Fatwa ID: 05590

Answered by: Shaykh Shafiur Rahman

Question:

Salams, Is it permissible for a layman to perform istikhara on which fatwa to follow when there is a difference of opinion between trustworthy knowledgeable scholars, regardless of whether it is a minority opinion or not?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Istikhara simply means to seek good guidance on a matter. It is very general and may be used in any decisions concerning permitted choices. It is a dua that one makes after praying two raka’ts^[1] in a time that is not disliked.

As a result of istikhara you may or may not have a positive feeling toward a decision, or you may see something in a dream (though this is not necessary and less common) or you may get none of the above but the matter will be either facilitated for you or made difficult for you/taken away from you.

Therefore there is no harm for someone to do this when they want guidance to follow a fatwa on issues that are differed upon by trustworthy scholars.

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Shaykh Shafiur Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham  

[1](قَوْلُهُ وَمِنْهَا رَكْعَتَا الِاسْتِخَارَةِ) عَنْ «جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – يُعَلِّمُنَا الِاسْتِخَارَةَ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا كَمَا يَعْلَمُنَا السُّورَةَ مِنْ الْقُرْآنِ يَقُولُ إذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالْأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ، ثُمَّ لْيَقُلْ: اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُك بِعِلْمِك…..

ص26 – كتاب الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار – باب الوتر والنوافل – المكتبة الشاملة الحديثة