The importance of estekhara in the Quran and Sunnah

Estekhara in Arabic means supplication. “Istakhartu Allah” means: I asked Allah to grant me success in what is best among the things I intend. Many texts stress its importance, encourage it, and call for accepting its outcome. Sayyid Ibn Tawus al-Hasani wrote a book on it titled “Fath al-Abwab bayna Dhawi al-Albab wa bayna Rabb al-Arbab”, in which he explained the reality of estekhara and cited verses that point to it, such as: وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيَخْتَارُ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ “Your Lord creates whatever He wills and chooses; they have no choice. Glory be to Allah, exalted above what they associate with Him.” (al-Qasas 28:68) And: … لِلَّهِ الأَمْرُ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَمِنْ بَعْدُ … “… The matter belongs to Allah, before and after …” (al-Rum 30:4)

Among them: Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) sent me to Yemen and said to me: “O Ali, whoever seeks Allah’s choice is never perplexed, and whoever seeks counsel never regrets.” Among them: Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: “Part of My servant’s misfortune is that he undertakes deeds without seeking My choice.” He (peace be upon him) also said: “Whoever enters into a matter without estekhara and is then afflicted will not be rewarded.” Some of his companions asked him: Who is the most honoured of creation before Allah? He said: “The one who remembers Allah the most and acts the most in obedience to Him.” I said: And who is the most hated of creation before Allah? He said: “The one who accuses Allah.” I said: Would anyone accuse Allah? He said: “Yes. Whoever seeks Allah’s choice, and the choice comes with what he dislikes, and he becomes resentful: that one accuses Allah.”