Prayed Istikhara for something and felt poorly later

12-10-1999 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaam alaikum: I prayed Istikhara for something I am about to do, but afterward I started feeling bad with tightness in my chest whenever I approach the matter. Is this a sign from Allah to leave it or it is from the shaitan?.....Is it true that if you feel bad after this prayer that means not to do what you intended to do? Assalam alaikum

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and Blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. It is Sunnah, if one has to choose between permissible alternatives, one is recommended to pray two non-obligatory Rak’as to seek Allah’s guidance and help to be led to success concerning affairs on which one cannot decide the best way to achieve it. After prayer, one should recite the authentic Du’a related from Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to be rightly guided by Allah (Subhanahu Wataala). One also should not be influenced by his desires. If one feels cheerful and finds every thing goes easily and simply, one should go on that. It seems to be a sign of blessings of Allah. If one faces obstacles in his way, and concerns about what one is doing after making every effort, then one should believe that this is Allah’s choice for him. No doubt what Allah has chosen for him is best, though it is against what he intended. You must know that the Istikharah should never be done in the obligatory and recommended matters nor in the prohibited and disliked matters. It is merely recommended in permissible matters. Allah knows best.