Istikhara for Marriage

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

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

Istikarah means to ask Allah Taala to guide oneself to a decision and put good in it. There will be good in the outcome of the Istikarah, whether the result of it was positive or negative. One may not see the results of the Istikarah instantaneously. However, after some time, one will see the fruits of that decision.  Allah Taala said: 

وَعَسَى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ (سورة البقرة 16) 

Translation: Perhaps you dislike something while it is good for you and perhaps you like something while it is bad for you. And Allah Taala knows while you do not know.

Furthermore, one is not obliged to act upon an outcome of Istikarah if it is positive or refrain from it if it is negative. The outcome of the Istikarah is merely a recommendation for one to act upon the objective or take heed from it.

In the enquired situation, if one has doubt regarding the outcome of the Istikarah, then one should continue doing Istikarah until one is satisfied with the results of the Istikarah. 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Student - Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

(2021-02-04)