Is the feeling of ease in one's heart after the Istikhara prayer an indication that the matter is good, and a feeling of constriction an indication that it is not good, and is there any evidence for this?
Some scholars have stated that among the effects of seeking guidance (istikharah), which lead to proceeding with a matter, is the expansion of one's chest (feeling of ease), provided that the person seeking guidance did not have a strong inclination towards the matter before seeking guidance. This is the view held by Ibn Hajar and Al-Nawawi. Ibn Abd al-Salam, on the other hand, believes that the person seeking guidance should do what becomes easy for him, citing the hadith: "Then he should resolve." The correct view is that the person seeking guidance will do what is good for him, even if his chest does not expand. Istikharah is performed for permissible matters, not for obligatory duties, supererogatory acts, forbidden acts, or disliked acts.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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