Numerical Istikhara
In his book entitled al-Zikra, Shaykh al-Shaheed, may Allah have mercy upon him, says: One of its famous types is the numerical Istekhaarah, which was, how
Open Numerical Istikhara in Shia Companion
Merits
In his book entitled al-Zikra, Shaykh al-Shaheed, may Allah have mercy upon him, says: One of its famous types is the numerical Istekhaarah, which was, however, not famous in the past ages before the time of the great Sayyid of Aamil (i.e. southern Lebanon), Razi al-Din Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Awi al-Husayni, the neighbor of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a.s.) in the holy city of al-Najaf. May Allah have mercy upon him. Just like all of his reports, I have reported this type of Istekhaarah from him according to the following chain of authority: A number of our mentors have reported on the authority of the grand and virtuous Shaykh Jamal al-Din ibn al-Mutahhar on the authority of his father, may Allah be pleased with both of them, on the authority of Sayyid Razi al-Deen on the authority of the Patron of the Matter; Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.).
Text and Translation
Recite [Surah al-Fatihah](A5) 10 times (or at least 3 times, or at least once).
Recite [Surah al-Qadr](A101) 10 times.
Then recite 3 times:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنّىْۤ اَسْتَخِيْرُكَ لِعِلْمِكَ بِعَاقِبَةِ الْاُمُوْرِ
ALLAAHUMMA INNEEE ASTAKHEEROKA LE-I’LMEKA BE-A’AQEBATIL OMOORE
O Allah, indeed I seek the best choice from You due to Your knowledge of the outcomes of all affairs,
وَاَسْتَشِيْرُكَ لِحُسْنِ ظَنِّىْ بِكَ فِى الْمَاْمُوْلِ وَالْمَحْذُوْرِ
WA ASTASHEEROKA LE-HUSNE ZANNEE BEKA FIL MA-MOOLE WAL MAHZOORE
and I seek Your counsel because of my good expectation of You regarding what is hoped for and what is feared.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنْ كَانَ الْاَمْرُ الْفُلَانِىُّ مِمَّا قَدْ نِيْطَتْ بِالْبَرَكَةِ اَعْجَازُهٗ
ALLAAHUMMA IN KAANAL AMRUL FOLAANIYYO MIMMAA QAD NEETAT BIL-BARAKATE A-A’JAAZOHU
O Allah, if this specific matter is among those whose beginnings
وَبَوَادِيْهِ وَحُفَّتْ بِالْكَرَامَةِ اَيَّامُهٗ وَلَيَالِيْهِ فَخِرْلِىْ
WA BAWAADEEYOHU WA HUFFAT BIL-KARAAMATE AYYAAMOHU WA LAYAALEEHE FAKHIR LEE
and ends are intertwined with blessings, and whose days and nights are surrounded by honor, then decree it as the best choice for me,
اَللّٰهُمَّ فِيْهِ خِيَرَةً تَرُدُّ شُمُوْسَهٗ ذَلُوْلًا وَّتَقْعَضُ اَيَّامَهٗ سُرُوْرًا
ALLAAHUMMA FEEHE KHEYARATAN TARUDDO SHOMOOSAHU ZALOOLANW WA TAQ-A’ZO AYYAAMAHU SOROORAN
O Allah—a choice that tames its difficulties and turns its days into joy.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِمَّا اَمْرٌ فَائْتَمِرَ وَاِمَّا نَهْىٌ فَاَنْتَهِىَ
ALLAAHUMMA IMMAA AMRUN FA-TAMERA WA IMMAA NAHYUN FA-ANTAHEYA
O Allah, if it is a command [to proceed], then bid me to do so, and if it is a prohibition, then let me desist.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّىْ اَسْتَخِيْرُكَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ خِيَرَةً فِىْ عَافِيَةٍ.
ALLAAHUMMA INNEE ASTAKHEEROKA BE-RAHMATEKA KHEYARATAN FEE A’AFEYATIN.
O Allah, indeed I seek the best choice from You, by Your mercy—a choice accompanied by well-being and protection.
Then hold a portion of a rosary in your hand while keeping the issue for which you are doing the Istikhara hidden in your mind.
If the number of beads in the portion held by the hand is even, it is a sign to do what you intended.
If it is odd, it is a sign not to do it - or the opposite, according to the way you decided beforehand: before starting, decide whether even means "do it" and odd means "do not", or the opposite.
