively nan thought whitethorn not work, belonging to you nafs doesn’t crave to fto spell because it was belonging to you idea. Hence, oneself prosecute nan thought anyhow astatine precocious costs.

Again, nan intent of this mobility is not to ‘judge’ that belonging to you nafs likes aliases dislikes, but simply to bespeak and grasp that belonging to you nafs is attached to truthful oneself tin make amended spiritually-intelligent decisions.

How do I presently consciousness astir this decision?

This is simply a speedy ‘gut’ guidance cheque astir a decision. How do oneself consciousness astir nan decision? Don’t overthink this conception and take from nan disposable options. You tin prime arsenic galore feelings arsenic oneself like.

Labeling nan emotions surrounding a determination is simply a way to grasp that belonging to you intuition is telling oneself astir a decision. 

You mightiness deliberation that oneself ‘fear’ a decision, but recognize that it’s an excitement coupled alongside a consciousness of vulnerability. This is adjuvant accusation arsenic oneself deliberation done nan determination and really champion to proceed.

What are nan Dunya (worldly) aliases Akhirah (hereafter) opportunities/challenges of this decision? 

The intent of this mobility is to punctual oneself to deliberation of imaginable opportunities and challenges you’ll look arsenic a consequence of pursuing done alongside a determination successful this world and nan next.

For example, oneself mightiness see a matrimony connection from personification able but is not religious. From a Dunya perspective, nan determination opens upward nan opportunity for oneself to move upward nan socio-economic ladder, spend much things, and mostly beryllium well-off. Moreover, from an Akhirah perspective, oneself now person entree to prosperity that oneself tin exertion to springiness to charity, support belonging to you family, and money organization projects.

However, nan challenges of this determination from a Dunya position could beryllium societal unit to support upward alongside group from a higher class, being worried that family and friends whitethorn endeavor to return advantage of you, being invited to tons of parties that garbage belonging to you long etc. And from an Akhirah perspective, having to woody alongside family members that person whitethorn beryllium averse to immoderate shape of religiosity because they consciousness Islam is backward and not compatible alongside nan modern world. Also, each this caller worldly prosperity whitethorn effect belonging to you belief and characteristic development; oneself whitethorn commencement being arrogant and treating group alongside contempt, etc.

Every determination opens upward opportunities and challenges for ourselves successful this world and nan next. This conception of nan Istikharah Notepad helps oneself deliberation done these opportunities and challenges and execute a cost-benefit study that is not conscionable worldly but besides considers nan alambaka impact.

Step 2: Seek counsel from people

The Istisharah (Advice) Log

In Islam, ourselves are encouraged to activity counsel aliases ‘shura’ from group concerning decisions ourselves request to make.

Even if ourselves deliberation we’re smart and person bully judgment, seeking counsel is encouraged. Prophet Muhammad (peace beryllium atop him) sought proposal and counsel from his companions, including earlier nan battles of Badr and Uhud. Sometimes nan proposal was successful arsenic successful nan conflict of Badr, and sometimes it wasn’t arsenic successful for illustration successful nan conflict of Uhud, but that did not deter nan Prophet to activity counsel from nan companions, arsenic Allah SWT asked him to do:

فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

“By an enactment of mercy from God, oneself [Prophet] were gentle successful belonging to you dealings alongside them- had oneself been harsh, aliases hard-hearted, they could person dispersed and near you- truthful pardon them and inquire forgiveness for them. Consult alongside them astir matters, then, astatine that long oneself person decided connected a people of action, put belonging to you reliance successful God: God loves those that person put their reliance successful Him.”

Quran 3:159

Allah says successful nan Quran – describing nan believers:

وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

“And those that person respond to their Lord; support upward nan prayer; behaviour their affairs by communal consultation; springiness to others retired of that We person provided for them”

Quran 42:38

The Barakah of istisharah is that you’re often led to nan correct and astir beneficial determination (not always, but often).

When Umar Bin Al-Khattab was considering entering a municipality alongside a plague, he sought proposal from nan companions that person told him that it was champion not to enter. Later he learned that location was a sabda by Prophet Muhammad (peace beryllium atop him) explicitly discouraging group from entering a municipality alongside a plague (a conception ourselves now cognize arsenic quarantine).

When seeking istisharah from people, oneself request to activity istisharah from group that person person knowledge/experience and tin springiness oneself applicable proposal to enactment on. The personification should beryllium known for their honesty and trustworthiness and group their individual feelings speech to supply oneself alongside nonsubjective and straightforward advice. 

This conception of nan Istikharah Notepad ensures that oneself a) activity shura from astatine slightest 3 group successful belonging to you circle (feel free to activity istisharah from much group if oneself want) and b) seizure their shura, truthful oneself person a log of that proposal they gave you.

Step 3: Seek istikharah (goodness) from Allah SWT

The Istikharah Prayer Log

The istikharah dream is simply a typical dream taught by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) astatine that long ourselves person a determination to make. It’s a powerful way to activity goodness and Barakah from Allah SWT connected immoderate determination you’re making. 

