Lesson 3 of 6 · Tie the camel, and what tawakkul does not cover
Istikhara, and a question we will not answer
Two related things students ask about, and we are not the right address for either ruling.
Istikhara is often used as a way of choosing a course or a module, and then treated as a substitute for finding out about the options. The report itself puts the intention before the prayer: if any of you intends to do something, he should pray two rak'ahs other than the obligatory prayer, and then say. The deciding has already started when the prayer begins. In the classical framing it follows investigation rather than replacing it, and anything beyond that sentence is a scholar's question.
The other is what is and is not permissible in an examination. Students under pressure ask this and they deserve a real answer from a real scholar, not from a platform. What can be said plainly is that deception is treated as a serious matter in the tradition. The specifics are not ours to rule on.
Qur’an and Sunnah
The report itself puts the intention before the prayer. If any of you intends to do something, he should pray two rak'ahs and then say. The deciding has already started when the prayer begins. Anything beyond that sentence is a scholar's question.
Narrated Jabir:The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara for each and every matter as he used to teach us the Suras from the Holy Qur'an. (He used to say), "If anyone of you intends to do something, he should offer a two-rak`at prayer other than the obligatory prayer, and then say: 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka biqudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika-l-'azim, fa innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wala a'lamu, wa anta'allamu-l-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-lamra khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati `Amri (or said, fi 'ajili `Amri wa ajilihi) fa-qdurhu li, Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna ha-dha-l-amra sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati `Amri (or said, fi ajili `Amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu 'anni was-rifni 'anhu wa aqdur li alkhaira haithu kana, thumma Raddani bihi," Then he should mention his matter (need)
Sahih al-Bukhari 6382graded sound, sahihaynthe Arabic and its grading