Inculcating True Isti’aathah

You should know that Isti’aathah is only perfected when there is Ilm, Haal and Amal.

Ilm (Knowledge) is the abd (servant of Allah) knowing that he is unable to obtain Deeni and mundane benefits and ward away all harms pertaining to Deen and dunya, together with knowing that Allah Ta’ala is capable of bringing into existence all Deeni and worldly benefits and warding away all Deeni and worldly harms. This power of Allah is exclusive to Him. Only He can prevent harms from the servant.

When this Ilm comes into the heart it produces a spiritual state (Haal) in the heart of being broken and being humble. This spiritual state can be interpreted to be, turning to Allah Ta’ala and  submitting to Him.

The production of this spiritual state in the heart necessarily produces another condition in the heart, and a condition on the tongue.

The condition in the heart is that the servant of Allah wants Allah Ta’ala to save him from calamities and favour him with virtues and good.

The condition produced on the tongue is that the abd seeks this essence from Allah Ta’ala with his tongue. This seeking is Isti’aathah, and it is him saying: A’oothu Billah – I seek the protection of Allah.

(Mafaateehul Ghayb)