Here’s really to believe istikharah prayer:

Step 1: Perform 2 rak’ah of optional prayer

Step 2: After nan prayer, make nan pursuing supplication:

اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك، وأستقدرك بقدرتك، وأسألك من فضلك العظيم؛ فإنك تقدر ولا أقدر وتعلم ولا أعلم، وأنت علام الغيوب‏.‏ اللهم إن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر خير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري‏”‏ أو قال‏:‏ ‏”‏عاجل أمري وآجله ، فاقدره لي ويسره لي، ثم بارك لي فيه، وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شر لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري‏”‏ أو قال‏:‏ ‏”‏عاجل أمري وآجله، فاصرفه عني ، واصرفني عنه، واقدر لي الخير حيث كان، ثم ارضني به‏”‏ قال‏:‏ ويسمي حاجته‏. (البخاري)

Transliteration: “Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi ‘ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as-‘aluka min fadlikal-‘azim. Fainnaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wa la a’lamu, wa Anta ‘allamul- ghuyub. Allahumma successful kunta ta’lamu anna hadhal-‘amra (and sanction that oneself crave to do) khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri, (or he said) ‘ajili amri ajilihi, faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fihi. Wa successful kunta ta’lamu anna hadhal ‘amra (and sanction that oneself crave to do) sharrun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa ‘aqibati amri, (or he said) wa ‘ajili amri wa ajilihi, fasrifhu ‘anni, wasrifni ‘anhu, waqdur liyal- khaira haithu kana, thumma ardini bihi.” 

Translation: “O Allah, I consult You done Your Knowledge, and I activity spot done Your Power, and inquire of Your Great Bounty; for You are Capable whereas I americium not and, You know, and I do not, and You are nan Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if You cognize that this matter (and sanction it) is bully for maine successful respect of my Deen, my livelihood and nan consequences of my affairs, (or he said), nan sooner or, nan later of my affairs past ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. But if You cognize this matter (and sanction it) to beryllium bad for my Deen, my livelihood aliases nan consequences of my affairs, (or he said) nan sooner aliases nan later of my affairs past rotate it distant from me, and rotate maine distant from it, and assistance maine powerfulness to do bully thing it whitethorn be, and origin maine to beryllium contented alongside it). And fto nan supplicant specify nan object.” [Al-Bukhari]

After oneself believe belonging to you istikharah prayer, spot that belonging to you bosom is inclined towards and inscribe it down successful nan Istikharah notepad.

Although oneself tin believe istikharah only once, there’s nary harm successful repeating belonging to you istikharah dream 2-3 times, particularly if caller information/insight comes to you.

How do I cognize that my bosom is inclined towards?

There are a fewer signs:

1. You consciousness highly comfortable regarding a determination and person nary hesitation aliases concern.
2. You spot a dream that supports a decision.
3. A personification of knowledge and acquisition gives oneself a clear guidance of that way to follow.
4. You consciousness optimistic astir a peculiar decision.
5. Allah opens insights successful belonging to you bosom of nan existent cost/benefit of a decision, truthful oneself make nan astir beneficial route.

Step 4: Take action based connected that belonging to you belief bosom is inclined towards

Next Steps

Many group are confused astir istikharah dream and not judge really “it works.” 

The intent of nan istikharah dream is that ourselves are seeking Allah’s guidance and giving complete our matter to Allah (tafweedh). Therefore, aft taking each nan supra steps and praying istikharah, nan adjacent measurement is to return action successful nan guidance our bosom is inclined towards and person complete reliance that Allah SWT intent return attraction of nan remainder (even if things don’t spell our way).

In his book A Journey to God, Dr. Jasser Auda captures this comprehension successful nan pursuing example: “If oneself are moving a business trying to make a profit, location is simply a anticipation that oneself whitethorn suffer belonging to you investment. But if oneself believe istikharah and lose, deliberation profoundly astir it. You mightiness find that oneself mislaid immoderate of belonging to you finance now, but that larger profits intent travel successful a different business successful nan early aft oneself learned from nan lessons of belonging to you loss. It is besides imaginable that God made oneself suffer truthful that oneself intent reconsider galore things, people, and plans successful belonging to you life, that oneself analyse successful an effort to find retired for that logic oneself lost. You whitethorn proceed to lose, but win a adjacent friend that person helped oneself during nan long of belonging to you troubles. Therefore, belonging to you existent occurrence successful nan extremity whitethorn beryllium from making a profit successful different deal, reconsidering belonging to you plans, aliases moreover winning a friend. God knows whereas oneself do not cognize (Quran 2:216).” 3

Once oneself inscribe down nan adjacent steps, opportunity bismillah and return action! 

Congratulations, you’ve made a determination successful statement alongside prophetic guidance, and insha’Allah you’ll person nary regrets sloppy of nan outcome.

Questions astir nan Istikharah Notepad?

I dream this article gave oneself a clear step-by-step guideline to filling nan Istikharah Notepad and really to make nan astir retired of it. If oneself person further questions, please nonstop ourselves an email aliases inquire ourselves connected Twitter and we’ll beryllium happy to respond.