Time: Wednesday February 3, 2010 at 2:59 pm

A: Never lament what Allah has chosen for you. People sometimes force themselves in situations that get them married.  Later a claim is made: I just wish i had waited, i just wish i was single. Ask Allah to give you a husband that would be the best for your Imaam and your future family.

Let Allah help you with decision making.  This will help you gain greater reward and ease in your matters.

Istikara is an inclination. Eventually it would come to you when Allah feels the time is most correct for you.

After two rakats of nafl salah, recite the following dua.

When you come to the underlined portion, merely think of your need, thereafter continue to the end.

Sayidinah Jabir (R.A.) reports that Rasulullah(Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)  taught the Sahaba the following dua with  constancy and outlined our need to recite it when placed in any dilemma after two rakaats nafl Salaah. In the first rakat one can read AlKafiroon followed by Surah AlIklaas in the second rakat. (Other reading recommendations do also exist.)  After the salah which can be read at any time, one should recite:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