Islam

Islam

Wednesday 17 February 2016

Istikharah does not oblige any course of action


Question

I am considering a proposal to marry a man of good religion and character. I have prayed the istikhârah prayer and I faced no difficulties, problems or barriers. However, I am not sure I am happy and satisfied with the idea of sharing my life with him, since I do not feel attracted to him. He is not my type. I am confused. Is this a sign from the istikhârah? What am I expected to do in this case?

Answer

Whom you marry is your decision to make. You are free to marry whomever you want among the men who are lawful for you to marry. You are not obliged to marry anyone you are unhappy about, even if they are of good character.

Please know that the istikhârah prayer does not obligate you to any course of action.

If we look carefully at the supplication we are offering to Allah, we are asking Him to make what we are asking happen for us if it is good for us and to prevent it from happening if it is bad for us.

Therefore, you are not obligated to go ahead with the decision you prayed about or to refrain from it, as long as the decision itself is about a permissible course of action.

(Note: It should go without saying that if the action is obligatory, then there is no need to offer the istikhârah prayer about it, since we must fulfill our religious obligations. Likewise, if the course of action is sinful, we do not offer the istikhârah prayer about it, since we must always refrain from sinful behavior.)

It is, therefore, not necessary for a person to get any indication after the istikhârah prayer. It does not necessitate that we will have a dream, feeling, or other inward indication. However, if we develop a strong feeling for or against something after praying istikhârah, we may choose to act upon that feeling. We are not obligated to act upon it.

We simply go ahead with what we think is best, after having asked Allah to make what is best for us take place.

And Allah knows best.

-islamtoday.net

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