The Prayer of Istikhara
Prayer SupplicationsFrom the 'Prayer and Supplication of Istikhara' section in the book 'Prayers and Supplications' by Mahmud Sami Ramazanoğlu
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach us how to perform Istikhara for every matter, just as he taught us a surah of the Quran. He said: “When any of you wants to do something, let him perform two rak'ahs of prayer, separate from the obligatory prayers, and then say:”
“O Allah! Since You know everything, I ask You to show me what is best for me; since Your power extends over everything, I ask You to grant me success and bestow upon me what is good. For Your power extends over everything, and mine does not; You know everything, and I do not. Surely You know the unseen and the unseen. O Allah! If this matter is good for my religion, my worldly life, and my hereafter (now or in the future), then grant me the ability to do it, make it easy for me, and bless it for me! If this matter is bad for my religion, my worldly life, and my hereafter (now or in the future), then keep it away from me and keep me away from it. Grant me what is good, and then make my heart accept this outcome!” (Bukhari, Du'a 48). Note: During prayer, one should mention and clearly state what their own matter is. (Suyuti, al-Jami' al-Saghir, no: 882)