1 The Virtues of Surah Al-Ma'idah; When It was Revealed Surah to ...

‏...وَأَن تَسْتَقْسِمُواْ‏ بِالأَزْلاَمِ‏ ...ذَلِكُمْ‏ فِسْقٌ‏(Forbidden) also is to make decisions with Al-Azlam,(all) that is Fisq.meaning, all these practices constitutedisobedience, sin, misguidance, ignorance and,above all, Shirk. Allah has commanded thebelievers to seek decisions from Him when theywant to do something, by first worshipping Himand then asking Him for the best decisionconcerning the matter they seek.Imam Ahmad, Al-Bukhari and the collectors of Sunanrecorded that Jabir bin Abdullah said,"The Prophet used to teach us how to makeIstikharah (asking Allah to guide one to the rightaction), in all matters, as he taught us the Surahsof the Qur'an. He said,إِذَا هَم َّ أَحَدُآُمْ‏ بِالْأَمْرِ‏ فَلْيَرْآَعْ‏ رَآْعَتَيْنِ‏ مِنْ‏ غَيْرِ‏ الْفَرِیضَةِ،‏ ثُ َّملْيَقُلْ:‏If anyone of you thinks of doing any matter, heshould offer a two Rak'ah prayer, other than thecompulsory, and say (after the prayer)الل َّهُم َّ إِن ِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ‏ بِعِلْمِكَ،‏ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُ‏ ‏َكبِقُدْرَتِكَ،‏ وَأَسْأَلُكَ‏ مِنْ‏ فَضْلِكَ‏ الْعَظِيمِ،‏ فَإِن َّكَ‏تَقْدِرُ‏ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ‏ وَتَعْلَمُ‏ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ،‏ وَأَنْتَ‏ عَل َّامُ‏الْغُيُوبِ،‏`O Allah! I ask guidance from Yourknowledge, from Your ability and I ask forYour great bounty, for You are capable andI am not, You know and I do not, and Youknow the Unseen.27