Q: I have a question about Istikhara and marriage. I wanted to know if an Istikhara comes okay for a potential future partner, does that mean that the person will be good for your future? But it doesn't necessarily mean you get married to them right? Because my sister has had many proposals, and a lot of the Istikharas turned out good, but she never ended up getting married to them. So does a good Istikhara just mean that the person will be good for you? And it doesn't actually mean you have to get married to them?
Also, if an Istikhara comes out bad, does it mean that the potential partner is a bad person? It doesn't necessarily mean that the person is bad, does it? Because I know of someone who is a good person, and the Istikhara came out negative for her, and now the other party thinks the girl is bad, and has a bad opinion of her. Whereas in reality she is a good girl. Isn't it wrong to think that a person is bad, just because an istikhara was negative?
A: Istikhaarah is a means of 'consulting' with Allah Ta'aala, an indication of whether the right decision is being made and a source of blessing. It is not compulsory to carry out the act after making Istikhaarah. If the Istikhaarah is positive, it does indicate that the person will be right for your future, but you don’t have to marry that person. The final decision is still yours. If the Istikhaarah turns out negative, it does not mean that the person is bad, but indicates that there may not be compatibility between the two. To harbour ill thoughts regarding that person is not permissible and a grave sin.
Allah Ta'aala knows best.
Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai
