Prayed Istikharah

16-3-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

I have a question pertaining to Istikharah. I was planning to start my own business for the last few months; I've planned to do it in Islamabad. Then I heard about Istikharah; so believing that Allah would guide me, I did it many times. Then after sometime things started to turn for me in another city (Abbottabad). I tried hard to set up my business in Islamabad, but suddenly things became easier for me in Abbottabad, so I left my decision of settling in Islamabad and I opted for Abbottabad though it was never in my mind before. I didn't have any dream but things got easier as though someone is guiding me and pushing me and creating opportunities in Abbottabad, so I thought that Allah wished me to do this, and I've started in Abbottabad now. Kindly tell me if I have drawn the right conclusion from Istikharah.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

 

You did a wonderful act by making Istikharah before starting your business.  And also what you did after making Istikharah, choosing the city where you found the opportunities – was a good decision and a proper act. 

The strongest sign of guidance of Allah after making Istikharah is having progress toward the goal for which Istikharah was performed.  Seeing something in a dream is not compulsory.

Imam Ibn Hajar quoted in his book Fath al-Bari Ibn Abdu Salaam as saying: 'A person should do what is facilitated for him after making Istikharah since some of the narrations of the Hadith of Ibn Masoud read: ‘and then (after Istikharah) one should decide to act'.

Allah knows best.