The meaning of Isitkhaara

The meaning of Isitkhaara

Question:

Assalamualaikum my brother’s in faith,

My question is with regards to interpretation of the results of an istikharah. I want to convey my perspective on interpreting the istikharah through my own experience and check if your understanding matches my own, to make it easier for me, inshaAllah.

From my experience i’ve had a “good” feeling dream but shortly after the things turned out to pull me away from what it is I did istikharah for. On the other hand, I’ve had no dream and things aligned themselves so fast that I went aheadh with my decision in the positive. In both these instances I found myself content with the decision, Alhamdulillah.

So based on my own experience and based off my understanding of the dua, I realize that if whatever I ask for is good for me it will happen in the end or if it is bad for me, Allah SWT will make a way out of it for me. And so, I believe that whatever happens despite trying, in the end is the best result for me. Am I right in thinking this way?

Answer:

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Brother in Islam,

To understand what one is to expect after performing istikhaarah, it is important to understand the meaning of istikhaarah. The Ulema have discussed two different meanings:

1)  Talab Al-Khiyarah (seeking Allah’s assistance to make a choice)

2) Talab Al-Khayr (seeking Allah’s assistance to place khayr in one’s decision)

According to the first meaning, the purpose of the person performing istikhaarah is to seek the help of Allah in making one’s choice. Hence, once a person performs istikhaarah he should wait for an indication. This indication can come in the shape of a dream, inshirahas sadr(feeling pleased with a decision),or inclination towards something.[i] However, it must be noted that one is not obligated to act upon such indications or refrain from carrying out an action if he sees a bad dream. Rather, one is merely recommended to act upon the inclication or take heed from a negative indication.

According to the second meaning, a person performing istikhaarah is requesting Allah Ta’la to place good in whatever action he intends to carry out. Thus, onedoes not wait for an indication. Rather, istikhaarahis a means of asking for Allah’s help.

Accordingly, there is no hard or fast understanding of istikhaarah. One may act upon any of the two views mentioned above.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mirza-Zain Baig

Student - Darul Iftaa

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

11-07-1442| 25-01-2021

[i]

الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية (3/ 246)

أ – علامات القبول:

22 – اتفق فقهاء المذاهب الأربعة على أن علامات القبول في الاستخارة انشراح الصدر، لقول الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم في الحديث المتقدم في (فقرة 20) : ” ثم انظر إلى الذي سبق إلى قلبك فإن الخير فيه ” أي فيمضي إلى ما انشرح به صدره وشرح الصدر: عبارة عن ميل الإنسان وحبه للشيء من غير هوى للنفس، أو ميل مصحوب بغرض، على ما قرره العدوي

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (2/ 27)

وفي شرح الشرعة: المسموع من المشايخ أنه ينبغي أن ينام على طهارة مستقبل القبلة بعد قراءة الدعاء المذكور، فإن رأى منامه بياضا أو خضرة فذلك الأمر خير، وإن رأى فيه سوادا أو حمرة فهو شر ينبغي أن يجتنب اهـ