1. What is the correct way of doing istikhara?… 2.In which finger should the bride and the bridegroom wear the wedding ring according to Shariah? Is it Left hand or right?

1. What is the correct way of doing istikhara?

2. In which finger should the bride and the bridegroom wear the wedding ring according to Shariah? Is it Left hand or right?

An urgent reply would be greatly appreciated.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh

1) The method of offering istikhaarah salaat is as follows: First two rakaats of nafl salaat should be offered. Thereafter, the following dua should be made with full concentration:

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُك بِعِلْمِك ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُك بِقُدْرَتِك ، وَأَسْأَلُك مِنْ فَضْلِك الْعَظِيمِ ، فَإِنَّك تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْت تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي وَعَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ ، فَاقْدِرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ ، وَإِنْ كُنْت تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي وَعَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ ، وَاقْدِرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ

When he reaches the underlined words, he should think of the thing for which he is making istikhaarah. Thereafter, he should sleep on a pure and clean bed with his face towards the qiblah in a state of wudu. One he wakes up from his sleep, then whatever comes out strongly in his mind will be best for him. He should act according to that which comes to his mind.

If he has not made up his mind after the first day, and some doubt still persists, he should do the same the following day. In this way, he could continue doing this for seven days. Insha Allah, he will come to know of the advantage or disadvantage of that matter.

If a person intends going for hajj, he should not make istikhaarah as to whether he should go or not. Instead, he should make istikhaarah to decide as to whether he should go on a particular day or not.[i]

It is mustahab to recite alhamdulillah and darood (الصلاة على الرسول) before and after the above dua. [ii] A person who is not able to offer the two rakaat salaat may do the istikhaarah with only the above dua.[iii]

2) Islam does not recognise a wedding ring. It is from the custom of the kuffar. However, a woman may wear a ring on any finger of either hand.

As for a man, it is sunnah for him to wear a ring only if he needs it as a signet ring to stamp documents etc. In the absence of such a need it is better for him to abstain from wearing a ring.[iv] Additionally, a man’s ring can only be of silver weighing no more than a mithqaal (about 4.3 grams).[v] It may have a precious stone attached. If it bears an engraving of his name, his fathers name or some form of zikr (Allah’s remembrance), there is no harm.[vi] The ring should not resemble that of a woman; therefore, if it has two or more stones, it will be reprehensible to wear such a ring.[vii] A man should wear the ring on the little finger (pinky) of either hand with the stone facing towards the palm, not towards the exterior, as opposed to women who should wear it with the stone facing the exterior. The reason is that women wear it for adornment whereas men wear it for the purpose of stamping.[viii]

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Wassalam

Mufti Ebrahim Desai (M2)
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah

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