Question:
Assalam alaykum,
Is it permissible to share the outcome or the the istikhara dream with the person about whom the istikhara was done in the first place, especially if the istikhara was done without their knowledge?
I did an istikhara about a girl without her knowledge but eventually shared my istikhara with her and its outcome does that have any negative or ill effect ?
Eagerly awaiting your response.
Answer:
Alaykum Salam,
What was your intention in sharing that istikhara with her? Was it for the sake of Allah, as originally stated in the literal phrasing of istikhara, or was it for the sake of convincing someone to accept something that matters to you?
Istikhara is an affirmation of your trust in Allah to the intention of acting on that trust on the basis of what He answers you. It is an act of worship to enlighten your heart and benefit your religion. By sharing that consultation with a third party you have in effect shifted that trust to them instead of Allah, and you have changed your intention to an ulterior motive in order to hasten the result that you desire.
It is possible that there is nothing to it, and it is also possible that sharing that confidence was not for the sake of Allah but rather shows poor adab with du`a and a recentering of istikhara into your own hands, which in effect cancels your original istikhara.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
