Shura: The Islamic Art of Making Better Decisions

This lesson is extracted from our Ethical Living series. Access the full series at an 80% discount here.

One of the most important aspects of Islamic character development is the ability to seek advice from others. In Arabic, this is known as shura, or consultation. It is something we rarely discuss when studying akhlaq, yet it has a significant impact on the quality of our decisions and, consequently, the quality of our lives.

In his classic work Adab al-Dunya wa al-Din, Imam al-Mawardi discusses the importance of shura and the qualities we should look for in people whose advice we seek. His discussion is a reminder that consulting others is not a sign of weakness or indecisiveness. Rather, it is a sign of humility, intelligence, and good character.

In an age when individualism is celebrated and everyone is encouraged to trust their own judgment, the Islamic emphasis on consultation is particularly relevant. We are constantly told to do what feels right, follow our instincts, and make our own decisions without allowing others to interfere. While personal responsibility is important, the reality is that none of us possesses all the knowledge, wisdom, and experience necessary to navigate every situation in life.

We all have blind spots. We all have limitations. And sometimes, the very things that make us confident about a decision are the things preventing us from seeing its flaws.

This is why shura is such an important part of a Muslim’s life.

1. Shura Is a Sign of Humility and Intelligence

At its heart, shura is an acknowledgment that we do not know everything. When we consult someone, we are recognizing that they may possess knowledge, experience, or wisdom that we lack. We are showing appreciation for their perspective and allowing them to contribute to our decision-making process.

Arrogant people struggle with this. They assume they know best and see little reason to seek advice from anyone else. They may interpret consultation as an admission of weakness or an indication that they are incapable of making decisions independently.

Imam al-Mawardi begins his discussion of shura by explaining that an intelligent person does not reach a final decision without consulting people who can advise him. Seeking advice is therefore a sign of sound judgment, not a deficiency in it.

Think about the major decisions we face in life. Choosing a spouse, starting a business, changing careers, moving to another country, buying a house, or deciding how to educate our children can have consequences that last for years. It is foolish to assume that our own limited perspective is sufficient for navigating every one of these decisions.

Other people may recognize risks we have overlooked. They may have experienced the same situation before and learned lessons that we have yet to discover. They may also notice things we cannot see because we are too emotionally invested in the outcome.

The intelligent person understands this and seeks advice accordingly.

2. Shura Is Part of the Sunnah

The importance of consultation is not merely a matter of practical wisdom. It is also rooted in our Islamic tradition.

Allah instructs the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to consult his companions. In Surah Ali Imran, Allah says:

“And consult them in the matter.” (Qur’an 3:159)

This verse is particularly significant because the Prophet ﷺ received revelation and was guided by Allah. Why, then, was he instructed to consult his companions?

Imam al-Mawardi discusses several explanations offered by scholars. One is that consultation strengthened the relationship between the Prophet ﷺ and his companions, bringing them closer to him and making them feel valued. Another is that shura is a virtue in itself. A third is that the Prophet ﷺ was establishing an example for the Muslim community to follow.

These explanations complement one another. Consultation builds relationships, demonstrates good character, and establishes a practice that Muslims should incorporate into their lives.

We can apply this lesson directly to our own families. When we involve our spouses, children, and parents in decisions that affect them, we communicate that we value their opinions. This can strengthen relationships and create a greater sense of trust and belonging.

Even when the final decision rests with one person, listening to others can make a significant difference. A parent who consults their children about family matters, for example, teaches them that their thoughts and feelings matter. A husband who seeks his wife’s perspective demonstrates that he values her judgment and experience.

The same principle applies to leadership. Throughout Islamic history, Muslim leaders recognized the importance of consulting people they considered wise and trustworthy. Consultation was not limited to political affairs; it was a practical method of drawing upon the knowledge and experience of others.

Shura is therefore both a means of making better decisions and an expression of Islamic character.

3. Combine Shura with Istikhara

For every major decision in life, I believe two practices are particularly important: shura and istikhara.

Shura means consulting people who can provide sound advice. Istikhara means seeking Allah’s guidance when deciding between available courses of action.

Whether you are considering marriage, starting a business, changing jobs, moving to another country, or choosing an educational path for your children, avoid making rash decisions based entirely on your emotions or your own assessment of the situation.

Seek the advice of people who understand the matter. Listen to their experiences and consider the risks they identify. Then turn to Allah through istikhara, asking Him to guide you towards what is best.

I have tried to apply this principle to major decisions in my own life.

When I decided to homeschool my children, I did not simply make the decision based on my own ideas. I spoke to several people with experience in schooling and homeschooling, including parents who had chosen different approaches. I listened to their perspectives, considered what they had to say, and then performed istikhara before making my decision.

Similarly, when I decided to leave my job and focus on Islamic Self Help full-time, I spent around ten months thinking through the decision. During that period, I performed istikhara and consulted five people whom I considered wise mentors. Their advice helped me assess the decision from different angles before I eventually took the step.

