ISSUE OF BLOOD. Arabic Istiḥāẓah (استحاضة). [[MUSTAHAZAH].]
ISTIʿĀNAH (استعانة). Lit. “Seeking aid.” Imploring help from God. The word occurs in the Sūratu ʾl-Fātiḥah, or the first chapter of the Qurʾān, which is part of the liturgical prayer: واياك نستعين waīyāka nastaʿīn, “Of Thee only do we seek help.”
ISTIBRAʾ (استبراء). The purification of the womb. The period of probation, of one menses, to be observed after the purchase of a female slave (or in the case of a virgin under age), the period of one month before she is taken to her master’s bed.
ISTIBṢĀR (استبصار). A Book of Muḥammadan traditions, received by the Shīʿahs, compiled by Shaik͟h Naṣīru ʾd-Dīn Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad at̤-T̤ūsī, A.H. 672.
ISTIDLĀL (استدلال). A term used in the science of exegesis for those sentences which require certain proofs. [[QURʾAN].]
ISTIDRĀJ (استدراج). Lit. “Promoting by degrees, step by step.” The word occurs in the Qurʾān for an unbeliever being brought by degrees to hell and destruction.
[Sūrah vii. 181]: “They who say our signs are lies, We (God) will bring them down step by step from whence they know not.”
[Sūrah lxviii. 44]: “We (God) will surely bring them down step by step from whence they do not know, and I (God) will let them have their way; for My device is sure.”
(In this verse the sudden transition from the first person plural to the first person singular, for the Almighty, is peculiar; it is, however, of frequent occurrence in the Qurʾān.)
ISTIG͟HFĀR (استغفار). Seeking forgiveness of God. It is related of Muḥammad that he said:—