Istikhaarah asking to be guided to the more correct of two scholarly opinions

It is narrated that some of
the salaf prayed istikhaarah concerning matters of knowledge concerning
which there was a difference of opinion, and it is proven that some of them
prayed istikhaarah asking to be guided concerning the status of narrators
(of hadeeth) concerning whom there was a difference of opinion. For
example: 

1.

‘Abd al-Razzaaq narrated in
al-Musannaf (10/301) from Ibn al-Musayyab that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab
wrote a document about the grandfather and kalaalah (issues of inheritance
when a grandfather of the deceased was still living, or if the deceased left
behind no children), and he continued to pray istikhaarah, saying, “O
Allaah, if You know that there is some good in it then let it be.” Then when
he was stabbed he called for the document, and erased it, and no one knew
what was in it. He said: “I wrote something about the grandfather and
kalaalah, and I prayed istikhaarah asking Allaah for guidance, then I
decided to leave you as you are now.” 

2.

Imam al-Shaafa’i (may
Allaah have mercy on him) was one of the scholars who prayed istikhaarah the
most with regard to matters of knowledge. He stated in his book al-Umm
almost fourteen issues concerning which he prayed istikhaarah asking for
guidance. For example, he said in al-Umm (2/44): 

It was said that zakaah is
due on jewellery for personal use, and this is what I pray istikhaarah
about, asking Allaah for guidance. Al-Rabee’ said: He prayed istikhaarah,
asking Allaah for guidance concerning it, and al-Shaafa’i said: There is no
zakaah on jewellery for personal use. End quote. 

3.

Among the muhadditheen, Ibn
Hibbaan used to pray istikhaarah, asking Allaah for guidance concerning
narrators whose status was uncertain or unclear. He mentions this often in
his books, especially in al-Majrooheen, for example when he says
(1/194): Bahz ibn Mu’aawiyah ibn Heedah al-Qushayri, one of the people of
Basrah, who narrated from his father, from his grandfather; al-Thawri and
Hammaad ibn Salamah narrated from him. He made many mistakes. As for Ahmad
ibn Hanbal and Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem (may Allaah have mercy on him), they
quoted him as evidence and narrated from him, but a number of our imams
ignored him. Were it not for the hadeeth, “We will take them [the camels
that are due as zakaah] and half of his camels as the due of our Lord”, I
would have included him among the thiqaat (trustworthy). He is one of those
concerning whom I pray istikhaarah, asking Allaah for guidance. End quote. 

There are many examples of
scholars who turned to praying istikhaarah when they were uncertain about
issues. I have only quoted a few of them in order to make the point. 

But what is meant by their
words “This is one of the matters concerning which I pray istikhaarah,
asking Allaah for guidance” and “He is one of those concerning whom I pray
istikhaarah, asking Allaah for guidance”? 

The apparent meaning is
that they said du’aa’, asking Allaah to guide them to the correct opinion
concerning an issue or a narrator. It does not mean that they used to pray
istikhaarah in the sense of the naafil salaah and du’aa’. That is because
the du’aa’ is not applicable to what they sought. In du’aa’ al-istikhaarah
it says “then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me.”
How can this be applicable to a matter of fiqh or the status of a narrator
of hadeeth? 

It seems that these imams
were asking Allaah to help them to reach the right conclusion with regard to
matters of knowledge, not that they were saying the du’aa’ of istikhaarah
with the salaah offered beforehand. 

The aim of istikhaarah is
to ask for guidance from Allaah to the better of two matters concerning
which one is hesitating, because guidance and help come from Allaah; He
knows and we do not know; He is the Knower of the unseen. The one who relies
on himself will go astray, and the one who trusts in his reason and does not
seek the help of his Lord will be doomed. The most important thing
concerning which a person should seek the help of Allaah is correct
understanding of Allaah’s religion and choosing the most correct and best
opinion, and istikhaarah or seeking Allaah’s guidance in choosing is the
best means of achieving that; it may be the best way of choosing between two
opinions when the evidence is very confusing.  

There is no reason why the
du’aa’ of the imam or faqeeh, asking his Lord to guide him to the correct
opinion regarding issues of knowledge should not be preceded by salaah
(prayer), and this action may loosely be called istikhaarah, or that name
can be applied to the du’aa’ and not the prayer. As for the salaah and
du’aa’ mentioned in the famous hadeeth of Jaabir, this cannot be what they
were referring to when they spoke of praying istikhaarah, asking Allaah for
guidance concerning such and such. 

And finally: 

It should not be thought
that asking for guidance with regard to matters of knowledge is contrary to
what Allaah has enjoined of seeking evidence and proof. Resorting to
istikhaarah or praying for guidance is to be resorted to when there is no
evidence or it is not clear, or there is a contradiction with equally strong
evidence, or when the issues is confused in the scholar’s mind and he cannot
understand it. None of that means ignoring evidence and proof, rather it is
seeking the help of Allaah to understand, and turning to Him and asking Him
for guidance to the truth. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) used to ask Allaah to guide him to the truth. 

It was narrated that
‘Aa’ishah the Mother of the Believers (may Allaah be pleased with her) said:
When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) got up to
pray at night, he would start his prayer with the words: “O Allaah, Lord of
Jibra’eel, Mika’eel and Israfeel, Originator of the heavens and the earth,
Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your slaves concerning
that wherein they differ. Guide me concerning that wherein they differ of
the truth by Your leave, for You guide whomsoever You will to a straight
path.”

Narrated by Muslim (770). 

For information on Salaat
al-Istikhaarah and some of the rulings concerning it, please see the answer
to question no. 2217 and
11981. 

And Allaah knows best.