قَالَ الإِمَامُ الصَّادِقُ عَليهِ السَلامْ:
...اُنْظُرْ إِذَا قُمْتَ إِلَىَ الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ أَبْعَدُ مَا يَكُونُ مِنَ الإِنْسَانِ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ يَقَعُ فِي قَلْبِكَ فَخُذْ بِهِ أَو إِفْتَحْ الْمُصْحَفِ فَانْظُرْ إِلَى أَوَّلِ مَا تَرَى فِيهِ فَخُذْ بِهِ. إِنْ شَاءَ اللهَ.
al‑Imam al‑Sadiq (as) said: "... when you wake up for the Salat, see what is in your heart and take that (step) since the devil is far away from the person who rises up for the Salat. Or, open up the Qur’an and take what you see on the first line (on the right hand side of the page) and act upon it (and whatever is good for you will be in that), God Willing. "16
That which has been mentioned in the beginning of this Hadith regarding the performance of the Istikhara by the Qur'an is only after the Dua' and supplication for Istikhara and asking the best from Allah have been exhausted. This form of Istikhara is only permissible when doubt still remains after deep thinking, pondering on the subject, and seeking advice from others.
The above was mentioned since the relater of this Hadith, Yasa' Qummi, had asked the Imam that when he intended to perform a certain action and had asked Allah to guide him to what was the best for him, but he did not come to a clear cut answer and doubt and indecision still existed within him. It was at this time that the Imam spoke the words that have been quoted above.
...اُنْظُرْ إِذَا قُمْتَ إِلَىَ الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ أَبْعَدُ مَا يَكُونُ مِنَ الإِنْسَانِ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ يَقَعُ فِي قَلْبِكَ فَخُذْ بِهِ أَو إِفْتَحْ الْمُصْحَفِ فَانْظُرْ إِلَى أَوَّلِ مَا تَرَى فِيهِ فَخُذْ بِهِ. إِنْ شَاءَ اللهَ.
al‑Imam al‑Sadiq (as) said: "... when you wake up for the Salat, see what is in your heart and take that (step) since the devil is far away from the person who rises up for the Salat. Or, open up the Qur’an and take what you see on the first line (on the right hand side of the page) and act upon it (and whatever is good for you will be in that), God Willing. "16
That which has been mentioned in the beginning of this Hadith regarding the performance of the Istikhara by the Qur'an is only after the Dua' and supplication for Istikhara and asking the best from Allah have been exhausted. This form of Istikhara is only permissible when doubt still remains after deep thinking, pondering on the subject, and seeking advice from others.
The above was mentioned since the relater of this Hadith, Yasa' Qummi, had asked the Imam that when he intended to perform a certain action and had asked Allah to guide him to what was the best for him, but he did not come to a clear cut answer and doubt and indecision still existed within him. It was at this time that the Imam spoke the words that have been quoted above.
Notes:
16. Tahdhib al‑Ahkam, Volume 3, Page 310 / Bihar al‑Anwar, Volume 91, Page 243 / Wasa'il ash‑Shi'a, Volume 3, Page 875, Hadith 7819
