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:

salaam sir

i would like to as those people who read quran and tells not about the future but yes good and bad about the future after doing istakhara... what about them are they also liars,.. because as per them they give quranic surah to recite... for eg.. if i want some position and did istakhara, but mulla tells me istakhara says that position is good but there are some complecation(bandish) in between, and gives me surrah to read for x numbers of time....

are those people also liar..?

regds

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Answer:

Istahara for others

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The term ‘Istikhara’ when used in Islamic Jurisprudence would mean a specific format as taught by the Messenger of Allah (saws) to ask Allah Subhanah to guide one to the right decision concerning any affair in one's life, especially when one has to choose between two or more permissible alternatives.

Hadrat Jabir ibn Abdullah (r.a.) said: "The Prophet (saws) would teach us ‘al-istikhara’ for all of our affairs just as he would teach us a Surah from the Qur'an, and the Prophet (saws) would say ‘If one of you is deliberating over an act, he should pray a supererogatory prayer of two-rakahs (of Istikhara) and make the supplication (of Istakhara).’

Related by Bukhari.

It is preferred that in almost all circumstances, the prayer and supplication of ‘istakhara’ should be done by the person himself. In some cases, it is permitted that a close guardian or relative do the ‘istakhara’ for someone under his care. For example, a parent may do ‘istakhara’ for their child when they are confronted with an option to determine what is best for their child; like which school to attend, which girl to marry, etc.

But in general circumstances, it is preferred that the person himself should do the ‘istakhara’ for themselves.

The supposed ‘imam’ who does ‘istakhara’ for others or on television and gives them an immediate reply are no more than conmen and shams and fakes, and are not to be believed in the least! Such unscrupulous and ignorant people make an absolute mockery of the beautiful Sunnah of ‘istakhara’, and their response or views have absolutely no basis to the Truth or reality.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

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