These experiences reinforced for me the importance of combining consultation with seeking Allah’s guidance. We should do our due diligence, seek the wisdom of people who have experience, and then place our trust in Allah.

This approach does not guarantee that every decision will turn out exactly as we hoped. Life will always involve uncertainty. However, it allows us to make decisions with greater knowledge, clearer judgment, and a stronger sense of trust in Allah.

4. You Do Not Have to Follow Every Piece of Advice

One common misunderstanding about shura is the idea that asking someone for advice obligates you to follow it. Some people feel that if they consult others and ultimately make a different decision, they have somehow wasted the other person’s time or been dishonest.

This is not what consultation means.

The purpose of shura is to gather information, consider different perspectives, and make a more informed decision. You are not automatically obligated to follow every recommendation you receive.

Consider the example of someone who wants to start a business. They consult five experienced business owners, and all five warn them about a particular risk. After considering their advice, the person may still decide to proceed because they believe the potential benefits justify the risk.

That decision may or may not turn out to be correct, but it is now an informed decision. The person understands the potential difficulties and has considered the warnings of others rather than walking blindly into the situation.

The same applies to family decisions, career changes, and other major choices. You should listen carefully, consider the advice seriously, and allow it to influence your thinking. However, you must ultimately take responsibility for your own decisions.

Consultation is not about surrendering your judgment to other people. It is about improving your judgment by benefiting from theirs.

5. Choose the Right People to Consult

Although shura is important, it is equally important to choose the right people from whom to seek advice.

Not everyone is qualified to advise us on every subject. A person who has never run a business may not be the best person to consult about a complicated business decision. Someone who has never experienced marriage may lack the practical understanding needed to advise someone about marital difficulties.

Likewise, a person may be knowledgeable and intelligent but still give poor advice because they have a personal interest in the outcome.

Imam al-Mawardi outlines five characteristics to look for in someone whose advice we seek.

1. Intelligence and experience

The first quality is sound intellect supported by experience. Intelligence is important, but practical wisdom often develops through years of dealing with real situations and learning from mistakes.

If you are considering starting a business, consult people who understand business and have experience in the field. If you are thinking about marriage, seek advice from people with sound judgment and meaningful experience of married life.

The more complicated the decision, the more important it becomes to consult people who understand the specific subject.

We should also be careful about taking advice from people who are confident but inexperienced. Someone can speak persuasively without possessing the knowledge necessary to support their opinions.

This is particularly relevant in the age of social media. We can easily find influencers offering advice on marriage, parenting, relationships, finance, and personal development. Their confidence, popularity, or ability to attract an audience does not necessarily mean they possess the wisdom required to advise others.

Before accepting someone’s advice, consider their actual knowledge and experience rather than simply how convincing they sound.

2. Piety and trustworthiness

The second quality is that the person should be righteous and conscious of Allah.

A Muslim’s decisions should be guided by Islamic principles, so it is important to seek advice from people who respect the limits set by Allah and want what is best for us in both this world and the Hereafter.

Someone might be intelligent and experienced but still encourage us towards something impermissible or unethical. Their practical knowledge does not make their advice acceptable if it conflicts with our religious commitments.

At the same time, piety alone does not make someone qualified to advise us on every matter. A righteous person who has no experience in a particular field may still offer poor practical advice. We should therefore look for a combination of religious commitment, sound judgment, and relevant knowledge.

Trustworthiness is equally important. When we seek advice, we may reveal private information about our families, finances, ambitions, or personal struggles. We need people who will handle that information responsibly rather than exploit it or share it with others.

3. Love and genuine concern

The third quality is that the person should genuinely care about us.

Good advice should come from a place of goodwill. We want people who sincerely wish to see us succeed and who are willing to tell us the truth, even when it is not what we want to hear.

Our parents, teachers, mentors, elders, and close friends can often provide this kind of guidance because they have our interests at heart. Their advice may not always be perfect, but their concern for our well-being gives us a reason to take it seriously.

By contrast, someone who resents us, envies us, or wants to see us fail may use our request for advice as an opportunity to mislead us. Even if they possess knowledge, their personal feelings may distort their judgment.

We should therefore consider not only whether someone knows what they are talking about, but also whether they genuinely want what is best for us.

4. Emotional and psychological steadiness

The fourth quality is that the person should be in a sound state of mind when giving advice.

Imam al-Mawardi recognizes that a person’s emotional condition can affect their judgment. Someone who is overwhelmed by a difficult experience may struggle to assess another person’s situation objectively.

For example, imagine consulting someone about marriage shortly after they have gone through a painful divorce. Their experience may have left them deeply hurt, and they might interpret every relationship through the lens of that pain. Instead of helping you evaluate your own circumstances, they may project their fears and disappointments onto your decision.

The same can happen with someone who has recently suffered a financial loss, experienced a major disappointment, or gone through another distressing event. Their judgment may be affected by what they are currently experiencing.

This does not mean that people who are struggling emotionally have nothing valuable to offer. Nor does it mean that we should dismiss their knowledge or experiences. Rather, we should recognize that the timing and circumstances of a conversation can affect the quality of the advice we receive.

