Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Is it permissible to ask someone else to do istikharah on your behalf (for example your mother, or a pious person)?
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon His Messenger Muhammad, his folk, companions, and followers
The ulema explain that the general sunna of istikhara (prayer of seeking guidance) is that it be performed by the individual seeking guidance.
There is nothing wrong with someone doing istikhara for another, however. The istikhara is a prayer for seeking to be guided to the best of matters. Just as one can pray for oneself, one can also do so for another.
Also, it is from the sunnas of seeking guidance in general, and the perfect following of the sunna of istikhara in particular, to seek relevant sincere counsel (nasiha) and advice (istishara). Asking someone pious or learned to perform istikhara can be understood to be from seeking counsel and advice.
[For related answers, please search for istikhara on www.SunniPath.com, and also for sincere counsel (nasiha).]
And Allah knows best.
Faraz Rabbani.