Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

ASA,

my question is about istakhara.i want to know if a person does not see any clear answer at all after doing istakhara then what does it mean?

also i would like to know that if we see allah`s will clearly after doing istakhara and still we dont follow it then what are the consequences of this?are we punished severly in life itself or things start happening wrong for us?

i would be grateful if u would reply as soon as possible.thank u.

Allah Hafiz. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Acting against istakhara

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sa'ad ibn Waqas reported that the Prophet (saws) said, ‘Istikharah’ (seeking guidance from Allah) is one of the distinct favors (of Allah) upon man, and a good fortune for the son of Adam is to be pleased with the Judgment of Allah. And a misfortune of the son of Adam is his failure to make ‘istikharah’, and a misfortune for the son of Adam is his displeasure with the Judgment of Allah."

Your Question: i want to know if a person does not see any clear answer at all after doing istakhara then what does it mean?

Beloved sister, contrary to popular belief, one does not always get a dream or a very clear and distinct tangible answer after performing the ‘istakhara’ prayer. The believers who performs the ‘istakhara’ in effect declares with his act his humiliation and his own weakness and submission to his Lord Most Gracious, and with this act declares his trust, belief, obedience, and the willingness to submit to the Decision and Judgment of the Lord All-Mighty.

Most times what happens is that a person decides on an option he/she desires, and then performs the ‘istakhara’ prayers to get a positive answer from the Lord! They either keep on performing the ‘istakhara’ prayer and supplication until they get a positive response, or in its absence declare that they do not see a clear answer! That would not be the correct spirit of submission! The true and correct spirit when performing the ‘istakhara’ should be that when a believer has a choice between two or more legal options, regardless of what he desires and likes, with this act and declaration of the ‘istakhara’, the believer declares his faith, trust and belief in the Absolute Knowledge and Power of Allah Subhanah; and accepts wholeheartedly and is pleased and content with whatever transpires as the Will and Decision of the Lord Most Gracious.

Your Question: also i would like to know that if we see allah`s will clearly after doing istakhara and still we dont follow it then what are the consequences of this?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verses 59-60:

59 With Him (Allah) are the keys of the Unseen the treasures that none knoweth but He. He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry but is (inscribed) in a Record Clear.

60 It is He Who doth take your souls by night and hath knowledge of all that ye have done by day. By day doth He raise you up again that a term appointed be fulfilled; in the end unto Him will be your return then will He show you the Truth of all that ye did.

Beloved Sister in Islam, the Truth is that nothing, and I repeat absolutely nothing in the universe can happen without the Will and Permission of Allah Subhanah, the Lord of the Worlds! Allah is our witness, not even a leaf drops from a tree; nor does the most insignificant creature of earth moves even a limb, without the Precise Will and Permission of the Lord All-Mighty!

Thus, even the notion or thought that one in creation can do something against the Will of Allah Subhanah is ironic in its essence, and a thing absolutely inconceivable! Whatever happens in the universe will happen with the Precise Will, Permission, and Knowledge of the Lord All-Mighty; and if it does not happen, it did not happen because the Lord Most Supreme did not Will it to happen! None in creation can ever frustrate the Plan or Judgement of Allah Subhanah: such is the Absolute Power and Magnificence or the Lord Most High!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chaper 29 Surah Ankabut verse 22:

22 Not on earth nor in heavens will ye (ever) be able to frustrate (the Plan of Allah)!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 134:

134 All that hath been promised unto you will come to pass: nor can ye (ever) frustrate it (the Decisions of Allah)!

Beloved Sister in Islam, I remind you as I remind myself, that as believers in Allah and the Last Day, our duty is to put aside and absolutely submit our will and desire to the Will and Decision of the Lord All-Mighty. Regardless of what we will, desire, like, or dislike: whatever transpires in our lives happens with the Precise Will, Permission and Knowledge of our Lord Most Gracious. If one truly accepts and is genuinely content with the Judgement of the Lord, he declares with his heart and actions that he is indeed one who has truly submitted his will to the Will of his Lord; and if one complains, whines and shows displeasure at the Judgment of the Lord implies with his heart and his actions that he is not amongst those who have truly submitted!

Suhaib ibn Sinan narrated that the Prophet (saws) said: "How remarkable is the case of the believer! There is good for him in everything, but this is not the case for anyone except the believer. When the believer receives any good, he is thankful to Allah, and gets a reward. And when some misfortune befalls him, he endures it patiently, for which he is (also) rewarded."

When a believer receives anything from the Mercy of his Lord, he is grateful; and when afflicted by a misfortune he is patient and keeps his hope and trust in the Mercy of his Lord, thus both ways he passes the test of life. But when a disbelievers receives anything from the Mercy of the Lord, he becomes arrogant, and when afflicted by any misfortune he becomes desperate and loses hope; thus both ways he fails the test of life!

Thus, in conclusion, the main difference between one who truly believes and has thus submitted himself to his Lord and the one who does not is not what transpires in their lives, but how exactly one reacts with his heart and action on whatever happens in their lives!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan