[4/ 63] Using the rosary by the one who needs All?h’s ( - عز وجل -) guidance or others make it for him. One holds the rosary and then presents one’s need secretly then gathers some of its beads in one’s hand and counts them. If the number of the beads is an odd one, one would not fulfill what he had intended to do. If the number is an even one, one would consider this as a good sign and would do what he had born in his intention.

Indeed, what is the difference between this way and that which the people of J?hiliyyah used to practice, i.e. the Tiyarah, which is totally prohibited in our Shar‘.

[5/ 63] The cup way. A cup of coffee is made by a man or a woman for the one who needs the Istikh?rah. The later drinks the cup of coffee offered to him, then tips it over and after a while gives it to the former to “read” it for him. The former looks inside the cup after the leftover has made different shapes and lines -just like any liquid left over does. Then the “reader” starts making up different stories for the former and fills his head with legends!!

[6/ 63] Using necromancy [fortunetelling]. It is done by placing a cup full of water on a special person’s hand which has special lines. This process is done on a certain day of the week. Then the fortune-teller starts humming with unrecognized words calling some of the Jinns in order to bring the thief [as is usually done or tell him about the robery].

[7/ 63] Using the sand. It is done by drawing disconnected lines on the sand, then they are counted in a special mathematical way known to those who practice this way. At the end, the fortune-teller gets to know the person’s sign [of the zodiac] and picks out all the information about this sign from a certain book he brought for such a purpose. Then he tells the person about the latter’s past and future events -as he claims. Those people with similar signs are told the same thing.

[8/ 63] Using the palm. In this way the fortune-teller claims to have the ability of reading one’s palm through diagnosing and analysing its lines and starts telling others about their future.