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Fatwa CenterSoothsaying and divination
Question
I proposed to a girl and after her family had collected information about me for more than one month, the local Imaam requested the name of my father and mother upon the request of the girl’s father. They did this to perform 'Istikhaarah (guidance-seeking prayer) and match the names. Later, my proposal was rejected because the names did not match. Is what they did permissible? What is the evidence?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.
It is permissible for the name to be requested for the purpose of 'Istikhaarah. Please refer to Fataawa 81434 and 90291on the Istikhaarah prayer.
However, if the name was requested for the purpose of matching the names, it would apparently involve works of soothsaying. The Prophet 
said that anyone who goes to a diviner and asks him about anything, his prayers would not be accepted for forty nights. [Muslim] There is evidence that this practice is prohibited.
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