Is performing Istikhara given precedence over consulting people concerning a specific decision, or vice versa, or is there no stipulated order in the Sunnah?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Both seeking guidance (istikharah) and seeking counsel (istisharah) are مطلوب (required/desirable), but there is no textual evidence indicating which should precede the other. Scholars have differed on this matter: Shafi'i jurists believe that seeking counsel should precede seeking guidance, while Hanbali jurists hold that seeking guidance should precede seeking counsel. The matter is broad; it may not be necessary to combine them, and sometimes seeking counsel may precede seeking guidance in certain matters if the person lacks knowledge about the subject.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/8380
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 8380
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy