Is It Hasty to Ask Allah to Answer My Istikhara Soon?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
I made the intention that I would make much du`a and worship in the hope that Allah would change the heart of a specific person who turned down my marriage proposal. A few days later, she started appearing in my life out of nowhere, exactly as Allah said in Surah Talaq that He provides from places we could not imagine. I took this as a good sign but made some mistakes, and it seems they have dropped out of my life again. I have made Istikhara whether I should continue pursuing her, if it is good for me, five times in the last 3 days with no clear response so far. In the Shafi’i school, how many times should I repeat it, and how long should I wait for? Is it hastiness to beg Allah for an answer soon to ease my heart?
Answer
Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for seeking Divine guidance before deciding what to do.
Istikhara
Scholars mention that one can pray it up to 7 times in order to seek guidance about one’s decision. I do urge you not to overdo it and follow other than what Allah shows you, as it sounds like you are quite attached to the idea of marrying this person. Try to pray istikhara objectively.
Please see this answer about the details:
Impatience
Out of the etiquette of supplication to Allah Most High and true patience, you should not ask for an answer to come soon, as His timing is the best timing. Consign all your problems to Him and never stop having beautiful patience for His answer. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said this about impatience: “The supplication of every one of you is granted if he does not grow impatient and say: ‘I supplicated, but it was not granted.’” [Muslim]
Please see these links as well:
- How Do You Read the Signs for the Istikhara Prayer for Marriage?
- How to Interpret the Effects of Salat al-Istikhara?
- How to Understand and Interpret Istikhara about Marriage?
- Following Istikhara in Pursuing Marriage
- How Does Istikhara Work If One Intends to Marry Someone?
[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 and completed her Master’s 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.
