8/2/2019 The Pearls of Islam Reminder Series 6.1 - To B(Sc) Or Not To B(Sc)

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Pearls of Islam Reminder Series

To B(Sc) or not to B(Sc)By Nadiah Hashim-Arrifin

Madness has overtaken the soon-to-be 4th years

(InshaAllah!) in recent weeks: cardio? Pharm?

Repro? Management? Quit Imperial? These

flustered questions clutter tired minds and hospital

common rooms. There are matters of career,

interest and just sheer willpower to consider in

choosing your BSc. But how fortunate is thebeliever there is a solution!

The Istikharah prayer is a gift and mercy from Allah

SWT as a means for the believer to seek His

guidance in deciding between two matters that are

both Halal, and to decide a path that is better for

you in this life and the next.

The description of the Istikharah prayer was

narrated by Jabir ibn Abd-Allah al Salami, who said:

The Messenger of Allah used to teach his

companions to make Istikharah in all things; just ashe used to teach them Surahs from the Quran. He

said:If any one of you is concerned about a

decision he has to make, let him pray two raka ahs

of non-obligatory prayer, then say -

O Allah, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice]

by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by

virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great

bounty. You have power, I have none. And Youknow, and I know not. You are the Knower of hidden

things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter

(then it should be mentioned by name) is good for

me in both this world and in the Hereafter (or: in my

religion, my livelihood and my affairs), then ordain it

for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And

if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my

religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me

both in this world and the next), then turn me away

from it, [and turn it away from me], and ordain forme the good wherever it may be and make me

pleased with it.

The Prophet added that then the person should

mention his need [Sahih Bukhari]

It is not in our place to wait for dreams or signs

outside what is taught in the example of the Prophet

(SAW), we are simply advised to incline towards

which our hearts find contentment inshaAllah. Imam

An-Nawawi says: after performing the Istikharah,

a person must do what he is wholeheartedly

inclined to do and feels good about doing andshould not insist on doing what he had desired to do

before making the Istikharah. And if his feelings

change, he should leave what he had intended to

do, otherwise he is not completely leaving the

choice to Allah, and would not be honest in seeking

aid from Allahs power and knowledge. Sincerity in

seeking Allahs choice, means that one should

completely leave what he himself had desired or

determined.

Our Istikharah first demands of us two things

humility in acknowledging the poverty of ourknowledge and judgement; and wholehearted trust

in Allah SWT. And what mercy Allah SWT has

shown us in trial and confusion, He prescribes for

us so clearly an avenue to seek help, and in doing

so an opportunity to improve and grow as His

slaves. And as if that werent enough, seeking His

help draws us closer to Allah and is pleasing to Him:

Put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those

who put their trust (in Him) [Surah Al-Imran: 159]

Alhamdulillah, how fortunate is our position as

believers, and how merciful is our Lord, Ya Rabbal

Alamin! I speak first to myself but may this reminder

have brought you benefit; all that is good is from

Allah and all mistakes are mine alone.

Asalamualaykum!

THE PEARLS OF ISLAM

REMINDER SERIES

Monday 19th March 2012 26 Rabi Al-Thani 1433 Volume 6 Issue 1

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