salaam alikom sister inshallah Allah will do which ever is best for you in your matter just remember what ever Allah choose for us is for our best, we might not know it at the moment when things happen but later on we usually find out that what ever happened was good for us.
one thing more we all must know that Istikhara is a normal Dua in which a person prays to Allah Subhanahu Taala to guide him to reach a right decision. It is not correct to presume that in response to an Istikhara Allah gives an answer in the form of a dream. it is not necessary that a dream is seen after making an Istikhara and even though a dream is seen by the relevant person it is not an absolute answer towards a particular direction because dream is not treated in Shariah as a binding proof of something. The expected result of Istikhara is that the relevant person himself takes a decision which is good for him in this world or in the hereinafter or in both.
Salat ul-Istikhara is narrated by Al-Bukhari, but not in the Qur'an. It means when you say the du'a of istikhara, you ask Allah (SWT) to show you the best of what you want to do or what you want to plan. The response to istikhara could be either in making you feel happy to go on for what you want to do or having some dreams that could be Prophetic dreams.
The Prophet (SAAWS) teaches us, saying, "When one wants to make a decision for something, let him do two rakaas other than the fard salat. Then you make the du'a of istikhara." This is quoted in Al-Bukhari, fiqh us-sunnah vol. #1.
Imam an-Nawwawi says you should do after istikhara what you feel good to do, but this feeling should be away from any desire before the istikhara.
and before we make any type of duaa including the dua for istikhara make we should follow the etiquettes of Duaa:
1- Praising Allah Before the Du'a and Praying Upon the Prophet Muhammad To start with thanking Allah and praising him and then giving Salat on the prophet ( salAllah alayhi wasalam) peace be up on him and ending your duaa with the sam
The prophet peace be up on him said
“when one of you has prayed, then let him begin with praising Allah and Glorifying him, then let him pray upon the prophet (peace be up on him) after that he or she may make any Du’aa that he /she wishes
2-Raising One's Hands
3-Facing The Qiblah
( Most of the above advise about istikhara & etiquettes of dua'a is from islamic web sites)
may Allah help us all inshallah
wa salaam alikom
