Is it permissible to perform istikhara in matters of Islamic law?
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The questioner : Istikhara in matters of Islamic law, for example, when a person hesitates over a legal issue...
The Shaykh : One does not perform istikhara for an obligatory act unless he is confused about which option to choose. For example, if a traveler intends to perform Hajj and it is obligatory for him, there is no need for him to perform istikhara; he must do it. If he intends to perform istikhara regarding whether to pray the Zuhr prayer, for instance...
The questioner : The obligation, for example, of a specific issue established by explicit text...
The Shaykh : If he doubts the ruling in a legal matter, he does not perform istikhara for it. He consults the Book and the Sunnah, through which knowledge is obtained[An-Nisa 4:59].
The questioner : Authenticating a hadith and declaring it weak.
The Shaykh : Some scholars use istikhara and say: "This is something for which I performed istikhara with Allah." It is possible that some scholars mean by this phrase that he actually performs istikhara with Allah, or that the meaning is that he suspends judgment until the correct path becomes clear to him.
The Shaykh : One does not perform istikhara for an obligatory act unless he is confused about which option to choose. For example, if a traveler intends to perform Hajj and it is obligatory for him, there is no need for him to perform istikhara; he must do it. If he intends to perform istikhara regarding whether to pray the Zuhr prayer, for instance...
The questioner : The obligation, for example, of a specific issue established by explicit text...
The Shaykh : If he doubts the ruling in a legal matter, he does not perform istikhara for it. He consults the Book and the Sunnah, through which knowledge is obtained
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger
وإن اختلفتم في شيء فردوه إلى الله والرسولThe questioner : Authenticating a hadith and declaring it weak.
The Shaykh : Some scholars use istikhara and say: "This is something for which I performed istikhara with Allah." It is possible that some scholars mean by this phrase that he actually performs istikhara with Allah, or that the meaning is that he suspends judgment until the correct path becomes clear to him.