Someone may ordinarily be wise and level-headed but temporarily lack the perspective needed to advise us well on a particular matter.

5. Freedom from personal agendas

The fifth quality is that the person should not have a personal interest that distorts their advice.

Imagine that you are considering marrying someone and ask for advice from a person who is also interested in marrying them. That person has a conflict of interest. Their advice may be influenced by their own desire to pursue the same relationship.

Or imagine that you are considering buying a business and consult someone who wants to purchase the same business. Their interests may prevent them from giving you an objective assessment.

Personal agendas can also arise in family disputes, financial decisions, and disagreements between spouses. Someone may encourage a particular outcome because it benefits them, advances their own beliefs, or allows them to settle a personal grievance.

This is why we must be thoughtful about whom we consult. We need people who can evaluate our situation fairly, rather than people who are using our decisions to advance their own interests.

Taken together, these five qualities provide a useful framework for choosing advisers: intelligence and experience, piety and trustworthiness, genuine care, emotional steadiness, and freedom from conflicting personal agendas.

6. Consultation Helps Us Overcome Our Blind Spots

One of the greatest benefits of shura is that it helps us recognize things we cannot see for ourselves.

When we are emotionally invested in a decision, our judgment can become clouded. We may focus on the benefits while minimizing the risks. We may interpret warning signs as insignificant because we desperately want the outcome to be positive.

This can happen in marriage, business, education, and almost every other area of life.

Someone who is considering marriage may be so infatuated with a potential spouse that they overlook serious incompatibilities. A trusted elder who is less emotionally involved may notice warning signs and raise concerns that the person has not considered.

Likewise, someone presented with an attractive business opportunity may focus on the potential profits while overlooking the possibility of fraud or financial loss. An experienced business owner may recognize problems that the prospective investor has missed.

This is one reason consultation can be so valuable. The people we consult are not necessarily more intelligent than we are. They may simply be looking at the situation from a different perspective, without the same emotional attachment to the outcome.

Imam al-Mawardi emphasizes that the judgment of someone who is not personally overwhelmed by the situation has a greater chance of being sound because their mind is less disturbed by the circumstances.

We should not assume that our own assessment is objective simply because it feels convincing. Sometimes, the strongest feelings we have about a decision are precisely what make it difficult to evaluate fairly.

Seeking advice allows us to step back, examine our assumptions, and consider possibilities we might otherwise ignore.

7. Do Not Let Pride Prevent You from Seeking Advice

Despite the many benefits of consultation, some people avoid it because they are embarrassed to ask for help.

They worry that seeking advice will make them appear indecisive, inexperienced, or incapable of managing their own lives. Others are so convinced of their own judgment that they see no reason to consult anyone else.

Imam al-Mawardi challenges this attitude. Seeking advice does not expose a weakness of intellect. Its purpose is to obtain benefits, improve decisions, and avoid mistakes. There is nothing shameful about a practice that helps us act more wisely.

In fact, refusing to seek advice can be a sign of pride. It suggests that we value our own opinions so highly that we are unwilling to consider what others might teach us.

Luqman the Wise is reported to have advised his son to consult someone who has experienced life, because such a person can share lessons that they paid dearly to learn, allowing others to benefit from them without experiencing the same hardships.

There is tremendous wisdom in this principle. We do not need to make every mistake ourselves. We can learn from the experiences of our parents, teachers, elders, and mentors. We can benefit from the failures they endured, the difficult decisions they faced, and the lessons they learned over decades of living.

Why insist on learning everything the hard way when others are willing to share their knowledge with us?

Of course, elders are not infallible, and age alone does not guarantee wisdom. We should still assess the relevance and soundness of their advice. But we should approach consultation with humility, recognizing that other people may have something valuable to teach us.

Conclusion: Make Shura a Habit

Shura should not be something we practise only when we face a major crisis. It should be an ongoing part of our lives.

We should consult others when making decisions about work, business, marriage, parenting, education, finances, and the next stage of our lives. We should build relationships with people whose judgment we respect and whom we can approach when we need guidance.

At the same time, we must choose our advisers carefully. Seek people who possess relevant knowledge and experience, who are conscious of Allah, who genuinely care about you, who can think clearly, and who have no hidden agenda that would distort their advice.

Listen to what they have to say. Consider their perspectives seriously. Then take responsibility for your decision, make istikhara, and place your trust in Allah.

Ultimately, shura is much more than a practical technique for making better decisions. It is an expression of humility and good character. It reflects our willingness to recognize the value of other people, honour their experience, and benefit from the wisdom Allah has given them.

A person who refuses to consult anyone risks becoming trapped within the limits of their own knowledge and judgment. A person who seeks wise counsel benefits from perspectives beyond their own and is better equipped to navigate the challenges of life.

May Allah grant us the humility to seek advice, the wisdom to recognize good counsel, and the courage to act upon what is right. May He guide our decisions, bless our efforts, and protect us from the mistakes that arise from arrogance and poor judgment. Ameen.