Istikhara

Salat al-Istikharah (Arabic: صلاة الاستخارة‎) is a prayer recited by Muslims when in need of guidance on an issue in their life. The salat is a two raka'ah salat performed to completion followed by the supplications Salat al-Istikharah.

174034

God (Allah) . Istikhara . Employment

Is it normal to find my chosen career, which I have dedicated the past 15+ years for the sake of Allah, to be extremely stressful, even though I did Istikhara and the decision was to remain in this field?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

It is good to follow the advice of the Istekhara. Wassalam

171806

Marriage . Marriage Proposal . Istikhara

Can the marriage proceed despite a bad Istikhara result, given that the families were initially satisfied with the guy's religiousness and hardworking nature before the Istikhara was done?

Istekhara is not obligatory in every situation. Istekhara is seeking guidance when you are unable to decide. If the matter was clear for you, then there is no need for Istekhara. Unnecessary Istekhara is not binding.

'Wassalam.

172102

Istikhara . Travel . Intention (Niyah)

Do I need to perform Istikhara prior to each vacation? How specific should my intention be? Is it necessary to include destinations and specific dates in my intention?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 2 years ago

You do not need to perform istikhara prior to vacation. In fact, it is probably better not to do so, unless you have some uncertainty.

171059

Istikhara . Time

Can the outcome of Istikhara prayer vary over time and, if so, under what circumstances? Could factors like time and age of a person affect it?

The Istekhara is valid as far as the circumstances of the matter has not changed.
'if the matter has changed then another Istekhara can be seen.Wassalam.

170634

Marriage Proposal . Istikhara

What should be done when a proposal, which fulfilled all the wishes and seemed perfect, received the approval of families but they decided to perform Istikhara despite being able to decide without it, and the outcome turned out to be very negative?

Istekhara is not required for every marriage. It is only to seek guidance when you are not sure about the situation.

'Wassalam.

156746

Mother . Marriage . Istikhara

What should I believe when my own Istikhara for marrying a person came out positive, but my mother and her Peer's Istikhara came out negative?

No one is bound to follow the Istekhara of others even your parents because it was based on their intention not yours. You must always keep the respect of your parents and avoid hurting their feelings.

Wassalam.

164209

Fate . Istikhara

Why did the Istikhara come out positive with the Molana if the action that was supposed to happen did not actually occur?

Istekhara is a sort of seeking guidance whether to do something or not, but it is not to know or guess what will happen or not happen.
'If you intention was to guess, then the Istikhara itself was invalid.

'Wassalam.

Fate . Istikhara

Why did the Istikhara come out positive with the Molana if the action that was supposed to happen did not actually occur?

Sometimes life is about the journey, not the destination, and possibly your intent to do the thing shaped your actions or that of others around you and there was wisdom behind this.

157539

Parents . Istikhara . Family . Marriage Proposal

My parents conducted Istikhara for a proposal that came out positive. Though my parents know the guy and his family, there is a 13-year age gap and I lack attraction towards him. As such, I am feeling uncertain, will refusing lead to future regret?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 2 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

You and your family should not rely on istikharah for making the decision of marriage. Istikharah should not be the primary tool to be used for marriage selection.

The age gap that you mentioned is not really a major issue, and could be overlooked, if there is compatibility and commonalities and attraction towards each other.

However, as you said there is no attraction, and you do not have that certainty in this marriage proposal, then I would recommend you not rush into this, and not allow your parents to pressure you.

You have every right to decline this proposal as well, and if you are doing the right thing, you wont need to regret in the future.

For marriage, the important thing is him being religious, having good morals, good reputation, and there being compatibility between you and him.

Sit with him, once or twice, or even three times, and ask the right questions, especially about future plans and what your ambitions and goals are, and how his views agree with you or not, and then make your decision. Not based on istikharah, but based on the information you have.

With prayers for your success.

154963

Istikhara . Marriage

After performing Istikhara for marriage and receiving a negative result, is it permissible to repeat the Istikhara after 6 months?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 2 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. There is no problem repeating an istekhara if factors have changed or with a slightly different intention.

May you always be successful

146600

Parents . Wedding . Engagement . Istikhara

My parents got 4 Istekharas done that came out positive. I then got engaged and now, close to my wedding, my parents got Istekhara done again that has came out negative. What should I do?

Act upon the first Istekhara. No other Istekhara on the same matter unless there is a change in the matter.

Wassalam.

141895

Istikhara

Is there any rule that at a given time we can do Istikhara for only one decision at a time? Can a single Istikhara be done for various matters?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Istekhara doesnt have codified rules as it is one of the occult sciences. Rather, it has recommendations for best practice.

When istekhara is performed with the Qur'an or other means it is usually to clarify a situation and so if there are multiple matters that confuse the result of the istekhara then it would be wise to separate the matters and take separate istekharas for each. If there are lots of factors that a person wants to include in the intention and doesn't want to specify each one, but then uses a question that incorporates all of them while leaving the result of the istekhara clear that would be alright.

May you always be successful