*One should break the fast with fresh
dates. If he cannot find any, then he can break his fast with preserved dates.
*If one cannot find dates, then he
should break his fast with water.
*One should break his fast before
performing the prayer.
*One should make Du'aa (supplication) upon breaking his fast. It is appropriate that
one recites the following du'aa which
is authentically reported: 'Dhahaba adh-Dhama wab'talat al-Urooq wa thabatal ajro Inshallah.'
Meaning: The thirst has gone, the veins are quenched, and the reward is
affixed by the will of Allah.
*It is praiseworthy for one to help
others break their fast. It is mentioned that the Prophet ()
said:
'Whoever gives food to help his brother break
his fast will receive reward equal to his reward while the other's reward will
not be decreased.' (Saheeh
Ibn Hib’ban)
*One should fast out of belief and to seek the reward of Allah. The
Prophet () said:
'Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhan out of
belief and to seek the reward of Allah will have his past sins effaced.'(Bukhari & Muslim)
*One should intend to fast the month of
Ramadhan. The Prophet () said:
'Whoever does not intend to fast (a compulsory fast)
from the previous night, will not have fasted.’(An-Nasa’ee)
*One should not
skip the Suhoor (pre-dawn) meal. The
Prophet () said:
'The pre-dawn meal is blessed; therefore, do
not avoid it, even if one of you just takes a sip of water! Indeed Allah
praises the one who eats it and His Angels ask Allah to bless those who eat
it.'(Ahmed)
The Prophet ()
stated that the difference between our fast and the fast of the people before
us is the Suhoor. The Prophet () said:
'The difference between our fast and the fast
of those before you is the Suhoor.'(An-Nasa’ee)
*It is praiseworthy that one delay the Suhoor meal.
*It is praiseworthy that one eat dates
for Suhoor, for the Prophet () said:
'Blessed is the Suhoor of the believer who
eats dates.'(Abu Dawood)
*The conditions that apply to Salat al-Istikharah are similar to the
conditions of a supererogatory prayer.
*The general conditions of Du'aa (supplication) also apply to the Du’aa made in Salatul-Istikhaarah; such that one should have earned his money
through lawful sources and not transgress in his Du'aa.
*Istikharah
means that one seeks goodness by asking Allah to help him choose what is best
for him.
*One should not seek Istikhaarah in praiseworthy, compulsory,
blameworthy and unlawful things. Istikharah
is to be sought in the Mobaah
(lawful) things. Some scholars state that one can seek Istikharah if he has two compulsory or praiseworthy matters at
hand.
*One will not see a dream, or have a
special feeling, when they make Istikharah;
rather, one should do what he intends to do.
*It is lawful to repeat the Istikharah more than once.
*There is no specific time to perform
the Istikharah, but it is better that
one make it during times in which the Du'aa
is accepted.
*This prayer is considered among the
prayers done during specific occasions and for specific reasons, so one can
perform it during a time of prohibition. If one decides to perform it after the
time of prohibition, it is better.
*One does not have to recite a specific
surah in this prayer, for nothing has been mentioned in this regard in the
Sunnah.
*One can make the du'aa of Istikharah after the Salam or before the
Salam after the last Ta'shahud.
*One may make Istikharah during the Tahiytaul
Masjid prayer or the Sunnah prayer after one performs Wudhu.
*If one cannot perform the prayer due
to the place that he is in, he can say the Du'aa
separately.
*There is no problem if he reads the Du'aa from a book or if he repeats it
after someone.
*One should seek advice before making
the Istikharah. Allah says:
And consult them in the affairs. Then when
you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves
those who put their trust (in Him).(3:159)
Sa'd
b. Abi Waq'qaas () sought the advice of the Prophet()
when he wanted to give his money out for the sake of Allah.
He ()
said: 'O Messenger of Allah! I am wealthy and only have a single heir who will
inherit me, shall I give out 2/3rds of
my money for the sake of Allah? The Prophet () said: 'No.'
[1] Jarir b. Abdullah ()
said: ‘the Messenger of Allah () used to teach us how to ask
Allah’s guidance *in a
matter just as he used to teach us a surah of the Qur’an, saying, ‚When any of
you intends to do something he should pray two rak’ahs apart from the
obligatory prayers. Then let him say: Al’laahum’ma in’nee as’ta’khee’ro’ka
be’ilmik wa astaqde’ro’ka be qod’ra’tik wa as’a’lo’ka min fad’le-ka al-adtheem
fin’naka taq’de’ro wa laa aqdir wa ta’lam wa laa a’lam wa anta al’laam
al-gho’youb. Al’lahum’ma in konta ta’lam an’na ha’dtha al-Amr_______khairon lee
fe de’nee wa ma’aa’shee wa a’qe’bato amree wa aa’je’lih wa a’ji’lih faqdor-who
lee wa yas’sirwho lee thom’maa baarik lee fe’he wa in konta ta’lam an’na
ha’dthal amr shar’ron le fe de’nee wa ma’a’shee wa aa’qe’bato amree wa
aa’je’le-he wa a’ji’lih fas’rif’who an’nee wus’rifnee an’who waqdor le al-khair
haitho kaan thom’ma rad’de’nee be’he.
Meaning: O Allah I ask you
to guide my choice by Your knowledge, I ask You for strength by Your power, and
I ask You of Your great favor, for You have power and I have none, You know and
I do not, and You are the One who is Fully Knowing of unseen matters. O Allah,
if you know that this matter (and one should name the matter) is good for me
regarding my religion, my livelihood, an the outcome of my affair, it its
immediate (consequences) and its (the matter’s) final term, ordain it for me
and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. But if You know that this matter
is bad for me regarding my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my
affair, it its immediate (consequences) and it’s (the matter’s) final term,
turn it away from me, turn me away from it, and decree the good for me wherever
it is, then make me pleased with it.
