The Short Answer: Yes, With Conditions
It is valid for a trustworthy, sincere person to perform Istikhara on behalf of someone else, particularly when that person is unable to perform it themselves, whether due to unfamiliarity with the prayer, illness, or other genuine circumstances. This isn’t a loophole; it reflects the underlying purpose of Istikhara, which is sincerely turning to Allah for guidance, and that sincerity isn’t restricted to the person the decision belongs to.
Why This Question Comes Up
The Sunnah method, as taught in Sahih al-Bukhari 1162, describes a person performing their own two-rak’ah prayer and dua. Understandably, people wonder whether asking someone else to do this changes anything. In practice, many people are simply unable to perform it themselves at a given moment, whether they never learned the method, don’t feel confident in their Arabic, or are going through something that makes it hard to focus. This is precisely the situation where asking a knowledgeable, trustworthy person to perform it sincerely becomes valuable.
When This Is Most Commonly Done
- Parents performing Istikhara for a child’s marriage decision
- Adult children performing it on behalf of an elderly parent
- Spouses performing it for a shared family decision
- Services like ours, where a qualified scholar performs it for someone who reaches out from anywhere in the world
What the Person Requesting Needs to Provide
To perform Istikhara sincerely on someone’s behalf, we only ever need three things: the person’s first name, their mother’s first name, and an honest, clear description of the matter. No further personal details are required, and everything shared remains completely confidential.
Does It Carry the Same Weight as Doing It Yourself?
Performing Istikhara yourself remains the preferred, base practice where it’s genuinely possible. But having a trustworthy person perform it sincerely on your behalf is a recognised, legitimate option, not a lesser substitute. What matters most in either case is sincerity: the sincerity of the one praying, and the honesty of the one asking. To learn the full method yourself for next time, see our guide on how to perform Istikhara yourself.
اگر خود استخارہ نہ کر سکیں تو کسی قابلِ اعتماد شخص سے کروائیں، یہ جائز ہے۔