Can I Pray Istikhara Again for Marrying a Girl After I Get a Job?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I had a female friend of 3-4 years whom I liked. She knew that I liked her but she did not feel the same way for me.

Recently, she said that I can send a marriage proposal to her parents. Meanwhile, she told me that they are strong believers in istikhara so I asked her to do it at that time. The result came out negative as she had a bad dream. So we mutually decided to stop talking.

I researched about istikhara and got to that you should do some research on your part as well. Our parents didn’t know about this as I am still a student and have yet to get a job. Can istikhara be done again for this matter after sharing details with parents, after I get a job?

Answer

Thank you for your question. Yes, you certainly can perform istikhara again, as the negative result may have been based on timing. I do ask that you stay within the limits of gender interaction until that time. The next istikhara could possibly be negative, in which case you should move on to someone else, and close this idea for good.

Always keep this prophetic hadith in mind, “Verily, you will never leave anything for the sake of Allah, the Almighty, but that Allah will replace it with something better.” [Ahmad]

Please see details about istikhara here:
Istikhara: The Prayer of Seeking Guidance
The Reality of Istikhara
Can I Perform the Prayer of Seeking Guidance (Salat Al-Istikhara) More Than Once?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.