Can I Ask for Something Specific and Pray Istikhara Together?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
I have read that in istikhara one should set aside one’s own inclination.
Yet in supplication (du’a) and the night prayer (tahajjud), we ask for something specific. Can I do both at once, or does that nullify the istikhara?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Benevolent, the Merciful.
May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon His Beloved Messenger, his companions, and his folk.
May Allah reward your sincerity and grant you clarity. Yes, you can do both. Making a specific supplication does not detract from your istikhara.
It helps to understand what istikhara truly is. Istikhara is a prayer of seeking guidance, and it is itself a form of du’a.
In it, you ask Allah, by His knowledge and power, to choose and make easy what is best for you: “O Allah, I seek Your guidance by Your knowledge, and Your power by Your power, and I ask You of Your immense bounty.” [Bukhari]
Istikhara is not separate from your other supplications. It is one of them.
This means you can keep making your specific du’a in the night prayer or at any other time, and you can also pray istikhara. Ask Allah clearly for what you hope for.
Then pray istikhara over the matter, asking Him to bring it about if it is good for you, and to turn it away if it is not. Both can be done together. Neither cancels the other.
How to “Set Aside” One’s Inclinations
What does it mean to set aside your inclination? It does not mean you stop wanting or stop asking for what you hope for.
It means that after you have asked, you leave the outcome to Allah and trust His choice over your own.
Imam Qushayri (Allah have mercy on him) puts it simply: reliance upon Allah (tawakkul) lives in the heart, and your outward striving does not contradict it. You ask with your tongue; you rest in His decree with your heart.
The Quran brings these two matters together in one verse. Allah Most High tells His Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) to take counsel in his affairs, and then: “And when you decide, then trust wholly to Allah; verily Allah loves those who trust in Him.” [Quran 3:159; Keller, The Quran Beheld]
You take the means, you ask, you decide, and then you entrust the matter to Allah. This is the spirit of istikhara.
Keep Asking, and Entrust the Outcome
The principle is simple: ask Allah fully for what you hope for, then leave the choice to Him and be content with what He chooses.
There is no need to choose between du’a and istikhara.
Make your supplication in the night prayer. Pray your istikhara over the matter. Then let your heart rest with whatever Allah opens or closes for you.
Allah loves the one who entrusts their affair to Him, and He does not leave such a heart to itself.
Whatever Allah chooses for you is better than what you would have chosen for yourself.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Related SeekersGuidance Answers
- Istikhara: The Prayer of Seeking Guidance — Shaykh Faraz Rabbani explains how istikhara is prayed, why one suspends one’s own inclination, and how Allah then unfolds events toward what is best.
- How Can I Correctly Understand the Results of Istikhara? — Shaykh Bassem Itani on reading the heart’s inclination, repeating the prayer, and pairing istikhara with seeking counsel.
- Istikhara, The Prayer of Seeking Guidance: The Ultimate Guide — A curated reader gathering our key articles and answers on istikhara in one place.
- Do I Need to Pray Istikhara When I Already Love Someone? — Ustadha Shazia Ahmad on why one still prays istikhara even after the heart has settled, and the supplications to make alongside it.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.
Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.
In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.
Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.
Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School.” This book, published by White Thread Press in 2004, is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.
His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
