Question:
If ones prays salaatu al-Istikhaarah and makes the dua (supplication) that was mentioned in the hadith, how does he know the answer to his Istikhaarah? Should he wait to see if he gets a feeling in his chest or should he just take the means and see if all goes well, meaning the path to arrive at that thing is made easy for him or it is made difficult?
Answer:
From the people of knowledge are those that say it is the easing of the chest. And then there are those that say that you seek the Istikhaarah from Allah then you go about in the affair. And if this matter is from the things that is good, Allah opens it up for him. And if it is from the things that will cause harm, Allah removes it from him. And that is the most apparent, and Allah knows best. Because sometimes a person is already inclined towards that thing. For example, let’s say a car (he wants) is described to him as having this and that (feature) and he sees it and the price is very good. And different people confirm for him how good it is. Then he goes and prays salaatu al-Istikhaarah however he was already inclined towards getting the car. So his chest was at ease with the deal before he even prayed salaatu al-Istikhaarah. Or a woman is described to him (for marriage) that she is like this and she is like that, so his heart is already attached to her from this description. So he goes and prays salaatu al-Istikhaarah, and says his heart is at ease with the decision. However he was already at ease with the decision from the beginning.
Rather he should pray salaatu al-Istikhaarah if he is not sure, or if it is a very important affair, he prays salaatu al-Istikhaarah then looks how the matter is. If there is good in it, it is opened up for him. If not it is prevented from him, meaning if there is no good in it.
And Allah knows best.
Answered by: Shaikh Abu Abdillah Muhammad Ba Jamaal (May Allah preserve him)
Source: https://t.me/bajmaal/4682
Translated by: Abu Yusuf Bilal ibn Howard Robinson