Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu A'laikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barkatuhu

 

Pls send me timing of doing Istekhara.

 

Kindly guide in the light of Qur'an and Hadith.

 

Ma'Assalam

Your Sincere Well Wisher

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Best time to do istakhara

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

The prayer of ‘Istekhara’ is a Sunnah prayer, and the scholars and jurists in Islam are unanimous in their opinion that one is at liberty to offer their ‘istikhara’ prayers at any permissible time of the day and night one wills, or is easy and convenient for them.

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.333         Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "When it is the last third of the night, our Lord, The Blessed, The Superior, Descends every night to the nearest heaven of the world and Declares, 'Is there anyone who invokes Me that I may respond to his invocation; is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (it to) him; is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?'"

 

Abu Umamah reported, "The Prophet (saws) was asked, 'What supplication finds the greatest acceptance (with Allah Subhanah)?' He (saws) answered: 'A prayer offered in the middle of the latter part of the night, and after the prescribed Prayers'.' Related by Tirmidhi.

 

Although one is at liberty to perform their Sunnah ‘istikhara’ prayer and supplication at any permissible time of the day or night, it one were searching for the absolute best time to consult and/or make supplications unto their Lord Most Gracious, it would be the last third of the night, or in the middle of the latter part of the night, or after any of their prescribed obligatory prayers….for the Messenger of Allah (saws) guided that supplications made at these specific times find the greatest acceptance with their Lord Most Majestic, Most High.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan