Writing Supplications and Istikhārah: Is It Permissible to Rely on Istikhārah When Undertaking Charitable Acts or to Avoid Unforeseen Problems?
Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei
Writing Supplications and Istikhārah: Is It Permissible to Rely on Istikhārah When Undertaking Charitable Acts or to Avoid Unforeseen Problems?
English:
Question #1425:
According to common belief, there is no place for istikhārah in doing charitable work. Is it, therefore, permissible to rely on istikhārah in order to determine the best way to go about doing this work or with a view to circumventing unforeseen problems in the process? And is istikhārah a means of knowing the unseen or does no one, apart from Allah, the Exalted, know about it?
Answer #1425:
Istikhārah should be embarked on as a way of overcoming indecision over doing lawful things, regardless of the nature of indecision, i.e., whether it is emanated from the nature of the intended action or the route taken to do it. Accordingly, doing charitable work, which does not call for indecision, should not necessitate resorting to istikhārah. Istikhārah is not a means to foretelling the future of the person or the work.