Question Summary:
What is preferable, performing Istikharah or doing Mashwarah?

Question Detail:

Assalamwalikum Mufti Sahab, URGENT!! I am in a desperate situation, kindly answer this
I want to ask you about the fazeelah of istikhara and mashwara.
1) What is afzal? Mashwara with a pious person or istikhara?
2)I have made a mashwara with a pious with regards to my PhD studies in USA. He is my friend for 3-4 years. But he has given me an opinion which I am not able to digest. So Do I make istikhara now and continue to against his opinion? Will it be a wrong decision If I go against his opinion while performing istikhara? I am extremely confused in this regard because I am extremely eager to do my studies but he advises that since you are the only son of your parents..you should stay with them....I will not be disobeying my parents If I go for studying because they are allowing me to go...
So If I do this will there be shur (bad) for me in future?
 
Jazakallahkhair for answering

Answer :

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Performing Istikharah and doing Mashwarah with people both have their own benefits. When a person performs Istikharah, he is seeking khair (goodness) from Allah regarding any task in which one is unable to make a correct decision. [1] Doing Mashwarah with people is also very beneficial since people will share different experiences with you. You may do Mashwarah with more than one person. This will help you make the right decision. If you are unsure after making Mashwarah, you may perform Istikharah and act upon the guidance of the Istikharah even though it may be against the Mashwarah.
 
The method of performing Salat-ul-Istikharah is as follows:
Perform wudu and offer two Rakāhs with the intention of Salāt-ul-Istikharah. The Salāh will be performed normally like any other Salāh. Recite Surah Kāfirūn in the first Rakah and Surah Ikhlas in the second Rakāh. Upon completing the Salāt, recite the following Duā.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي[2]
(Note: Some of the narrations have mentioned the word رَضِّنِي instead of the word أَرْضِنِي .Both forms are correct.)
 
Translation: “All praises are due to Allāh, the Rabb of the Worlds. Salutations and Greetings be on our leader, Muhammad, his family and all his Companions.
Oh Allāh! I seek from You a decision by virtue of Your Knowledge (of what is best), and I seek from You the ability (to realise my object) by virtue of Your Power, and I ask You (to grant me) from Your Great Bounty, for indeed You have power and I do not have power, and You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the Unseen. Oh Allāh! If, according to Your Knowledge, this matter is good for me with regards to my religious affairs, my worldly life and my final outcome (i.e. in the Hereafter), then direct it towards me and ease it for me, thereafter grant me blessing in it. And if, according to Your Knowledge, this matter is evil for me with regards to my religious affairs, my worldly life and my final outcome (i.e. in the Hereafter), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it. And direct towards me that which is good, no matter where it is, thereafter make me pleased with it (i.e. that good.)”
                                                                                                                                    
Mention your need while reciting the underline portion of the Dua. It is Mustahab to follow this procedure three times. One may use the help of a book etc. if one does not know the Dua by heart. Alternatively, if time does not allow a person to go through this entire procedure, one may recite the following Dua without having to perform any Salāh. This is the shortest form of Istikharah.
اَللَّهُمَّ خِرْ لِيْ وَاخْتَرْ لِيْ
“Oh Allāh, destine good for me and choose for me.”[3]
 
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Abdul Hannan Nizami,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.