Istikhara for Settling Legal Questions

Question

If a mubtadi’ (innovator) is told: “Holding a mawlid is bid‘a; if you wish, perform the istikhara prayer” — is this permissible?

Answer

Whether matters are permissible or impermissible depends on the proofs of the Shari‘a, not on istikhara; istikhara is not for finding out such a thing.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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