[63] Mistakes done in Sal?tul Istikh?rah:

When doing Sal?tul Istikh?rah, one does not have to do anything but to perform Sal?t and recite the affirmed du‘?’ in a manner similar to any other du‘?’ in order to fulfill what one intends to do or leaves it.

Accordingly, scholars affirmed that [after performing this Sal?t] one should start doing the thing he finds his heart inclined to and should not depend on seeing a dream nor should one ask others to perform it on his behalf; it is just a kind of du‘?’ in which a muslim asks for All?h’s ( - عز وجل -) help to guide him to that which is good. Once a muslim’s heart is willing to tread a certain path which turns to be successful, he would certainly feel satisfied and happy. If not, he would know that goodness is not in the path he chose and would also feel satisfied and thank All?h ( - عز وجل -) for it. (1)

[1/ 63] A common mistake:

Some people believe that Sal?tul Istikh?rah is not valid unless others do it on their behalf and it should be followed by a dream. This is indeed a sheer extremism that All?h ( - عز وجل -) never enjoined nor did His prophet’s ( - ) Sunnah preach. This extremism was born out from exaggeration -that should be avoided- which led to abandoning one of the greatest of the prophet’s ( - ) Sunnan and hence the loss of rewards and blessings.

O, dear muslim brother, ask for All?h’s ( - عز وجل -) guidance in all your affairs and He ( - عز وجل -) will surely guide you to that which is good. He ( - عز وجل -) made asking for his help so easy; just recite the du‘?’ after performing any [two Rak‘ahs] N?filah Sal?t or perform two Rak‘ahs especially for this purpose and surely you will be granted more rewards and blessings.