ISTIKHARA FOR MARRIAGE
Istikhara is the blessed way of asking the ALLAH (S.W.T) help. Istikhara is done by performing two rakat Salah and seeking for Allah's guidance.
Nikah is considered as the beginning of a new journey with a new person which will continue even after this world (Jannah). It is one of the major decisions in anyone's life. If your spouse is good then even your hereafter will be good. To have a pious spouse is the greatest blessing. So, it is very much necessary to have the Almighty’s blessing and guidance at these point of marriage proposals as ALLAH (S.W.T) is knower of all things and best planner of all things in either of the worlds.
By doing istikhara we ask for the help to the Almighty as he is (as-samee) THE ALL HEARING. ALLAH (S.W.T) mentions in the QUR'AN "call upon me; I will respond to you." (QUR’AN 40:60)
Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: ALLAH’S apostle used to teach his companions to perform the prayer of istikhara for each and every matter just as he used to teach them surah’s from the Qur'an He used to say,' If anyone of you intents to do something, he should offer a two rakat prayer other than the compulsory prayers, and after finishing it he should say : o Allah i consult you, for you have all knowledge, and appeal to you to support me with power and ask for your Bounty, for you are able to do things while i am not, and you know while i do not; and you are the knower of unseen. O Allah if you know it this matter( name your matter) is good for me both at present and in the future, (or in my religion), In my life and hereafter, then fulfill it for me and make it easy for me, and then bestow your blessings on me in that matter .O Allah if you know that this matter is not good for me in my religion, in my life and in my coming hereafter ( or at the present future), then divert me from it and choose for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.
By doing istikhara you will start seeing relative signs in your dreams, as major of our Prophet's dreams were true. If not dream, need not to worry about. ALLAH (S.W.T) will surely ease your difficulties and bless you in a manner which is good to you.
ISTIKHARA DUA FOR MARRIAGE
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُالْغُيُوبِ ، فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ أَنَّ فِي فُلَانَةِ خَيْرَاً لِي فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَايَ وَآخِرَتِي فَاقْدُرْهَا لِي وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرُهَا خَيْرٌ مِنْهَا لِي فِي دِينِي وَآخِرَتِي فَاقْدُرْهَا لِي
“O Allah, You have power (control) and I have no control and you know and I do not know, and You know the condition of the Unseen. Thus if You see (deem fit) that this woman (here mention her name) is good for me concerning my Deen, world and Akhirah then grant me her control (make it possible that I marry her) and if besides her there be (another woman) which is better for me concerning Deen and Akhirah then specify her for me (grant me control over he)”.